ICN
International
Council of Nurses
The Minister of Health
Ministry of Health and Social Affairs
Suu r-Ameerika 1
10112 Tallinn
Estonia
13 March 2026
Your Excellency,
Re: Nurses at the World Health Organization’s 79’ World Hecilth Assembly, 18-23
May 2026, Geneva, Switzerland
1 am writing on behalf of the International Council of Nurses (IcN) and our national
nurses’ association (NNA) members to encourage you to include a nurse in your
country’s delegation to the 7gtui session of the World Health Assembly (wHA). As a
federation of NNAs representing the over 30 million nurses in over 140 countries we
are committed to ensuring quality of care and sound heaith policies globally and
view the discussions and decisions of the WHA as very significant to nurses.
Nurses are an important partner in setting and enacting health policy and, over
the years, we have seen the benefits of nursing input in the deliberations of the
WHA. Having nurses’ perspective in the current debate and policy setting in
national, regional and international forums will enhance the range of robust and
practical solutions required to address giobal health challenges.
We would also like to use this important opportunity to meet with you to brief
you on ICN’s work and key priorities on the WHA agenda in order to support and
advance nursing in your country. To arrange a bilateral meeting please contact
my Executive Assistant, Marie Carrillo (
[email protected]).
The 7gth WHA agenda contains several items where involvement of the nursing
profession in the discussion is critical. These include mental health;
noncommunicable diseases; immunization; primary healthcare; international
recruitment of health personnel; 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; data,
digital health and artificial intelligence; antimicrobial resistance; weH-being and
health promotion; rehabilitation systems; health of Indigenous Peoples; public
SAAB ii N U D
ICN • CIE • CII ‘r
3, Place Jean Marteau, 1201 Geneva Switzerland Tel.: +41 22 908 01 00
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Fax: +41 22 908 01 01 e-mail: icnicn.ch web: www.icn.ch
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heaith and sociai measures; maternal, infant and young child nutrition; health
emergency preparedness and response; substandard and faisified medical
products; economics of heafth for ali.
The enormous pressures on heaith care professionais and the underinvestment in
the nursing profession have piaced the nursing workforce in a very precarious
piace. The nursing shortage is currentiy estimated at 6 miilion. The care and
ieadership of nurses to address giobal health chaiienges everywhere must be
supported and vaiued. inciuding a nurse in your delegation is criticai to ensure
nurses are vaiued decision- makers and that their unique expertise is included in
solutions to address current and future heaith chaiienges.
Nurse Ieaders in your Country hold great power in their ability to transform heaith
systems and we urge you to harness this power by ensuring their involvement and
their voice is heard at the WHA. We iook forward to meeting you and a nurse
delegate from your country.
Yours sincereiy,
Chief Executive Officer
c.C.: Presidents/Executive Directors/Generai Secretaries of 1CN NNAs member
ICN • CIE • CII
3, Place Jean Marteau, 1201 Geneva Switzerland Tel.: +41 22 908 01 00
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Fax: +41 22 908 01 01 e—mciil: icnicn.ch web: www.icn.ch
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