WHO World Healthy Assembly approves global oral health strategy

The adoption of a Global oral health strategy at the WHO 75th World Health Assembly in late May 2022 has been described as “a historic moment for the oral health community” by the FDI World Dental Federation which has commended the strategy and which stands ready to support the development an action plan and monitoring framework that it hopes will be in place by 2023. 

The adoption of the Global oral health strategy is the culmination of a process that started back in 2020 when FDI Member State, Sri Lanka, in a statement to the WHO 146th Executive Board that also had the backing of 17 other Members including Burkina Faso, Croatia and Malta.  

“’…there is an urgent need for more international political commitment to oral health and its integration into primary health care. Oral health care should not be an isolated part within the healthcare domain. It should be clearly embedded into the NCD and UHC agendas.’” 

Sri Lanka’s strong advocacy of a global strategy led to the approval of an Oral health resolution in 2021 which proposed the creation of a draft strategy by 2022, a process which saw considerable involvement by FDI, with many of its suggestions put forward during the consultation period incorporated into final strategy document. 

Responding to the adoption of the Global oral health strategy, which has already led to work on the 2023 action plan, has been warmly welcome by FDI President, Prof. Ihsane Ben Yahya. 

“The WHO Global oral health strategy strongly aligns with our own Vision 2030: Delivering Optimal Oral Health for All report. It is key that WHO Member States work together with FDI members and complement each other’s efforts on the ground to ensure successful implementation of the strategies outlined. In this way, we can help achieve the common goal of improving the oral health and well-being of the populations we serve”. 

Read FDI’s full statement to the World Health Assembly.