FDI World Dental Federation champions oral health at World Health Assembly, UN forums
GENEVA: The FDI World Dental Federation, under the leadership of its president Dr. Greg Chadwick, is intensifying global advocacy to ensure that oral health is recognized as a core component of the noncommunicable disease (NCD) agenda in the lead-up to the United Nations High-Level Meeting (HLM4) in September 2025.
The efforts coincide with the recently held 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in May, where FDI, in partnership with the International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (IADR), released a joint advocacy document titled “No Health without Oral Health.”
This pivotal document outlines shared global priorities and emphasizes the urgent need to integrate oral health into NCD prevention and mental health promotion strategies.
Responding to a critical omission
The release came in response to the initial zero draft of the HLM4 political declaration, which failed to mention oral health or reference foundational initiatives like the WHO Global Oral Health Meeting and the Bangkok Declaration.
In a swift and strategic move, FDI mobilized member associations, contacted ministries of health, and provided advocacy tools to national dental associations (NDAs) to push for inclusion.
These efforts paid off. Several supportive Member States raised the issue during WHA78, and as a result, the latest HLM4 draft now includes references to oral health, the WHO Global Oral Health Meeting, and the Bangkok Declaration.
High-impact global engagement
FDI’s presence at WHA78 extended far beyond formal lobbying. Key highlights included:
- Participation in a side event by the Government of Malaysia
- Contribution to the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) event on investing in the health workforce
- Co-hosting a high-level session on the Global Coalition on Oral Health
- Engagement in a round table by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) on antimicrobial resistance
Speaking at a Devex-Haleon side event on scaling up oral health strategies for NCD prevention
In addition, FDI delivered formal statements across major agenda items including universal health coverage, maternal and child nutrition, AMR, and NCDs.
Looking ahead: securing oral health in global policy
FDI remains committed to ensuring oral health stays embedded in the final HLM4 political declaration. With increasing momentum and global collaboration, the goal is to establish oral health as a fundamental pillar of overall health and well-being.
As the countdown to HLM4 continues, FDI urges its global network of professionals, institutions, and policy influencers to continue advocating for stronger recognition of oral health in all health policy frameworks.
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