A turning point for skin health: what the WHA's landmark resolution on skin diseases means for the world
On May 24, 2025, something unprecedented happened: for the first time in history, the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) unanimously adopted a resolution titled 'Skin diseases as a global public health priority' . This long-overdue resolution marks a significant shift in how the world understands skin health, not only as a cosmetic issue, but as a core component of global public health, social equity, and human dignity.
How this resolution came about
The road to this resolution was paved through years of advocacy, cross-sector partnerships, and irrefutable data. Despite affecting an estimated 1.9 billion people worldwide, skin diseases have remained chronically underfunded and neglected, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This landmark resolution, jointly sponsored by Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Togo, and Micronesia, and others, supported by the International League of Dermatologic Societies (ILDS), the world's largest alliance of dermatology organizations marks a pivotal moment in recognising skin diseases as a global public health priority. It reflects a growing global recognition that skin health is central to the well-being and dignity of populations across every region.
Voices from the global south
The urgency of this resolution is especially pronounced in low-resource settings where dermatologic care is inaccessible and stigma remains high. Folakemi Cole-Adeife, consultant physician and dermatologist at LASUTH (Lagos State University Teaching Hospital), Nigeria, underscores the significance of this moment. 'This historic step will be positively pivotal for skin healthcare worldwide,' she says. 'Skin diseases, though often overlooked, carry immense morbidity, stigma, and socioeconomic burden, particularly in LMICs (low and middle income countries).'
Drawing from her public health experience, Dr. Cole-Adeife emphasises, 'This resolution opens the door for greater attention to skin health in national health agendas, better funding for dermatologic services, capacity-building for healthcare workers, and integration of skin health into primary care. It is a call to action for governments, global health partners, and all of us in the skin health space to treat skin not as superficial, but as fundamental to well-being.'
She adds that the ripple effect of this resolution must extend globally. 'It compels us to ask why so many common skin conditions still go untreated, why dermatology training remains limited in frontline health systems, and why stigma persists, particularly for diseases visible on darker skin tones. In countries such as India and Africa, where the burden of pigmentary disorders, fungal infections, and neglected skin diseases is immense, this resolution is an opportunity to push for better access, culturally competent care, and research that reflects diverse skin types. It's time we reframed skin health as a public health issue, one that is both urgent and universal.'
The regional reality: South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East
The significance of this resolution is being deeply felt across South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa - regions represented by Rashmi Sarkar, Regional Director of the ILDS. She is one of the leading voices in pigmentary disorders and global dermatology policy. She explains that historically, healthcare funding has traditionally prioritised chronic diseases of internal organs, often overlooking skin health, despite its significant physical, psychological, and economic impact.
'Skin diseases are deeply tied to a person's self-esteem and financial opportunities,' Dr. Sarkar notes. 'Stigma around visible conditions including vitiligo, psoriasis, or chronic infections leads to exclusion not just from medical care, but from employment and society itself.'
She sees the resolution as a pivotal tool to correct these disparities. 'We're calling on all stakeholders such as governments, NGOs, medical institutions, and patient support groups to come together. We need funding for research, national registries to map disease burden, and the integration of skin health into primary care teaching and services.'
What are the pressing challenges?
In the regions Dr. Sarkar represents, chronic inflammatory conditions like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis coexist with neglected skin diseases such as leprosy and scabies - many of which are still misunderstood and stigmatised. 'This resolution creates an opportunity to fund medicines, include dermatologic care under insurance, and build public health programmes that recognise skin as central to quality of life,' she says.
She also stresses the importance of ongoing advocacy. 'In India and other LMICs, we must publicise this resolution, observe disease-specific awareness days, and engage Ministries of health, NGOs, and local networks. That's how we build momentum.'
What might change?
This resolution unlocks a range of potential shifts in health policy and funding. It paves the way for the integration of skin disease care into primary health systems, more inclusive research funding particularly for conditions affecting skin of colour and neglected tropical diseases, and improved access to dermatologic medications, including coverage under public insurance schemes. It also supports the development of national registries to track the burden of skin diseases and prioritises capacity-building among frontline healthcare providers. Crucially, it fosters efforts to reduce stigma and expand patient support systems. As Dr. Sarkar emphasises, 'It could transform dermatologic training and infrastructure in under-resourced settings, while also dismantling the shame that so often accompanies visible skin conditions.'
For India, the WHO resolution arrives at a crucial time. With one of the highest dermatologic disease burdens globally from chronic inflammatory conditions to fungal infections and pigmentary disorders, India stands to benefit immensely from global recognition and domestic reform. This is a chance to integrate skin care into public health infrastructure, strengthen research on skin of colour, expand dermatology training at the primary care level, and advocate for insurance inclusion for conditions that affect not just skin but lives. As Dr. Sarkar puts it, 'This is our moment to reshape how skin diseases are understood, prioritised, and treated.'
A milestone, not a finish line
This resolution is not the final word, it is the beginning of a long-overdue conversation. It validates the lived reality of billions, and provides a framework for governments, clinicians, and communities to take action.
Because skin health is not superficial. It is visible, vulnerable, and vital. And finally, it is being seen.
(Dr. Monisha Madhumita is a consultant dermatologist at Saveetha Medical College, Chennai. mail.monisha.m@gmail.com)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- The Hindu
A turning point for skin health: what the WHA's landmark resolution on skin diseases means for the world
On May 24, 2025, something unprecedented happened: for the first time in history, the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) unanimously adopted a resolution titled 'Skin diseases as a global public health priority' . This long-overdue resolution marks a significant shift in how the world understands skin health, not only as a cosmetic issue, but as a core component of global public health, social equity, and human dignity. How this resolution came about The road to this resolution was paved through years of advocacy, cross-sector partnerships, and irrefutable data. Despite affecting an estimated 1.9 billion people worldwide, skin diseases have remained chronically underfunded and neglected, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This landmark resolution, jointly sponsored by Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Togo, and Micronesia, and others, supported by the International League of Dermatologic Societies (ILDS), the world's largest alliance of dermatology organizations marks a pivotal moment in recognising skin diseases as a global public health priority. It reflects a growing global recognition that skin health is central to the well-being and dignity of populations across every region. Voices from the global south The urgency of this resolution is especially pronounced in low-resource settings where dermatologic care is inaccessible and stigma remains high. Folakemi Cole-Adeife, consultant physician and dermatologist at LASUTH (Lagos State University Teaching Hospital), Nigeria, underscores the significance of this moment. 'This historic step will be positively pivotal for skin healthcare worldwide,' she says. 'Skin diseases, though often overlooked, carry immense morbidity, stigma, and socioeconomic burden, particularly in LMICs (low and middle income countries).' Drawing from her public health experience, Dr. Cole-Adeife emphasises, 'This resolution opens the door for greater attention to skin health in national health agendas, better funding for dermatologic services, capacity-building for healthcare workers, and integration of skin health into primary care. It is a call to action for governments, global health partners, and all of us in the skin health space to treat skin not as superficial, but as fundamental to well-being.' She adds that the ripple effect of this resolution must extend globally. 'It compels us to ask why so many common skin conditions still go untreated, why dermatology training remains limited in frontline health systems, and why stigma persists, particularly for diseases visible on darker skin tones. In countries such as India and Africa, where the burden of pigmentary disorders, fungal infections, and neglected skin diseases is immense, this resolution is an opportunity to push for better access, culturally competent care, and research that reflects diverse skin types. It's time we reframed skin health as a public health issue, one that is both urgent and universal.' The regional reality: South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East The significance of this resolution is being deeply felt across South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa - regions represented by Rashmi Sarkar, Regional Director of the ILDS. She is one of the leading voices in pigmentary disorders and global dermatology policy. She explains that historically, healthcare funding has traditionally prioritised chronic diseases of internal organs, often overlooking skin health, despite its significant physical, psychological, and economic impact. 'Skin diseases are deeply tied to a person's self-esteem and financial opportunities,' Dr. Sarkar notes. 'Stigma around visible conditions including vitiligo, psoriasis, or chronic infections leads to exclusion not just from medical care, but from employment and society itself.' She sees the resolution as a pivotal tool to correct these disparities. 'We're calling on all stakeholders such as governments, NGOs, medical institutions, and patient support groups to come together. We need funding for research, national registries to map disease burden, and the integration of skin health into primary care teaching and services.' What are the pressing challenges? In the regions Dr. Sarkar represents, chronic inflammatory conditions like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis coexist with neglected skin diseases such as leprosy and scabies - many of which are still misunderstood and stigmatised. 'This resolution creates an opportunity to fund medicines, include dermatologic care under insurance, and build public health programmes that recognise skin as central to quality of life,' she says. She also stresses the importance of ongoing advocacy. 'In India and other LMICs, we must publicise this resolution, observe disease-specific awareness days, and engage Ministries of health, NGOs, and local networks. That's how we build momentum.' What might change? This resolution unlocks a range of potential shifts in health policy and funding. It paves the way for the integration of skin disease care into primary health systems, more inclusive research funding particularly for conditions affecting skin of colour and neglected tropical diseases, and improved access to dermatologic medications, including coverage under public insurance schemes. It also supports the development of national registries to track the burden of skin diseases and prioritises capacity-building among frontline healthcare providers. Crucially, it fosters efforts to reduce stigma and expand patient support systems. As Dr. Sarkar emphasises, 'It could transform dermatologic training and infrastructure in under-resourced settings, while also dismantling the shame that so often accompanies visible skin conditions.' For India, the WHO resolution arrives at a crucial time. With one of the highest dermatologic disease burdens globally from chronic inflammatory conditions to fungal infections and pigmentary disorders, India stands to benefit immensely from global recognition and domestic reform. This is a chance to integrate skin care into public health infrastructure, strengthen research on skin of colour, expand dermatology training at the primary care level, and advocate for insurance inclusion for conditions that affect not just skin but lives. As Dr. Sarkar puts it, 'This is our moment to reshape how skin diseases are understood, prioritised, and treated.' A milestone, not a finish line This resolution is not the final word, it is the beginning of a long-overdue conversation. It validates the lived reality of billions, and provides a framework for governments, clinicians, and communities to take action. Because skin health is not superficial. It is visible, vulnerable, and vital. And finally, it is being seen. (Dr. Monisha Madhumita is a consultant dermatologist at Saveetha Medical College, Chennai.
Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Serum, DNDi to develop affordable dengue treatment
Serum Institute of India (SII) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with not-for-profit medical research organisation Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) to accelerate clinical development of a monoclonal antibody treatment for dengue that will be affordable and accessible in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). SII and DNDi will develop a work plan to implement research and development, Phase 3 clinical trials, and access activities, along with a joint strategy to raise the necessary funds and resources. SII stated that it has already conducted pre-clinical studies and Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials that show the candidate is safe and effective. It is currently leading the Phase 3 clinical trial in India for licensure. The Pune-based company said a joint project team will be formed to advance clinical trials, with the goal of registering and deploying the dengue monoclonal antibody in India and other countries, provided the studies confirm its safety and efficacy.
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- The Hindu
SII, DNDi partner for expanding human trials for dengue treatment
The Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) has partnered with Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), a not-for-profit research and development organisation, to accelerate the clinical development of a monoclonal antibody (mab) treatment for dengue that will be affordable and accessible in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Mab are lab-produced antibodies, meant to mimic the ones naturally produced within the body to neutralise infectious agents, for instance viral particles. SII has already conducted pre-clinical studies and Phase I and II clinical trials of a potential candidate drug for dengue. This January, an expert committee of India's Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) recommended that SII submit safety and efficacy data regarding the mab in a larger number of patients from phase III studies before recommending manufacturing and marketing approval for its dengue drug for adults. 'Through this collaboration, both SII and DNDi will develop a work plan to implement R&D, additional Phase III clinical trials along with a joint strategy to raise necessary funds and resources. Additionally, a joint project team will be formed to advance clinical trials, with the goal of registering and deploying the dengue monoclonal antibody in India and other dengue-endemic countries, provided the studies confirm its safety and efficacy,' a statement from DNDi noted. Testing in Brazil This could mean testing the treatment in Brazil and selected countries in south-east Asia. 'This collaboration with DNDi will be instrumental in advancing clinical development of a dengue monoclonal antibody in Brazil and potentially other endemic countries in Southeast Asia, with a focus on making treatment affordable and accessible,' Dr. Prasad Kulkarni, Executive Director, SII, said in a statement. 'We look forward to the positive impact this effort will have in reducing the burden of dengue and saving lives in vulnerable communities,' he said. 'India reports tens of thousands of dengue cases every year, with outbreaks occurring every two to three years in different states,' Dr. Kavita Singh, Asia Continental Lead & Director South Asia, DNDi, said in a statement. 'What is deeply concerning is that dengue is no longer confined to historically endemic regions but is rapidly expanding into newer states. Addressing this growing threat demands a multi-pronged approach, including strengthened vector control, surveillance, community awareness and, critically, the development of effective treatments and diagnostics,' she said. Dengue poses a significant threat, with 3.9 billion people at risk and cases more than doubling each year since 2021. It is also spreading to non-endemic areas due to climate change and urbanisation. Despite its prevalence and severity, there is still no specific treatment available for dengue. Medicines that could prevent mild cases from becoming severe would therefore play an important role in reducing mortality and preventing hospitals from being overwhelmed during outbreaks.
