CPA to attend first ever pan-Commonwealth health coordination session
The Commonwealth Health Coordination Forum will be convened on the eve of the 2026 World Health Assembly
The Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) is delighted to announce that it will be attending the inaugural Commonwealth Health Coordination Forum, convened on the eve of the 79th World Health Assembly (79WHA) in Geneva on 16th May 2026.
The Forum will see high-level delegations from all 56 Commonwealth countries, including Health Ministers and senior civil servants, gather to explore areas of alignment and identify international health policy priorities. This inaugural Forum will focus on coordinating pan-Commonwealth and national action for tackling cancer, global annual fatalities from which are predicted to rise to close to 20 million by 2050 without better prevention or care.
CPA has been invited to attend due to our status as an Accredited Organisation (AO) of the Commonwealth, which routinely gives us access to meetings of senior officials and government leaders where important policy agreements are made. In her capacity as Chair of the Commonwealth Health Professions and Partners Alliance, our CEO, Victoria Rutter, will chair a session exploring the role of AOs and civil society in partnering with governments to implement cancer action plans. CPA, alongside fellow AOs within the Independent Forum of Commonwealth Organisations, will contribute by presenting our work to delegates and, in our case, showcase how the technical expertise of pharmacists and CPA’s work as a proven global health delivery partner can help national governments turn policy into practice.
Facilitated by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Forum is a new platform designed to support governments to take practical action on shared global health challenges. This reflects the Commonwealth’s evolving strategic direction and a shift towards more functional, solution-oriented forms of engagement across various policy areas. The forum is scheduled to convene annually, with outcomes informing and complementing future Commonwealth Health Ministers Meetings.
Delegates will also engage in focused discussions that feed into wider Commonwealth meetings, including the gathering of world leaders at the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda later this year, which CPA will attend alongside a selection of other Commonwealth AOs. This represents a significant step forward for health policy engagement across the Commonwealth, as the Forum marks the first time that a pan-Commonwealth platform convened by the Commonwealth Secretariat has had the formal role of informing health discussions at the senior political level, including to Heads of Governments.
CPA is also pleased to be partnering with the Commonwealth Secretariat on a fringe event at 79WHA, where, in partnership with the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation and the Global Self-Care Federation, we will be working together to explore the role of self-care in tackling non-communicable diseases with a particular focus on cancer prevention. WHA is the annual global convention and supreme decision-making body for the World Health Organisation, with which CPA enjoys official relations. CPA’s attendance at these global high-level meetings reflects the respect and influence our organisation holds as a voice for the pharmacy profession, and the patients our profession serves, across the Commonwealth.
“CPA warmly welcomes the inaugural Commonwealth Health Coordination Forum and the opportunity it creates for governments, health leaders, and professional organisations to work together on practical, solution-focused approaches to improving cancer prevention and care across the Commonwealth.
“Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals in the world and play a vital role in strengthening early detection, supporting treatment adherence, improving access to medicines, and advancing self-care for non-communicable diseases.
“We look forward to contributing CPA’s expertise and experience as a trusted global health delivery partner, and to collaborating with Commonwealth partners to help turn ambitious policy commitments into meaningful action for patients and communities.”
Victoria Rutter
CEO, Commonwealth Pharmacists Association
Chair, Commonwealth Health Professions and Partners Alliance