Analyse
The quote matches **verbatim** the transcript of Chan’s May 2017 speech at the 70th World Health Assembly (WHO, 2017), where she emphasized health as a 'political choice' tied to national development. The framing aligns with WHO’s longstanding position that health outcomes depend on government policies (e.g., funding, infrastructure, equity programs), as outlined in reports like the *World Health Report 2010* on health systems financing. No credible sources dispute the attribution or core claim, though interpretations of 'political choice' may vary by context.
Achtergrond
Margaret Chan served as WHO Director-General from 2006–2017, a tenure marked by crises like Ebola and H1N1, which underscored the link between governance and health resilience. Her farewell address highlighted systemic inequities and the need for political will to address them—a theme central to WHO’s *Health in All Policies* framework. The statement echoes earlier declarations, such as the 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration on primary healthcare as a societal investment.
Samenvatting verdict
Margaret Chan’s 2017 statement accurately reflects her farewell address and aligns with WHO’s documented advocacy for health as a political and economic priority.