Journal No. 5  28 May 2021

This Journal is intended to give delegates, representatives and other participants advance indications of the Health Assembly’s programme of work. Additional information can be found in the Guide for delegates to the World Health Assembly (document A74/DIV./2)

The Journal does not constitute an official record of the Health Assembly’s proceedings. The Journal is published in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish on every working day during the Health Assembly.

N° 5 Programme of meetings for Friday, 28 May 2021

Time	Plenary Virtual Room 1	Committee A Virtual Room 2	Committee B Virtual Room 1
10:00	Sixth Plenary meeting
Immediately after the conclusion of Plenary		Eighth meeting	Fifth meeting
14:00		Ninth meeting	Sixth meeting

Table of contents

1. Date and working hours

2. Programme of work of the Health Assembly

3. Report of meetings

4. Strategic briefings

5. Arrangements for conduct of discussion in meetings

6. Announcements

Interpretation

Interpretation will be provided in the official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) to help delegates to follow the discussions. Delegates are requested to speak clearly and at a normal speaking pace to enable clear and accurate interpretation through the virtual platform. Copies of all statements should be submitted at least one hour in advance by email to [email protected]. Clearly indicate the name of the country delegation/group in the subject line of the email.     

Note: a statement of three minutes at normal speaking pace is equivalent to approximately 330 words.

1. Date and working hours

The working hours of the Seventy-fourth Health Assembly are from 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 (CEST).

The Health Assembly will close no later than Tuesday, 1 June 2021, as decided by the Executive Board at its 148th session.

2. Programme of work of the Health Assembly

Friday, 28 May 2021

Sixth Plenary meeting

10:00

Executive Board: election

– Document A74/57

Awards

– Document A74/INF./1

Reports of the main committees

First report of Committee B

Document (Draft) A74/58 containing one decision entitled:

-       Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan

Eighth and ninth meetings of Committee A

Immediately after conclusion of Plenary and 14:00

First report of Committee A

Document (Draft) A74/60 containing three resolutions entitled:

-       Programme budget 2022-2023

-       Reducing the burden of noncommunicable diseases through strengthening prevention and
control of diabetes

-       Oral health

And three decisions entitled:

-       Follow-up of the Political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases

-       The role of the global coordination mechanism on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in WHO’s work on multi-stakeholder engagement for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases

-       Integrated people-centred eye care, including preventable vision impairment and blindness

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·       Item 13.1 (continued)

Global action on patient safety

– Documents A74/10 Rev.1, A74/10 Add.4 and EB148/2021/REC/1, decision EB148(5)

·       Item 13.5 (continued)

Antimicrobial resistance

– Document A74/10 Rev.1

·       Item 13.8 (continued)

Immunization Agenda 2030

– Documents A74/9 and A74/9 Add.4

·       Item 13.4

Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property

– Documents A74/9, A74/A/CONF./1 and A74/A/CONF./1 Add.1

·       Item 13.6

Substandard and falsified medical products

– Document A74/9

·       Item 13.7

Standardization of medical devices nomenclature

– Document A74/9

If time permits:

The public health implications of implementation of the Nagoya Protocol

– Document A74/9

Enhancement of laboratory biosafety

– Document A74/18

Poliomyelitis

o   Polio eradication

– Document A74/19

o   Polio transition planning and polio post-certification

– Document A74/20

Fifth and sixth meetings of Committee B

Immediately after conclusion of Plenary and 14:00

Second report of Committee B

Document (Draft) A74/59 containing five resolutions entitled:

-       The highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities

-       Recommitting to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination

-       Salaries of staff in ungraded positions and of the Director-General

-       Agreement between the World Health Organization and the International Organisation of La Francophonie

-       Participation of the Holy See in the World Health Organization

and nine decisions entitled:

-       WHO reform: governance

-       World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day

-       Review of entitlements of members of the Executive Board

-       The global health sector strategies on, respectively, HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections

-       Process for the election of the Director-General of the World Health Organization: candidates’ statements and travel support

-       Process for the election of the Director-General of the World Health Organization: contingency arrangements

-       Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee

-       WHO global strategy on health, environment and climate change: the transformation needed to improve lives and well-being sustainably through healthy environments

-       The role of the health sector in the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management towards the 2020 goal and beyond

Audit and oversight matters

·       Item 30.1

Report of the External Auditor

– Documents A74/34 and A74/51

·       Item 30.2

Report of the Internal Auditor

– Documents A74/35 and A74/51

·       Item 30.3

External and internal audit recommendations: progress on implementation

– Documents A74/37 and A74/51

Financial matters

·       Item 29.1

WHO programme and financial reports for 2020–2021, including audited financial statements for 2020

– Documents A74/28, A74/29, A74/47 and A74/INF./4

·       Item 29.2 continued

Status of collection of assessed contributions, including Member States in arrears in the payment of their contributions to an extent that would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution

– Documents A74/31 and A74/48

·       Item 29.4

Scale of assessments 2022–2023

– Documents A74/32 and A74/49

·       Item 29.6

Assessment of new Members and Associate Members

– Documents A74/33 and A74/50

Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

– Document A74/11

Health workforce

o   Working for health: five-year action plan for health employment and inclusive economic growth (2017–2021)

– Documents A74/12, A74/A/CONF./6 and A74/A/CONF./6 Add.1

o   Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery

– Documents A74/13, A74/A/CONF./3 and A74/A/CONF./3 Add.1

Committing to implementation of the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016−2030)

– Document A74/14

Report of the Internal Auditor

Preventing sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment

– Documents A74/36 and A74/51

Matters for information

Regarding progress reports – delegations will be invited to post written statements on the website.

·       Item 34.1

Progress reports

– Documents A74/43 and A74/43 Rev.1

Pillar 1: One billion more people benefitting from universal health coverage

A.     Sustainable health financing structures and universal coverage (resolution WHA64.9 (2011))

B.     Prevention of deafness and hearing loss (resolution WHA70.13 (2017))

C.    Promoting the health of refugees and migrants (decision WHA72(14) (2019))

D.    Eradication of dracunculiasis (resolution WHA64.16 (2011))

E.     Progress in the rational use of medicines (resolution WHA60.16 (2007))

 

Pillar 2: One billion more people better protected from health emergencies

G.    Smallpox eradication: destruction of variola virus stocks (resolution WHA60.1 (2007))

 

Pillar 3: One billion more people enjoying better health and well-being

H.    Water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities (resolution WHA72.7 (2019))

I.       Plan of action on climate change and health in small island developing States (decision WHA72(10) (2019))

Saturday, 29 May 2021

Tenth and eleventh meetings of Committee A

10:00 and 14:30

The public health implications of implementation of the Nagoya Protocol

– Document A74/9

Enhancement of laboratory biosafety

– Document A74/18

Poliomyelitis

o   Polio eradication

– Document A74/19

o   Polio transition planning and polio post-certification

– Document A74/20

Item 17           Public health emergencies: preparedness and response
Item 18           Mental health preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic

·         WHO’s work in health emergencies and strengthening preparedness for health emergencies and Mental health preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic continued
– Documents A74/9, A74/10 Rev.1, A74/17, A74/17 Add.1, A74/A/CONF./2, A74/A/CONF./7 and EB148/2021/REC/1, decision EB148(3)

Seventh and eighth meetings of Committee B

10:00 and 14:30

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·       Item 22.1

Social determinants of health

– Documents A74/9 and EB148/2021/REC/1, resolution EB148.R2

WHO global plan of action to strengthen the role of the health system within a national multisectoral response to address interpersonal violence, in particular against women and girls, and against children

– Documents A74/21, A74/A/CONF./8 and A74/A/CONF./8 Add.1

Monday, 31 May 2021

Twelfth and thirteenth meetings of Committee A

10:00 and 14:00

Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

Ninth and tenth meetings of Committee B

10:00 and 14:00

Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

Tuesday, 1 June 2021

Fourteenth meeting of Committee A

10:00

Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

Eleventh meeting of Committee B

10:00

Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

Seventh Plenary meeting

Immediately after conclusion of Committees A and B

Reports of the main committees

Closure of the Health Assembly

3. Report of meetings

Sixth meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Dr Adriana Amarilla (Paraguay)

Item 11           Proposed programme budget 2022–2023

together with
Item 12           WHO results framework: an update

The Chair opened the meeting with consideration of agenda item 11 Proposed programme budget 2022–2023 and item 12 WHO results framework: an update and drew the Committee’s attention to the relevant documents A74/5 Rev.1, A74/6, A74/7, A74/8 and A74/9. The Committee was asked to consider the draft resolution: Programme budget 2022–2023 as contained in document A74/5 Add.1.

The Chair of Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board introduced the reports of the PBAC, contained in documents A74/46 and A74/47. The floor was opened for discussion. At the invitation of the Chair, the Secretariat responded to issues raised. The Committee noted the reports contained in documents A74/46 and A74/47 and approved the draft resolution contained in document A74/5 Add.1.

The Director-General Dr Tedros addressed the Committee and the agenda items were closed.

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

The Chair opened the first grouping under this agenda item, 13.2, 13.3 and 13.9, and drew the Committee’s attention to the relevant documents A74/9, A74/10 Rev.1, A74/10 Add.1, A74/10 Add.2 and A74/10 Add.3. The Committee was asked to consider the following draft decisions and resolutions: the draft decision contained in EB148(7), the draft resolution contained in EB148.R1, the draft decision contained in A74/A/CONF./4, the draft resolution contained in A74/A/CONF./5, and the draft decision contained in document A74/9 Add.3.

Comments were invited from the floor. The Chair announced that due to time constraints, consideration of these items would resume at the next meeting of Committee A.

The meeting was adjourned.

Third meeting of Committee B

In the Chair:
Dr Søren Brostrøm (Denmark)

Draft first report of Committee B

The Chair opened the meeting and the Secretariat read out the first draft report of Committee B, document (draft) A74/58 containing one decision entitled:

-       Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan

The resolution was approved and the first draft report of Committee B was adopted.

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board
Managerial, administrative and governance matters

The Chair opened the grouped agenda items 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 26.4, 26.6, 26.7 and 26.8. The Committee’s attention was drawn to the relevant documents A74/9, A74/INF./3, A74/9 Add.2, A74/23, A74/25, A74/52, A74/53, A74/55, and the following draft decisions and resolutions: draft decision EB148(9); draft decision EB148(10) contained in document EB148/2021/REC/1; draft decision EB147(11) contained in EB147/2020/REC/1; draft resolution EB148.R6 contained in EB148/2021/REC/1; draft decision EB148(13) contained in EB148/2021/REC/1; draft resolution contained in A/74/B/CONF./2, including A/74/B/CONF.2 Add.1; and draft resolution EB148.R4 contained in EB148/2021/REC/1.

The Chair gave the floor to the representative of the Executive Board to make some introductory remarks. He then gave the floor to the Chair of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee, to provide introductory remarks on the discussions of the Committee. The Chair then invited comments from the floor on the group of agenda items and the Secretariat responded to issues raised. The Committee noted the reports contained in documents A74/9, A74/23, A74/25, A74/53, A74/55 and adopted the following decisions and resolutions: EB148(9), EB148(10), EB147(11), EB148.R6, EB148(13), EB148.R4 and the draft resolution contained in document A74/B/CONF./2.

The meeting was adjourned.

Seventh meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Dr Adriana Amarilla (Paraguay)

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

The Chair opened the meeting and resumed the discussion on the first grouping of agenda items 13.2, 13.3 and 13.9. At the invitation of the Chair, the Secretariat responded to issues raised. Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe and Dr Poonam Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia were invited to address the Committee.

The Committee noted the reports contained in documents A74/9, A74/10 Rev.1, A74/10 Add.1, A74/10 Add.2 and A74/10 Add.3. The draft decisions contained in EB148(7), in documents A74/A/CONF./4 and A74/9 Add.3, as well as the draft resolutions in documents A74/A/CONF./5 and EB148.R1, were approved without amendment.

At the invitation of the Chair, the Director-General Dr Tedros addressed the Committee.

This grouping of agenda items was closed.

The Chair invited comments from the floor on the second grouping of items 13.1, 13.5 and 13.8 and drew the Committee’s attention to the relevant documents A74/9, A74/9 Add.4, A74/10 Rev.1, and A74/10 Add.4. The Committee was asked to consider the draft decision EB148(5) as contained in document EB148/2021/REC/1. The Chair invited the representative of the Executive Board to make some introductory remarks and the floor was opened for discussion.

Due to time constraints, it was decided to suspend the discussion. Consideration of this grouping of items would resume at the next meeting of Committee A.

The meeting was adjourned

Fourth meeting of Committee B

In the Chair:
Dr Søren Brostrøm (Denmark)

Process for the election of the Director-General of the World Health Organization

The Chair opened the agenda item and invited the Committee to consider the reports contained in A74/24, A74/24 Add.1, A74/24 Add.3 and A74/54 and two draft decisions: EB148(11) contained in document EB148/2021/REC/1, and one in document A74/24 Add.2.

The Chair gave the floor to the representative of the Executive Board who made some introductory remarks. The floor was then given to the Chair of Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board to provide introductory remarks on the discussions of the Committee. The Chair then invited comments from the floor and the Secretariat responded to issues raised. The Committee noted the reports contained in documents A74/24 and A74/24 Add.1 and adopted decision EB148(11) and the draft decision contained in document A74/24 Add.2.

The agenda item was closed.

Item 27           Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee

Item 28           Report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board

The Chair opened the grouped agenda items 27 and 28 and invited comments from the floor. The Committee noted the reports contained in documents A74/26 and A74/27 and approved the draft decision containing the following recommendations:

-       to reappoint Ms Yanjmaa Binderiva (Mongolia) as an alternate member of the WHO Staff Pension Committee for a three-year term until closure of the Seventy seventh World Health Assembly in May 2024;

-       to reappoint Dr Kai Zaehle (Germany) as an alternate member of the WHO Staff Pension Committee for a three-year term until closure of the Seventy seventh World Health Assembly in May 2024.

The agenda item was closed.

Management and legal matters

·       Item 31.2    

Agreements with intergovernmental organizations

The Chair opened the item and invited comments from the floor. The Committee adopted the draft resolution contained in document A74/44. The agenda item was closed.

Collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental organizations

The Chair opened the item and invited comments from the floor. The Secretariat responded to issues raised and the Committee noted the report contained in document A7/38 and adopted the draft resolution contained in document A74/B/CONF./1. The agenda item was closed.

Updates and future reporting

o   Emergency care system for universal health coverage: ensuring timely care for the acutely ill and injured

o   Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease

o   WHO global strategy on health, environment and climate change: the transformation needed to improve lives and well-being sustainably through healthy environments

o   The role of the health sector in the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management towards the 2020 goal and beyond

The Chair opened the item and invited comments from the floor. The Secretariat responded to issues raised and the Committee noted the reports contained in documents A74/39, A74/40, A74/41, A74/42 and adopted the draft decisions contained in documents A74/41 and A74/42.

The agenda item was closed and the meeting was adjourned.

4.       Strategic briefings

The following strategic briefings will take place during the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly and will be live-streamed via the following link:
https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2021/05/25/default-calendar/strategic-briefings-seventy-fourth-world-health-assembly

Friday, 28 May

13:10–13:50

Preventing sexual exploitation and abuse: from policy to practice (Pillar 4)

5. Arrangement for the conduct of discussion in meetings

Member States and Associate Members are invited to submit written statements for posting on the website in the language of submission in accordance with the guidelines for written statements in decision EB146(17).

Observers, invited representatives of the United Nations and of other participating and intergovernmental organizations are also invited to submit written statements in accordance with those guidelines. Non-State actors are invited to submit written statements as per the practical information for representatives of non-State actors in official relations with WHO.

In accordance with the guidelines, statements may be provided in any of the six WHO official languages and should be limited to 500 words for individual statements and 800 words for group statements. They should be submitted to [email protected], clearly indicating the relevant agenda item or sub-item in the subject line.

Member States and Associate Members may submit a pre-recorded video statement in place of live interventions. Video statements should be received by Wednesday 19 May (COB) and may be uploaded at the following link: https://bit.ly/31VHUFP. The following time limits will apply: Member States and Associate Members - three minutes and Group statements - four minutes. When uploading each video, please indicate clearly the relevant agenda item or sub-item in the description field. Videos received after the deadline, exceeding the time limits or labelled in such a way that the relevant agenda item or sub-item cannot be identified, may not be played. Video statements may be included in the live streaming and therefore will be included in the official records.

6. Announcements

The Zoom platform will be used for virtual sessions of WHA74. In order to ensure good sound quality on the virtual platform, please ensure that when taking the floor to deliver a statement, you select the language on the interpretation channel in which you are planning to speak and use high-quality headsets with echo cancelling microphones and webcam. We recommend that you use a personal computer, rather than a smartphone or tablet, and download the latest version of the Zoom software. Please deliver your statement at a moderate speed that allows for its interpretation and ensures your message is conveyed clearly and accurately.

For support related to the virtual platform, please send an email to [email protected].            

The Plenary and Committee A and B sessions will be webcast in the six UN languages. The webcasts can be viewed on Mac and PCs, as well as all mobile devices including iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows-enabled phones.

Arabic:            https://player.4am.ch/who/20210524-0601_wha74/player.html?lang=ar

Chinese:         https://player.4am.ch/who/20210524-0601_wha74/player.html?lang=zh

English:           https://player.4am.ch/who/20210524-0601_wha74/player.html?lang=en

French:           https://player.4am.ch/who/20210524-0601_wha74/player.html?lang=fr

Russian:          https://player.4am.ch/who/20210524-0601_wha74/player.html?lang=ru

Spanish:          https://player.4am.ch/who/20210524-0601_wha74/player.html?lang=es

The World Health Assembly application allows you to receive updates on the WHA74 programme of work and access documentation directly on your mobile device. Scan the QR code below and download the application in your device.

 

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