Journal No. 3   24 May 2022

This Journal is intended to give delegates, representatives and other participants advance indications of the Health Assembly’s tentative programme of work. Additional information can be found in the Guide for delegates to the World Health Assembly (document A75/DIV./2 Rev.1)

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° 3 Programme of meetings for Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Time	Plenary Room XIX	Plenary Room XX	Committee A Room XX
09:00	Fourth Plenary meeting
Immediately after the conclusion of Item 9 in Plenary			Third meeting
14:30		Fifth Plenary meeting
18:00	Sixth Plenary meeting		Fourth meeting

Table of contents

1. Date and working hours

2. Programme of work of the Health Assembly

3. Report of meetings

4. Strategic roundtables

5. Other meetings

6. Arrangements for conduct of discussion in meetings

7. Announcements

8. Provisional list of speakers for the general discussion in Plenary

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. 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 Health Assembly are from 09:00 to 12:00 and 14:30 to 17:30 (CEST).

The Health Assembly will close no later than Saturday, 28 May 2022, as decided by the Executive Board at its 150th session.

2. Programme of work of the Health Assembly

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Fourth Plenary meeting — Building E Room XIX (overflow Room XVII)

09:00

Report of the Committee on Credentials

-       Document A75/59

Reports of the main committees

Draft first report of Committee A

Document (Draft) A75/58 containing two resolutions entitled:

-       Special arrangements for the settlement of arrears (Islamic Republic of Iran)

-       Special arrangements for the settlement of arrears (Republic of Sudan)

–  General discussion

Third meeting of Committee A — Building E Room XX

Immediately after conclusion of Item 9 in Plenary

Draft second report of Committee A

Document (Draft) A75/60 containing two resolutions entitled:

-       Revision of the Programme budget 2022–2023

-       Extending the Thirteenth General Programme of Work, 2019–2023 to 2025

Public health emergencies: preparedness and response

–  Technical update on COVID-19 pandemic and Monkeypox outbreak

·       Item 16.2

Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies

-       Documents A75/10 Rev.1, A75/17, A75/18, A75/19, A75/20, A75/21 + A75/A/CONF./2, A75/A/CONF./2 Add.1, A75/A/CONF./7, A75/A/CONF./7 Add.1, A75/A/CONF./9 and A75/A/CONF./9 Add.1

·       Item 16.4

Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005)

-       Document A75/22

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·       Item 14.1 continued

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

-       Documents A75/10 Rev.1, A75/10 Add.1, A75/10 Add.2, A75/10 Add.3, A75/10 Add.3 Corr.1, A75/10 Add.4, A75/10 Add.5, A75/10 Add.6, A75/10 Add.8, A75/INF./8 and EB150/2022/REC/1, decision EB150(4)

A.     Draft implementation road map 2023–2030 for the global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2030 (document A75/10 Add.8)

B.     Draft recommendations to strengthen and monitor diabetes responses within national noncommunicable disease programmes, including potential targets

C.    Draft global strategy on oral health (document A75/10 Add.1)

D.    Draft recommendations on how to strengthen the design and implementation of policies, including those for resilient health systems and health services and infrastructure, to treat people living with noncommunicable diseases and to prevent and control their risk factors in humanitarian emergencies (document A75/10 Add.2)

E.     Progress in the implementation of the global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem and its associated goals and targets for the period 2020–2030 (document A75/10 Add.3)

F.     Progress achieved in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health

G.    Draft intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders in support of universal health coverage (document A75/10 Add.4)

H.    Draft action plan (2022–2030) to effectively implement the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol as a public health priority

I.       Draft recommendations for the prevention and management of obesity over the life course, including potential targets

J.      Draft workplan for the global coordination mechanism on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases

o   Strengthening synergies between the World Health Assembly and the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

-       Document A75/INF./4

Fifth Plenary meeting — Building E Room XX (overflow Room XVII)

14:30

Post of Director-General (private session followed by a public session)

·       Item 4.2

Appointment of the Director-General (private meeting)

-       Documents A75/INF./1, A75/INF./2 and EB150/2022/REC/1, resolution EB150.R1

·       Item 4.3

Contract of the Director-General (private meeting)

-       Documents A75/5 and EB150/2022/REC/1, resolution EB150.R2

·       Item 4.2

Appointment of the Director-General (public meeting)

-       Documents A75/INF./1, A75/INF./2 and EB150/2022/REC/1, resolution EB150.R1

·       Item 4.3

Contract of the Director-General (public meeting)

-       Documents A75/5 and EB150/2022/REC/1, resolution EB150.R2

Reports of the main committees

–  General discussion

Fourth meeting of Committee A — Building E Room XX

18:00

Sustainable financing: report of the Working Group

-       Documents A75/9 and A75/54

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·       Item 14.1 continued

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

-       Documents A75/10 Rev.1, A75/10 Add.1, A75/10 Add.2, A75/10 Add.3, A75/10 Add.3 Corr.1, A75/10 Add.4, A75/10 Add.5, A75/10 Add.6, A75/10 Add.8, A75/INF./8 and EB150/2022/REC/1, decision EB150(4)

A.     Draft implementation road map 2023–2030 for the global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2030 (document A75/10 Add.8)

B.     Draft recommendations to strengthen and monitor diabetes responses within national noncommunicable disease programmes, including potential targets

C.    Draft global strategy on oral health (document A75/10 Add.1)

D.    Draft recommendations on how to strengthen the design and implementation of policies, including those for resilient health systems and health services and infrastructure, to treat people living with noncommunicable diseases and to prevent and control their risk factors in humanitarian emergencies (document A75/10 Add.2)

E.     Progress in the implementation of the global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem and its associated goals and targets for the period 2020–2030 (document A75/10 Add.3)

F.     Progress achieved in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health

G.    Draft intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders in support of universal health coverage (document A75/10 Add.4)

H.    Draft action plan (2022–2030) to effectively implement the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol as a public health priority

I.       Draft recommendations for the prevention and management of obesity over the life course, including potential targets

J.      Draft workplan for the global coordination mechanism on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases

o   Strengthening synergies between the World Health Assembly and the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

-       Document A75/INF./4

Sixth Plenary meeting — Building E Room XIX (overflow Room XVII)

18:00

–  General discussion

Reports of the main committees

Wednesday, 25 May 2022

Fifth and sixth meetings of Committee A — Building E Room XX

09:00 and 14:30

Public health emergencies: preparedness and response

·       Item 16.1

The Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme

-       Document A75/16

·       Item 16.3

WHO’s work in health emergencies

-       Documents A75/10 Rev.1, A75/47, A75/A/CONF./6, A75/A/CONF./6 Add.1, A75/A/CONF./8 and A75/A/CONF./8 Add.1

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·       Item 14.1 continued

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

-       Documents A75/10 Rev.1, A75/10 Add.1, A75/10 Add.2, A75/10 Add.3, A75/10 Add.3 Corr.1, A75/10 Add.4, A75/10 Add.5, A75/10 Add.6, A75/10 Add.8, A75/INF./8 and EB150/2022/REC/1, decision EB150(4)

A.     Draft implementation road map 2023–2030 for the global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2030 (document A75/10 Add.8)

B.     Draft recommendations to strengthen and monitor diabetes responses within national noncommunicable disease programmes, including potential targets

C.    Draft global strategy on oral health (document A75/10 Add.1)

D.    Draft recommendations on how to strengthen the design and implementation of policies, including those for resilient health systems and health services and infrastructure, to treat people living with noncommunicable diseases and to prevent and control their risk factors in humanitarian emergencies (document A75/10 Add.2)

E.     Progress in the implementation of the global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem and its associated goals and targets for the period 2020–2030 (document A75/10 Add.3)

F.     Progress achieved in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health

G.    Draft intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders in support of universal health coverage (document A75/10 Add.4)

H.    Draft action plan (2022–2030) to effectively implement the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol as a public health priority

I.       Draft recommendations for the prevention and management of obesity over the life course, including potential targets

J.      Draft workplan for the global coordination mechanism on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases

o   Strengthening synergies between the World Health Assembly and the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

-       Document A75/INF./4

·       Item 14.2

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

-       Documents A75/10 Rev.1 and EB150/2022/REC/1, resolution EB150.R3

·       Item 14.3

Global strategy for tuberculosis research and innovation

-       Document A75/10 Rev.1

·       Item 14.4

Road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030

-       Document A75/10 Rev.1

First and second meetings of Committee B — Building E Room XVII

09:00 and 14:30

Opening of the Committee[1]

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

Financial matters

·       Item 21.1

Financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2022–2023

-       Documents A75/27 and A75/52

·       Item 21.2

Scale of assessments 2022–2023

-       Documents A75/10 Rev.1 and EB150/2022/REC/1, resolution EB150.R5

·       Item 21.3

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 A75/28 and A75/55

Governance matters

·       Item 21.4

Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment

-       Documents A75/29 and A75/50

·       Item 21.5

WHO reform

o   Written statements: guidelines for Member States

-       Documents A75/30 and EB149/2021/REC/1, decision EB149(3)

·       Item 21.6

Global strategies and plans of action that are scheduled to expire within one year

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

-       Documents A75/10 Rev.1 and EB150/2022/REC/1, decision EB150(11)

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

-       Documents A75/26, A75/B/CONF./1 AND A75/B/CONF./1 Add.1

General Committee — Building E Room XXIII

17:30

Thursday, 26 May 2022

Seventh and eighth meetings of Committee A — Building E Room XX

09:00 and 14:30

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·       Item 14.5

Immunization Agenda 2030

-       Document A75/10 Rev.1

·       Item 14.6

Infection prevention and control

-       Document A75/10 Rev.1

·       Item 14.7

Global road map on defeating meningitis by 2030

-       Document A75/10 Rev.1

·       Item 14.8

Standardization of medical devices nomenclature

-       Documents A75/11, A75/11 Add.1, and EB150/2022/REC/1, decision EB150(10)

Human resources for health

o   Working for Health: draft 2022–2030 action plan

-       Document A75/12

o   Global health and care worker compact

-       Document A75/13

o   WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel

-       Document A75/14

o   Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030

-       Document A75/15

Third and fourth meetings of Committee B — Building E Room XVII

09:00 and 14:30

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

Staffing matters

·       Item 21.7

Human resources: annual report

-       Documents A75/31 and and A75/57

·       Item 21.8

Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules

-       Documents A75/10 Rev.1 and EB150/2022/REC/1, resolution EB150.R8

·       Item 21.9

Report of the International Civil Service Commission

-       Document A75/10 Rev.1

Budget and financial matters

·       Item 22.1

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

-       Documents A75/32, A75/33, A75/51 and A75/INF./5

Discussion of the following agenda items (23, 25 & 26) will be grouped

Agreement with intergovernmental organizations

-       Document A75/34

Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee

-       Document A75/38

Collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental organizations

-       Document A75/39

Audit and oversight matters

·       Item 24.1

Report of the External Auditor

-       Documents A75/35 and A75/56

·       Item 24.2

Report of the Internal Auditor

-       Documents A75/36 and A75/56

·       Item 24.3

External and internal audit recommendations: progress on implementation

-       Documents A75/37 and A75/56

Friday, 27 May 2022

Seventh Plenary meeting — Building E Room XIX

09:00

Awards

-       Document A75/INF./3

Executive Board: election

Reports of the main committees

Ninth and tenth meetings of Committee A — Building E Room XX

Immediately after conclusion of Item 9 in Plenary and 14:30

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·       Item 17.1

Influenza preparedness

-       Document A75/10 Rev.1

·       Item 17.2

Global Health for Peace Initiative

-       Documents A75/10 Rev.1 and EB150/2022/REC/1, decision EB150(5)

·       Item 17.3

Poliomyelitis

o   Poliomyelitis eradication

-       Document A75/23

o   Polio transition planning and polio post-certification

-       Documents A75/24 and A75/INF./7

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·       Item 18.1

Maternal, infant and young child nutrition

-       Documents A75/10 Rev.1, A75/10 Add.7 and EB150/2022/REC/1, decision EB150(7)

·       Item 18.2

WHO Implementation Framework for Billion 3

-       Documents A75/10 Rev.1 and A75/25

o   WHO global strategy for food safety

-       Documents A75/10 Rev.1, and EB150/2022/REC/1, decisions EB150(8) and EB150(9)

Fifth and sixth meetings of Committee B — Building E Room XVII

Immediately after conclusion of Item 9 in Plenary and 14:30

Updates and future reporting

·       Item 27.1

Availability, safety and quality of blood products

-       Document A75/40

·       Item 27.2

Human organ and tissue transplantation

-       Document A75/41

·       Item 27.3

Traditional medicine

-       Document A75/42

·       Item 27.4

Public health dimension of the world drug problem

-       Document A75/43

Matters for information

·       Item 28.1

Progress reports

-       Documents A75/44 and A75/44 Add.1

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

A.     Preparation for the high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on universal health coverage (resolution WHA72.4 (2019))

B.     Primary health care (resolution WHA72.2 (2019))

C.    Strengthening integrated people-centred health services (resolution WHA69.24 (2016))

D.    Improving access to assistive technology (resolution WHA71.8 (2018))

E.     Reproductive health: strategy to accelerate progress towards the attainment of international development goals and targets (resolution WHA57.12 (2004))

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

G.    Global vector control response: an integrated approach for the control of vector-borne diseases (resolution WHA70.16 (2017))

H.    WHO strategy on research for health (resolution WHA63.21 (2010))

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

I.       Smallpox eradication (resolution WHA60.1 (2007))

Pillar 4: More effective and efficient WHO providing better support to countries

J.      Strategy for integrating gender analysis and actions into the work of WHO (resolution WHA60.25 (2007))

Saturday, 28 May 2022

Eleventh meeting of Committee A — Building E Room XX

09:00

Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

Seventh meeting of Committee B — Building E Room XVII

09:00

Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

Eighth Plenary meeting — Building E Room XIX

Immediately after conclusion of Committees A and B

Reports of the main committees

Closure of the Health Assembly

3. Report of meetings

Second Plenary meeting

In the Chair:
H.E. Dr Ahmed Robleh Abdilleh (Djibouti)
President of the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly

The President of the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly opened the second plenary and addressed the Health Assembly.

Opening of the Health Assembly

Adoption of the agenda and allocation of items to the main committees

The President reported that the General Committee recommended to not include a supplementary agenda item entitled “Inviting Taiwan to participate in the World Health Assembly as an observer”. 

The President noted that when previous Health Assemblies had considered a similar proposal, the Assembly had agreed to follow a predictable, respectful and orderly process for handling the matter. To facilitate this work, the President proposed that the Assembly follow the same process. The Assembly agreed with this proposal.

Two delegations in support of the recommendation of the General Committee and two delegations in opposition to the recommendation of the General Committee were invited to take the floor. The delegates of China, Eswatini, Pakistan and Tuvalu took the floor.

The Assembly accepted the recommendation of the General Committee not to include a supplementary agenda item entitled “Inviting Taiwan to participate in the World Health Assembly as an observer” on the agenda.

The President reported that the General Committee recommended the following changes to the provisional agenda (document A75/1 Rev.1):

·       To delete the following items:

-       Item 4.1: Procedures for the conduct of the election

-       Item 5: Invited speaker(s)

-       Item 6: Admission of new Members and Associate Members [if any]

-       Item 22.3: Assessment of new Members and Associate Members [if any]

-       Item 22.4: Amendment to the Financial Regulations and Financial Rules [if any]

·        To move agenda Item 22.2 Special arrangements for settlement of arrears from Committee B to Committee A.

·        To open agenda Item 9 Reports of the main committees during the fourth Plenary to be resumed in the fifth Plenary.

The recommendation of the General Committee was approved and the provisional agenda in accordance with the General Committee’s recommendation was adopted as amended.

It was announced that the changes will be reflected in document A75/1 Rev.2.

Report of the Executive Board on its 149^th and 150^th sessions

The Chair of the Executive Board, Dr Patrick Amoth (Kenya), gave the report.

Address by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General

The Director-General presented his report on the work of WHO.

–  General discussion

The President resumed consideration of item 3 with special attention to the theme “Health for peace, peace for health”. The delegate of Micronesia (who spoke on behalf of the Pacific Island countries), and the delegate of Mauritania (who spoke on behalf of the Council of Arab Health Ministers) addressed the Assembly. These speakers were followed by the delegates of Togo, Cabo Verde (who spoke on behalf of  the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP)), Azerbaijan (who spoke on behalf of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM)), Lebanon (who spoke on behalf of the Member States of the Eastern Mediterranean Region), France (who spoke on behalf of the European Union), Indonesia (who spoke on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)), Central African Republic (who spoke on behalf of the Group of Member States and Observers of the International Organisation of La Francophonie), Kenya, Brazil, Slovenia, United States of America, Ukraine, and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The meeting was adjourned

First meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Dr Hiroki Nakatani (Japan)

Opening of the Committee

The Chair opened the meeting and welcomed delegates and observers and in accordance with Rules 43 and 44 of the Rules of Procedure, the representatives of the Executive Board. In accordance with Rule 35 of the Rules of Procedure of the World Health Assembly, the Committee elected Dr Tamar Gabunia (Georgia) and Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards (Trinidad and Tobago) Vice-Chairs, and Dr Walaiporn Patcharanarumol (Thailand), Rapporteur.

One delegation took the floor to request that the European Union be invited to attend and participate without vote in deliberations of the meetings, sub-meetings, drafting groups or other subdivisions thereof, and addressing matters falling within the European Union competence in the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly.

Budget and financial matters

·       Item 22.2 [Item transferred from Committee B]

Special arrangements for settlement of arrears [if any]

The Chair opened the agenda item and invited the Committee to consider the reports and draft resolutions contained in documents A75/48 and A75/49. Comments were invited from the floor and the Committee noted the reports. The draft resolutions were approved and the agenda item was closed.

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·       Item 14.1

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

The Chair opened the agenda item and informed the Committee that the eleven bullet points under this item will be discussed in three separate groups. Comments were invited from the floor on the first grouping. The Chair announced that, due to time constraints, delegations who had requested to speak would be given the floor at a subsequent meeting when discussion of this item would resume.

Committee on Credentials

The Committee on Credentials held its first meeting and elected the following officers in accordance with Rule 24 of the Rules of Procedure: Mr Jeff Roach (Australia), Chair; and Ms María René Castro Cusicanqui (Plurinational State of Bolivia), Vice-Chair.

The Committee found the credentials of the 190 Members listed in the Annex to its Report to be in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Health Assembly, and proposed that the World Health Assembly recognize their validity. A recommendation concerning the representation of Myanmar is also contained in the Report of the Committee.

Third Plenary meeting

In the Chair:
Ms Maria Endang Sumiwi (Indonesia)
First Vice-President of the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly

–  General discussion

The President resumed consideration of item 3 and invited the delegate of Paraguay and the delegate of  Australia to address the Assembly. These speakers were followed by the delegates of Hungary, Spain, Portugal, France, Argentina, Bahrain, Russian Federation, Israel, Mozambique, Germany, Colombia, Norway, Cuba, Ecuador, Sweden, Thailand, Egypt, Canada, Qatar, Panama, Denmark, Pakistan, Singapore, Turkey, Cyprus, Guatemala, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Luxembourg, Maldives, Chile, India, Italy, Mexico, San Marino, Finland, Malta, Lithuania, Netherlands, Monaco, Iceland, Côte d'Ivoire, and Peru.

In accordance with Rule 57 of the Rules of Procedure, the delegations of China, Russian Federation,  Turkey, France, Cyprus, United States of America, and Norway exercised the right of reply.

The meeting was adjourned.

Second meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Dr Hiroki Nakatani (Japan)
Later:
Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards (Trinidad and Tobago), Vice-Chair

The Chair called upon the Rapporteur (Dr Walaiporn Patcharanarumol [Thailand]) to read out the draft first report of Committee A, document (draft) A75/58 containing two resolutions entitled:

-       Special arrangements for the settlement of arrears (Islamic Republic of Iran)

-       Special arrangements for the settlement of arrears (Republic of Sudan)

The resolutions were approved and the draft first report of the Committee was adopted.

Programme budget 2022–2023: revision

o   General Programme of Work results framework

The Chair opened the agenda item and drew the Committee’s attention to the relevant documents  A75/6, A75/7, A75/8 A75/8 Add.1, A75/46 and A75/53. The Committee was invited to consider the draft resolutions contained in documents A75/46 and A75/53 and comments were invited from the floor.

At the invitation of the Chair, the Secretariat responded to issues raised. The reports contained in documents A75/6, A75/7 and A76/8 were noted and the draft resolutions in documents A75/46 and A75/53 were approved.

Sustainable financing: report of the Working Group

The Chair opened the agenda item and drew the Committee’s attention to documents A75/9 and A75/54. Comments were invited from the floor. The Chair acknowledged and thanked Mr Björn Kümmel (Germany), the Chair of the Working Group on Sustainable Financing.

The Chair announced that, due to time constraints, delegations who had requested to speak would be given the floor at a subsequent meeting when discussion of this item would resume.

In accordance with Rule 57 of the Rules of Procedure, the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran exercised the right of reply.

The meeting was adjourned.

 

 

4. Strategic roundtables

The following strategic roundtables will take place during the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly and are open to all Assembly participants:

Tuesday, 24 May 2022  Room XXVI

13.00-14.30

Urgent paradigm shift towards preventing disease and promoting health: Economics of Health for All.

This roundtable will focus on preventing disease and promoting health as one of the Director-General’s top strategic priorities – requiring ‘an urgent paradigm shift towards preventing disease and promoting health: Economics of Health for All’.

The roundtable will bring together ministers and global leaders with different perspectives and experiences in addressing the determinants of health, and common goods for people and planet. These include working outwards from health and social care; planning and investment in health-determining sectors; specific policy actions and economic levers to support strategic public budgets and investment in state capacity for “Health for All”, and investment in institutions and human development. The event will highlight and guide WHO’s future role in convening and engaging proactively and directly across sectors, and with economic and financial leaders and organizations.

This roundtable will focus on working together to position health as a core development objective, and guide investments to support a healthy society – rather than framing health financing as an expenditure. This should also constitute a practical agenda for the OneHealth and planetary health approaches.  Moreover, COVID recovery and pandemic preparedness investments should align and support environmental, social and economic systems, and promote a sustainability agenda that connects planet, people, prosperity and equity. Yet money is not enough.  Investment must be made in the ability of countries’ strategic and implementation capabilities, by institutions and people working in the public sector.

The WHO Director-General and the WHO Regional Director for Europe will be joined by a panel of ministers and distinguished leaders, including the Chair of the Council on the Economics of Health for All.

Wednesday, 25 May 2022  Room XXVI

13.00-14.30

Radical reorientation of health systems towards primary health care as the foundation of universal health coverage: the best and only choice to achieve universal health coverage.

This roundtable will focus on the radical reorientation of health systems towards primary health care (PHC) as the foundation for universal health coverage (UHC).

The unprecedented COVID pandemic global crisis has been an eye-opener to the world with millions of lives lost and major socio-economic disruptions made. It has exposed the limitations of most health systems. In response to the crisis, a WHO position paper was released in October 2021, “Building health systems resilience towards UHC and health security during COVID-19 pandemic and beyond”. This paper insists on the importance of urgently and smartly investing in PHC, the essential public health functions and health systems foundations across many countries. 

Building on the Declaration of Astana on PHC and the political declaration on UHC, WHO created the Special Programme on PHC in 2020. Incorporating the UHC-Partnership, the special programme is a key instrument to support countries reorient their health systems toward PHC.

In this roundtable, we will hear from the WHO Director-General, Deputy Director-General, and Regional Directors for South-East Asia and the Americas on the reasons why a radical reorientation of health systems toward PHC is crucial. We will hear first-hand reflections from two countries on their experiences in PHC and health systems. And we will learn from major international financial institutions, bilateral donors and nongovernmental organizations about how they can collectively support countries in reorienting their health systems towards PHC.

Thursday, 26 May 2022  Room XXVI

13.00-14.30

Towards a new architecture for health emergency preparedness, response and resilience: 10 proposals for a safer world.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for a stronger and more inclusive health emergency preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR) architecture. The Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly will engage Member States and partners in discussion about a vision for Strengthening the Global Architecture for Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience. To ensure a broad and inclusive consultation process, the draft of the Director-General’s proposals for strengthening HEPR was published and several consultations have since occurred. This strategic roundtable provides another forum to bring together different perspectives across the issues of equity, inclusivity of ownership of all countries and sectors, and coherence in the alignment of systems. 

Friday, 27 May 2022  Room XXVI

13:00–14:30

Behavioural sciences for better health.

This roundtable will focus on mainstreaming the use of behavioural sciences into public health to improve health outcomes, one of the Director-General’s strategic priorities.

WHO and Member States cannot achieve the ambitious goal of transforming global health and the health of more than 7 billion people without a clear understanding of people’s health-related behaviours. Behavioural sciences focus on understanding why specific behaviours and decision-making processes occur by investigating the drivers of and barriers that operate in a given context at the cognitive, social and environmental levels.

An initiative to mainstream and increase the use of behavioural sciences to complement a biomedical focus on public health challenges was launched by WHO Director-General at the end of the year 2019. WHA75 and this strategic roundtable provide the opportunity to share with the Member States WHO’s progress in this area; to continue raising the profile and awareness around this important field of work; and to hold strategic discussions on the way forward, specifically on how to better integrate behavioural sciences into the global health agenda through WHO’s work and that of Member States.

This strategic roundtable will be attended by the Ministers of Health from Malaysia, Qatar and Canada who will discuss their vision and concrete actions in this field and exchange ideas with experts from academia from the fields of behavioural economics and social sciences.

The strategic roundtable 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/20220524-28_TB/player.html?lang=ar

Chinese:         https://player.4am.ch/who/20220524-28_TB/player.html?lang=zh

English:           https://player.4am.ch/who/20220524-28_TB/player.html?lang=en

French:           https://player.4am.ch/who/20220524-28_TB/player.html?lang=fr

Russian:          https://player.4am.ch/who/20220524-28_TB/player.html?lang=ru

Spanish:          https://player.4am.ch/who/20220524-28_TB/player.html?lang=es

5. Other meetings

The Secretariat has been advised that the following meetings will take place during the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly.

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

08:00–08:50 Room XXIII

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO African Region.

08:00–08:50 Room XXIV

Meeting of heads of delegations of Member States of the Region of the Americas.

08:00–08:50 Room XXV

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.

08:00–08:50 Room XXVII

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region.

08:15–08:45 Room XXVI

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO European Region.

08:30–08:50 Room XXII

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO Western Pacific Region.

13:00–14:00 Room XXV

Coordination meeting of the European Union.

17:30–18:30 Room XXII

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Wednesday, 25 May 2022

08:00–08:50 Room XXIII

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO African Region.

08:00–08:50 Room XXIV

Meeting of heads of delegations of Member States of the Region of the Americas.

08:00–08:50 Room XXV

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.

08:00–08:50 Room XXVII

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region.

08:15–08:45 Room XXVI

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO European Region.

08:30–08:50 Room XXII

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO Western Pacific Region.

13:00–14:00 Room XXV

Coordination meeting of the European Union.

18:00–19:00

Virtual information meeting of delegations of Member States of the Region of the Americas.

Thursday, 26 May 2022

08:00–08:50 Room XXIII

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO African Region.

08:00–08:50 Room XXIV

Meeting of heads of delegations of Member States of the Region of the Americas.

08:00–08:50 Room XXV

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.

08:00–08:50 Room XXVII

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region.

08:15–08:45 Room XXVI

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO European Region.

08:30–08:50 Room XXII

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO Western Pacific Region.

13:00–14:00 Room XXV

Coordination meeting of the European Union.

17:30–19:00 Room XXVII

Regional coordination meeting of the Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Friday, 27 May 2022

08:00–08:50 Room XXIII

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO African Region.

08:00–08:50 Room XXV

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.

08:00–08:50 Room XXVII

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region.

08:15–08:45 Room XXVI

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO European Region.

08:30–08:50 Room XXII

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO Western Pacific Region.

13:00–14:00 Room XXV

Coordination meeting of the European Union.

Saturday, 28 May 2022

08:00–08:50 Room XXIII

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO African Region.

08:00–08:50 Room XXVII

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region.

08:15–08:45 Room XXVI

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO European Region.

08:30–08:50 Room XXII

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the WHO Western Pacific Region.

13:00–14:00 Room XXV

Coordination meeting of the European Union.

6. Arrangements for conduct of discussion in meetings

Plenary: theme of general discussion: “Health for peace, peace for health”.

Member States, Associate Members, Observers, invited representatives of the United Nations and of other participating intergovernmental organizations will be provided with the opportunity to take the floor under agenda item 3 Address by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General.

Resolution WHA52.21 (1999) on reform of the Health Assembly requested the Director-General to make appropriate arrangements for a shortened plenary meeting and, to this end, encouraged group or regional statements in plenary debate.

Member States can inscribe on the list of speakers for the general debate through this link up to 10:00 CEST on Tuesday, 24 May. It will be possible either to deliver a live statement in person, or to provide a pre-recorded statement.

Member State delegations are asked to observe the time limit for verbal statements during the sessions: individual statements by Member States and Associate Members will be limited to three minutes (330 words), Regional and group statements will be limited to four minutes (440 words). Delegations providing group statements are discouraged from taking the floor subsequently to provide a national statement. In addition, delegations on whose behalf a group statement is provided, are discouraged from subsequently taking the floor except to provide any brief additional comments that were not covered by the group statement.

Statements by Observers, invited representatives of the United Nations and other participating intergovernmental organizations will be limited to two minutes (220 words). Statements by non-State actors in official relations with the Organization will be limited to one minute and three minutes for constituency statements.

To ensure that statements are interpreted as clearly as possible, delegates are requested to submit a copy of their statements by email to [email protected] or to give a paper copy to the conference officers in the room at least 30 minutes in advance.

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], (non-State actors are asked to copy [email protected]), clearly indicating the relevant agenda item or sub-item in the subject line.

Member States, Associate Members, and non-State actors in official relations with WHO may submit a pre-recorded video statement in place of live interventions. The following time limits will apply: Member States and Associate Members - three minutes and Group statements - four minutes, non-State actors - one minute and three minutes for constituency statements. 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.

7.  Announcements

For IT support, please send an email to [email protected].          

The Plenary 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/20220522-28_WHA75/player.html?lang=ar

Chinese:         https://player.4am.ch/who/20220522-28_WHA75/player.html?lang=zh

English:           https://player.4am.ch/who/20220522-28_WHA75/player.html?lang=en

French:           https://player.4am.ch/who/20220522-28_WHA75/player.html?lang=fr

Russian:          https://player.4am.ch/who/20220522-28_WHA75/player.html?lang=ru

Spanish:         https://player.4am.ch/who/20220522-28_WHA75/player.html?lang=es

Documents for the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly can be accessed on the Internet through the WHO website (https://apps.who.int/gb/gov/).

The World Health Assembly application allows you to receive updates on the WHA75 programme of work and access documentation directly on your mobile device. Scan the QR code or search for “WHO Events” in the Apple or Google Stores on your phone.

 

Due to renovations and space limitations, it will not be possible to purchase WHO publications at the Palais des Nations. The WHO bookshop boutique, located next to the reception of the WHO Headquarters’ main building, will be open at the following times:

Monday, 23 to Friday, 27 May: 09:00–17:00.

A 50% discount on WHO books is granted to delegates. WHO souvenirs are also available.

8.  Provisional list of speakers for the general discussion in Plenary

Delegates can view the speaker’s list at any given time:

https://publicspace.who.int/sites/signage/agenda/p/los.aspx

Malawi

Botswana

Nigeria

Haiti

Republic of Korea

Gabon

Poland

Armenia

Czechia

Jamaica

United Arab Emirates

Plurinational State of Bolivia

Senegal

Guyana

Fiji

Kazakhstan

El Salvador

Japan

South Africa

Djibouti

Mauritania

Estonia

Algeria

Uruguay

Honduras

Costa Rica

Namibia

Philippines

Congo

Barbados

Kuwait

Morocco

China

Belarus

Zambia

New Zealand

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Georgia

Iraq

Andorra

Lebanon

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Togo

Angola

Brunei Darussalam

Bhutan

Republic of Moldova

Niger

Eswatini

Sudan

Ethiopia

Islamic Republic of Iran

Seychelles

Nepal

Cameroon

Sri Lanka

Viet Nam

Malaysia

Azerbaijan

Chad

Yemen

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Ireland

Turkmenistan

Timor-Leste

Greece

Syrian Arab Republic

Kiribati

Madagascar

Cabo Verde

Latvia

Jordan

Uganda

Saint Kitts and Nevis

United Republic of Tanzania

Uzbekistan

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Oman

Albania

Vanuatu

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bangladesh

Bahamas

Marshall Islands

Lesotho

North Macedonia

Slovakia

Nauru

El Salvador

Tuvalu

Belize

Federated States of Micronesia

Nepal

Zimbabwe

Saint Lucia

Chad

Mongolia

Saint Lucia

Palau

Saudi Arabia

Libya

Cambodia

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Nicaragua

Burundi

Benin

Central African Republic

 

 

Holy See

Palestine

Order of Malta

Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance

 

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