Journal No. 6   27 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° 6 Programme of meetings for Friday, 27 May 2022

Time	Plenary Room XIX	Committee A Room XX	Committee B Room XVII
09:00	Seventh Plenary meeting
Immediately after conclusion of Item 9 in Plenary		Tenth meeting	Fifth meeting
14:30		Eleventh meeting	Sixth meeting
18:00		Twelfth meeting	Seventh 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

Friday, 27 May

Technical briefing: Multi-Country Monkeypox Outbreak

12:00–12:50 Room XIX

Informal consultation in relation to the establishment of an agile Member States Task Group on strengthening WHO budgetary, programmatic and financing governance

18:00–19:00 Room XXIII

Please note the following administrative arrangements:

Badges for Members of the Board, their alternates and advisers, and representatives of Member States and organizations invited to attend, will be issued at:

-     the Palais (WHA enquiry desk – Door 40, E Building) and

-     WHO headquarters reception desk

Friday, 27 May from 08:00 to 17:00 and
Saturday 28 May from 08:00 until the closure of the Assembly.

Restaurants:

Bar du Serpent (1st floor, E Building):          07:30–end of Committee sessions.

Main cafeteria (ground floor, A Building):     11:30–14:00

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

Friday, 27 May 2022

Seventh Plenary meeting — Building E Room XIX

09:00

Awards

-       Document A75/INF./3

Executive Board: election

-       Document A75/63

Reports of the main committees

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

Draft third report of Committee A

Document (Draft) A75/61 containing two decisions entitled:

-       Sustainable financing

-       Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies

and two resolutions entitled:

-       Strengthening health emergency preparedness and response in cities and urban settings

-       Strengthening clinical trials to provide high-quality evidence on health interventions and to improve research quality and coordination

Draft first report of Committee B

Document (draft) A75/62 containing two resolutions entitled:

-       Scale of assessments 2022–2023

-       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

and one decision entitled:

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

Tenth, eleventh and twelfth meetings of Committee A — Building E Room XX

Immediately after conclusion of Item 9 in Plenary, 14:30 and 18:00

Draft fourth report of Committee A

Document (Draft) A75/65 containing one resolution entitled:

-       Health emergency in Ukraine and refugee receiving and hosting countries, stemming from the Russian Federation’s aggression

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 Rev.1 Add.1, A75/10 Rev.1 Add.2, 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

·       Item 14.5

Immunization Agenda 2030

-       Document A75/10 Rev.1

·       Item 14.6

Infection prevention and control

-       Documents A75/10 Rev.1, A75/A/CONF./5 and A75/A/CONF./5 Add.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)

Public health emergencies: preparedness and response

·       Item 16.2 continued

Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies

-       Documents A75/18, A75/A/CONF./7 Rev.1 and A75/A/CONF./7 Add.1

Fifth, sixth and seventh meetings of Committee B — Building E Room XVII (overflow Room XXII)

Immediately after conclusion of Item 9 in Plenary, 14:30 and 18:00

Draft second report of Committee B

Document (draft) A75/64 containing three resolutions entitled:

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

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

-       Agreements with intergovernmental organizations

and nine decisions entitled:

-       WHO reform - Written statements: guidelines for Member States

-       Human resources: annual report

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

-       Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee

-       Report of the External Auditor

-       Availability, safety and quality of blood products

-       Human organ and tissue transplantation

-       Traditional medicine

-       Public health dimension of the world drug problem

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

-       Documents A75/15, A75/A/CONF./3 and A75/A/CONF./3 Add.1

 

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, A75/25, A75/A/CONF./1, A75/A/CONF./1 Add.1, A75/A/CONF./4 and A75/A/CONF./4 Add.1

o   WHO global strategy for food safety

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

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

Saturday, 28 May 2022

Thirteenth meeting of Committee A — Building E Room XX

09:00

Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

Eighth 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

Seventh meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Dr Hiroki Nakatani (Japan)

Later:
Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards (Trinidad and Tobago)

Draft third report of Committee A

The Rapporteur (Dr Walaiporn Patcharanarumol [Thailand]) read out the draft third report of Committee A, document (draft) A75/61 containing two decisions entitled:

-       Sustainable financing

-       Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies

and two resolutions entitled:

-       Strengthening health emergency preparedness and response in cities and urban settings

-       Strengthening clinical trials to provide high-quality evidence on health interventions and to improve research quality and coordination

The resolutions and decisions were approved and the draft third report of Committee A was adopted.

Public health emergencies: preparedness and response

·       Item 16.1

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

·       Item 16.3

WHO’s work in health emergencies

The Chair opened this grouping of items, drew the Committee’s attention to the relevant documents A75/16, A75/10 Rev.1, and A75/47 invited the Committee to consider the draft resolutions contained in documents A75/A/CONF./6 AND A75/A/CONF./8.

The Chair outlined the proposed approach for the orderly consideration of the items and draft resolutions under this agenda item, as detailed in the white paper previously circulated to Member States. The Committee agreed with the proposal.

The  floor was given to the Chair of the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (IOAC), Dr Felicity Harvey (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), to introduce the report contained in document A75/16.

At the invitation of the Chair, the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros, addressed the Committee to thank the outgoing co-Chairs of the IOAC (Dr Felicity Harvey and Dr Geeta Gupta) and welcome the new co-Chairs, Professor Walid Ammar and Dr Samba Sow.

The Chair invited comments from the floor.

The Chair of the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (IOAC), Dr Felicity Harvey, responded to issues raised. On behalf of WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Richard Brennan was invited to take the floor. The Secretariat responded to issues raised.

The Committee noted the report contained in document A75/16 and noted the relevant sections of the report contained in document A75/10 Rev.1.

Discussion of item 16 was suspended and the meeting adjourned.

Third meeting of Committee B

In the Chair:
Mr Rajesh Bhushan (India)

Draft first report of Committee B

The Chair invited the Rapporteur (Dr Grzegorz Juszczyk [Poland]), to read out the draft first report of Committee B, document (draft) A75/62 containing two resolutions entitled:

-       Scale of assessments 2022–2023

-       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

and one decision entitled:

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

The draft first report of Committee B was adopted.

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

Governance matters

·       Item 21.6 continued

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

The Chair reopened the agenda item and invited comments from the floor. The Secretariat responded to questions raised. The Committee noted the relevant section of the consolidated report contained in document A75/10 Rev.1 and adopted the resolution contained in document EB150/2022/REC/1, EB150(11).

·       Item 21.5 continued

WHO reform

o   Written statements: guidelines for Member States

The Chair reopened the agenda item and invited comments from the floor. The Committee noted the report contained in document A75/30 and approved the decision contained in document EB149/2021/REC/1, EB149(3).

Staffing matters

·       Item 21.7

Human resources: annual report

·       Item 21.8

Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules

·       Item 21.9

Report of the International Civil Service Commission

The Chair opened the grouped agenda items and drew the attention of the Committee to the recommendation from the thirty-sixth meeting of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board contained in paragraphs 12 and 13 of document A75/57. He then invited comments from the floor. The Secretariat responded to questions raised. The Committee noted the reports contained in documents A75/31, A75/57, and the relevant section of the consolidated report contained in document A75/10 Rev.1. The Committee then approved the decision as per the recommendation of the PBAC 36 as orally presented by the Secretariat and approved resolution contained in document EB150/2022/REC/1, EB150.R8.

Budget and financial matters

·       Item 22.1

WHO programmatic and financial report for 2020–2021, including audited financial statement for 2021

The Chair opened the agenda item and invited comments from the floor.  The Secretariat responded to questions raised. The Committee noted the reports contained in documents A75/32 and A75/33 and approved the decision contained in document A75/51.

Agreement with intergovernmental organizations

Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee

Collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental organizations

The Chair opened the grouped agenda items and informed the Committee that, with regards to the Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee, the name of Ms Mariana Schneider-Lenz in paragraph 6 of document A75/38 should be replaced by Dr Sebastien Klappert. He then invited comments from the floor. The Secretariat responded to questions raised. The Committee noted the report contained in document A75/39 and approved the resolution contained in paragraph 6 of document A75/34.  The Committee then approved the decision containing the following recommendations:

-       to appoint Dr Sebastien Klappert (Germany) as an alternative member of the WHO Staff Pension Committee for the remainder of the term of office of Dr Kai Zaehle until the closure of the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly in May 2024;

-       to appoint Dr Theophile Dushime (Rwanda) as an alternate member of the WHO Staff Pension Committee for a three-year term until the closure of the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly in May 2025;

-       to appoint Mr Gerald Anderson (USA) as an alternate member of the WHO Staff Pension Committee for a three-year term until the closure of the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly in May 2025;

-       to appoint Dr Ahmed Shadoul (Sudan) the most senior alternate member, as a member of the WHO Staff Pension Committee for the remainder of his term of office until the closure of the Seventy-sixth Work Health Assembly in May 2023;

-       to appoint Ms Yanjmaa Binderiya (Mongolia), the second most senior alternate member, as a member of the WHO Staff Pension Committee for the remainder of her term of office until the closure of the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly in May 2024.

Audit and oversight matters

·       Item 24.1    

Report of the External Auditor

·       Item 24.2    

Report of the Internal Auditor

·       Item 24.3    

External and internal audit recommendations: progress on implementation

The Chair opened the grouped agenda items and invited the External Auditor, Ms Parveen Mehta, to present her report to the Committee. He then opened the floor for comments and the Secretariat responded to questions raised.  The Committee noted the reports contained in documents A75/35, A75/36 and A75/37 and approved the decision contained in paragraph 9 of document A75/56, thus closing the agenda item.

The meeting was adjourned.

Eighth meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Dr Hiroki Nakatani (Japan)

Later:
Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards (Trinidad and Tobago)

Public health emergencies: preparedness and response

·       Item 16.3 continued

WHO’s work in health emergencies

The Chair opened item 16.3 and invited the Committee to consider the draft resolution contained in document A75/A/CONF./6 Health emergency in Ukraine and refugee receiving and hosting countries, stemming from the Russian Federation’s aggression.

Two delegations took the floor to introduce their respective draft resolutions.

In accordance with Rule 74 of the Rules of Procedure, a roll-call vote was taken. The Chair drew a letter in order to identify the first country to vote which was “J”. The vote resulted in 88 votes in favour to 12 votes against, with 53 abstentions and 30 Member States absent, as follows:

Votes in favour: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, and Vanuatu.

Votes against: Algeria, Belarus, Burundi, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mali, Nicaragua, Russian Federation, and Syrian Arab Republic.

Abstentions: Angola, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, Dominica, Egypt, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Absent: Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Congo, Cook Islands, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Morocco, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Tonga, and Turkmenistan.

Several delegates gave an explanation of vote under Rule 77 of the Rules of Procedure, and some delivered statements. The draft resolution contained in document A75/A/CONF./6 was approved.

The Committee was then invited to consider the draft resolution contained in document A75/A/CONF./8 Health emergency in and around Ukraine and refugee receiving and hosting countries.

In accordance with Rule 74 of the Rules of Procedure, a roll-call vote was taken. The Chair drew a letter in order to identify the first country to vote which was “L”. The vote resulted in 15 votes in favour to 66 votes against, with 70 abstentions and 32 Member States absent, as follows:

Votes in favour: Algeria, Belarus, Burundi, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mali, Nicaragua, Russian Federation, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, and Zimbabwe.

Votes against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, and Uruguay.

Abstentions: Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, Egypt, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, and Zambia.

Absent: Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cook Islands, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkey, and Turkmenistan.

Several delegates gave an explanation of vote under Rule 77 of the Rules of Procedure, and some delivered statements. The draft resolution contained in document A75/A/CONF./8 was rejected.

The Committee noted the report as contained in document A75/47, concluding consideration of item 16.3.

The meeting was adjourned.

 

 

Fourth meeting of Committee B

In the Chair:
Mr Rajesh Bhushan (India)

Later:
Dr Firass Abiad (Lebanon)

Updates and future reporting

·       Item 27.1

Availability, safety and quality of blood products

·       Item 27.2

Human organ and tissue transplantation

·       Item 27.3

Traditional medicine

·       Item 27.4

Public health dimension of the world drug problem

The Chair opened the grouped agenda items and invited comments from the floor. The Secretariat responded to questions raised. The Committee noted the reports contained in documents A75/40, A75/41, A75/42, A75/43 and approved the decisions contained in paragraph 20 of document A75/40, paragraph 28 of document A75/41, paragraph 29 of document A75/42 and paragraph 15 of document A75/43.

Matters for information

·       Item 28.1

Progress reports

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))

The Chair opened the agenda item and advised the Committee that these items contained in document A75/44 are for information only.  He then opened the floor for comments and the Secretariat responded to questions and comments.

Human resources for health

o   Working for Health: draft 2022–2030 action plan

o   Global health and care worker compact

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

o   Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030

The Chair opened the agenda item and invited comments from the floor. The Chair announced that, due to time constraints, delegations who had requested to speak will be given the floor at the beginning of the next meeting of the Committee when discussion of this item will resume.

The meeting was adjourned.

Ninth meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Dr Tamar Gabunia (Georgia)

Later:
Dr Hiroki Nakatani (Japan)

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

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

The Chair opened the second grouping of agenda subitems under item 14.1: B, C, E, I, and drew the Committee’s attention to the relevant documents A75/10 Rev.1, A75/10 Add.1, A75/10 Add.3, A75/10 Add.3 Corr.1, A75/10 Add.6, A75/A Rev.1 Add.1 and A75/INF./4. Comments were invited from the floor.

In accordance with Rule 57 of the Rules of Procedure, three delegates 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:

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.

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 XXIV

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

09:00–10:00 Room XXIII

Information session with AFR members of the Executive Board members.

13:00–14:00 Room XXV

Coordination meeting of the European Union.

Saturday, 28 May 2022

08:00–08:50 Room XXV

Coordination meeting of the European Union.

08:30–08:50 Room XXIV

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

08:15–08:45 Room XXVI

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

13:00–14:00 Room XXV

Coordination meeting of the European Union.

6. Arrangements for conduct of discussion in meetings

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 interpret@who.int 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 statements@who.int, (non-State actors are asked to copy nsastatements@who.int), 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.

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 interpret@who.int. 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.

7.  Announcements

For IT support, please send an email to GBS-IT-Support@who.int.          

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.

 

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