Preliminary Journal  18 May 2022

This preliminary 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)

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.

Table of contents

1. Date and working hours

2. Tentative programme of work of the Health Assembly

3. Strategic Roundtables

4. Arrangements for conduct of discussion in meetings

5. Announcements

6. 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 Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly will open on Sunday, 22 May 2022 at 14:00. 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. Tentative programme of work of the Health Assembly

Sunday, 22 May 2022

14:00

Opening of the Health Assembly

Election of the President of the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly

Election of the five Vice-Presidents, the Chairs of the main committees, and establishment of the General Committee of the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly

General Committee[1] — Building E Room XXIII

Immediately after conclusion of Item 1.3 in Plenary

Examination and submission to the Health Assembly of recommendations on such questions as:

–   Adoption of the provisional agenda as proposed by the Executive Board

–   Addition of supplementary items, if any, to the provisional agenda

–   Initial allocation to the main committees of items of the agenda

–   Deferment of any item to a future Health Assembly

–   Programme of work of the Health Assembly

Monday, 23 May 2022

Second Plenary meeting — Building E Room XIX

09:00

–  Presidential address

Opening of the Health Assembly

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

–  Document A75/1 Rev.1

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

–  Document A75/2

Post of Director-General

·       Item 4.1

Procedures for the conduct of the election[2]

Address by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General

–  General discussion

First meeting of Committee A — Building E Room XX

Upon commencement of the General discussion

Opening of the Committee3

Budget and financial matters

·       Item 22.2

Special arrangements for settlement of arrears [if any]

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·       Item 14.1

Discussion of agenda item 14.1 will be grouped as follows: (A, D, F, J, & A75/10 Add.5), (B, C, E, I, A75/10 Add.6 and A75/INF./4), (G&H)

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, 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 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

Committee on Credentials — Building E Room XXII

14:00

 

Third Plenary meeting — Building E Room XIX

14:30

Address by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General

–  General discussion

Second meeting of Committee A — Building E Room XX

14:30

Programme budget 2022–2023: revision

–  Documents A75/6, A75/7 and A75/46  

o   General Programme of Work results framework

-       Documents A75/8, and EB150/2022/REC/1, resolution EB150.R4

Sustainable financing: report of the Working Group

–  Document A75/9

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Fourth Plenary meeting — Building E Room XIX

09:00

–  Report of the Committee on Credentials

Admission of new Members and Associate Members [if any]

Invited speaker(s)

–  General discussion

Third meeting of Committee A — Building E Room XX

Immediately after conclusion of Item 5 in Plenary

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

-       Document A75/10

·       Item 16.2

Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies

-       Documents A75/10, A75/17, A75/18, A75/19, A75/20 and A75/21

·       Item 16.4

Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005)

-       Document A75/22

Fifth Plenary meeting — Building E Room XIX

14:30

Post of Director-General

·       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

Wednesday, 25 May 2022

Fourth and fifth 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 14.1 continued

Discussion of agenda item 14.1 will be grouped as follows: (A, D, F, J, & A75/10 Add.5), (B, C, E, I, A75/10 Add.6 and A75/INF./4), (G & H)

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, 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 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 and EB150/2022/REC/1, resolution EB150.R3

·       Item 14.3

Global strategy for tuberculosis research and innovation

-       Document A75/10

·       Item 14.4

Road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030

-       Document A75/10

·       Item 14.5

Immunization Agenda 2030

-       Document A75/10

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

09:00 and 14:30

Opening of the Committee4

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

-       Document A75/27

·       Item 21.2

Scale of assessments 2022–2023

-       Documents A75/10 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

-       Document A75/28

Governance matters

·       Item 21.4

Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment

-       Document A75/29

·       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 and EB150/2022/REC/1, decision EB150(11)

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

–  Document A75/26

General Committee — Building E Room XXIII

17:30

Thursday, 26 May 2022

Sixth and seventh 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 14.6

Infection prevention and control

-       Document A75/10

·       Item 14.7

Global road map on defeating meningitis by 2030

-       Document A75/10

·       Item 14.8

Standardization of medical devices nomenclature

-       Documents A75/11 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

-       Document A75/31

·       Item 21.8

Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules

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

·       Item 21.9

Report of the International Civil Service Commission

-       Document A75/10

Budget and financial matters

·       Item 22.1

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

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

·       Item 22.3

Assessment of new Members and Associate Members [if any]

·       Item 22.4

Amendments to the Financial Regulations and Financial Rules [if any]

Agreement with intergovernmental organizations

–  Document A75/34

Audit and oversight matters

·       Item 24.1

Report of the External Auditor

-       Document A75/35

·       Item 24.2

Report of the Internal Auditor

-       Documents A75/36 and A75/46

·       Item 24.3

External and internal audit recommendations: progress on implementation

-       Document A75/37

Friday, 27 May 2022

Sixth Plenary meeting — Building E Room XIX

09:00

Awards

–  Document A75/INF./3

Executive Board: election

Reports of the main committees

Eighth and ninth 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

·       Item 17.2

Global Health for Peace Initiative

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

·       Item 18.2

WHO Implementation Framework for Billion 3

-       Documents A75/10 and A75/25

o   WHO global strategy for food safety

-       Documents A75/10, 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

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

Updates and future reporting

–  Document A75/39

·       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

Tenth 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

Seventh 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. Strategic Roundtables

The following strategic roundtables will take place during the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly:

Monday, 23 May 2022

13.00-14.15

A Healthy Return: investing in a sustainably financed WHO.

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

13.00-14.30

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

Wednesday, 25 May 2022

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.

Thursday, 26 May 2022

13.00-14.30

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

Friday, 27 May 2022

13:00–14:30

Behavioural sciences for better health.

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=en

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

4. 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. It will be possible either to deliver a live statement in person, or to provide a pre-recorded statement. Pre-recorded statements should be uploaded at https://bit.ly/3LNpvjf by 18 May 2022.

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 at least one hour in advance by email to [email protected].

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. Video statements should be received by Wednesday 18 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, non-State actors - one minute and three minutes for constituency statements. 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.

5.  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.

 

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:

Sunday, 22 May: 09:00–21:00

Monday, 23 to Friday, 27 May: 09:00–16:30.

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

The Swiss Confederation reception scheduled for Sunday, 22 May at 18:30 in the WHO cafeteria, will  include an unveiling of a Swiss Art donation.

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

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

https://extranet.who.int/dataformv3/index.php/reporting/module/948833

Kenya

Brazil

Slovenia

United States of America

Portugal

Latvia

United Kingdom

Paraguay

Australia

Hungary

Mexico

France

Argentina

Bahrain

Russian Federation

Israel

Mozambique

Germany

Singapore

Colombia

Norway

Cuba

Ecuador

Finland

Thailand

Egypt

Canada

Turkey

Qatar

Panama

Denmark

Pakistan

Cyprus

Guatemala

Tunisia

Burkina Faso

Dominican Republic

Ghana

Luxembourg

Maldives

Chile

India

Italy

Spain

San Marino

Sweden

Malta

Lithuania

Netherlands

Monaco

Iceland

Côte d'Ivoire

Malawi

Peru

Botswana

Nigeria

Haiti

Republic of Korea

Gabon

Poland

Armenia

Estonia

Jamaica

United Arab Emirates

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Senegal

Guyana

Fiji

Kazakhstan

El Salvador

Japan

South Africa

Mauritania

Czechia

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

Indonesia

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

Romania

Timor-Leste

Greece

Syrian Arab Republic

Kiribati

Madagascar

Cabo Verde

Ukraine

Jordan

Uganda

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Federated States of Micronesia

United Republic of Tanzania

Uzbekistan

Plurinational State of Bolivia

Oman

Albania

Vanuatu

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bangladesh

Bahamas

Marshall Islands

Lesotho

Djibouti

North Macedonia

Slovakia

 

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