Journal No. 3   23 May 2023

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 A76/DIV./2)

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

N° 3 Programme of meetings

Time	Plenary Room XIX	Committee A Room XX
09:00	Fourth Plenary meeting
Upon commencement of the General discussion		Third meeting
14:30	Fifth Plenary meeting	Fourth meeting
20:00		Fifth 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

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 Tuesday, 30 May 2023, as decided by the Executive Board at its 152nd session.

Delegates and other participants will be able to collect their badges from the Distribution Desk in the main lobby of WHO headquarters. The Distribution Desk will be open at the following times:

WHA76:

–     Tuesday, 23 to Saturday, 27 May and Monday, 29 May 2023 from 08:00 to 17:00

–     Tuesday, 30 May 2023 from 08:00 until the closure of WHA76.

EB153:

Delegates and other participants will be able to collect their badges from the Distribution Desks at the Palais des Nations and in the main lobby of WHO headquarters. The Distribution Desks will be open at the following times:

–     Palais des Nations - Monday, 29 May 2023 from 14:00 to 17:00 and Tuesday, 30 May 2023 from 08:00 to 17:00

–     WHO headquarters - Wednesday, 31 May to Thursday, 1 June 2023 from 08:00 until the closure of EB153.

2. Programme of work of the Health Assembly

Tuesday, 23 May 2023

Fourth Plenary meeting — Building E Room XIX

09:00

–  Report of the Committee on Credentials

-  Document A76/49

–  General discussion

Third, fourth and fifth meetings of Committee A — Building E Room XX

Upon commencement of the General discussion, 14:30 and 20:00

Draft first report of Committee A

Document (Draft) A76/50 containing one resolution entitled:

-  Programme budget 2024-2025

Public health emergencies: preparedness and response

·  Item 14.1

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

-  Document A76/8

·  Item 14.2

Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005)

-  Document A76/9 Rev.1

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·  Item 15.1

Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies

o   Strengthening the global architecture for health emergency preparedness, response and resilience

-  Document A76/10

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

-  Document A76/7 Rev.1

·  Item 15.2

WHO’s work in health emergencies

-  Document A76/11

o   Implementation of resolution WHA75.11 (2022)

-  Documents A76/12, A76/A/CONF./3, A76/A/CONF./3 Add.1, A76/A/CONF./4 and A76/A/CONF./4 Add.1

·  Item 15.3

Global Health for Peace Initiative

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1, A76/7 Rev.1 Add.2 and A76/7 Rev.1 Add.3

Fifth Plenary meeting — Building E Room XIX

14:30

–  General discussion

Wednesday, 24 May 2023

Sixth and seventh meetings of Committee A — Building E Room XX

09:00 and 14:30

Public health emergencies: preparedness and response

·  Item 14.1 continued

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

-  Document A76/8

·  Item 14.2 continued

Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005)

-  Document A76/9 Rev.1

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·  Item 15.1 continued

Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies

o   Strengthening the global architecture for health emergency preparedness, response and resilience

-  Document A76/10

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

-  Document A76/7 Rev.1

·  Item 15.2 continued

WHO’s work in health emergencies

-  Document A76/11

o   Implementation of resolution WHA75.11 (2022)

-  Documents A76/12, A76/A/CONF./3, A76/A/CONF./3 Add.1, A76/A/CONF./4 and A76/A/CONF./4 Add.1

·  Item 15.3 continued

Global Health for Peace Initiative

-  Document A76/7 Rev.1, A76/7 Rev.1 Add.2 and A76/7 Rev.1 Add.3

 

Global strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016–2030)

–  Document A76/5

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·  Item 13.1

Universal health coverage

o   Reorienting health systems to primary health care as a resilient foundation for universal health coverage and preparations for a high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on universal health coverage

-  Documents A76/6, A76/7 Rev.1 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decisions EB152(3), EB152(4), EB152(5) and EB152(6)

·  Item 13.2

Political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, and mental health

o   Draft updated menu of policy options and cost-effective interventions for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1, A76/7 Add.1 Rev.1 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(11)

First meeting of Committee B — Building E Room XVII

09:00

Opening of the Committee1

Budget and finance matters

·  Item 19.1

Results Report 2022 (Programme budget 2022–2023: performance assessment) and Financial report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022

-  Documents A76/16, A76/17, A76/41, A76/INF./2 and A76/INF./3

·  Item 19.2

Financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2022–2023 and outlook on financing of the Programme budget 2024–2025

-  Documents A76/18, A76/19 and A76/42

·  Item 19.3

Scale of assessments 2024–2025

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1 and EB152/2023/REC/1, resolution EB152.R3

·  Item 19.4

Amendments to the Financial Regulations and Financial Rules

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1, A76/20, A76/20 Add.1, A76/45 and EB152/2023/REC/1, resolution EB152.R4

·  Item 19.5

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 A76/21 and A76/44

Staffing matters

·  Item 21.1

Human resources

-  Documents A76/26, A76/47 and EB152/2023/REC/1, resolution EB152.R5

·  Item 21.2

Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1 and EB152/2023/REC/1, resolution EB152.R7

·  Item 21.3

Report of the International Civil Service Commission

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1, A76/27 and A76/47

·  Item 21.4

Reform of the global internship programme

-  Document A76/28

·  Item 21.5

Report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board

-  Document A76/29

·  Item 21.6

Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee

-  Document A76/30

Second meeting of Committee B — Building E Room XVII

14:30

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

–  Documents A76/15, A76/B/CONF./1 and A76/B/CONF./1 Add.1

General Committee — Building E Room XXIII

17:30

Thursday, 25 May 2023

Eighth and ninth 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 15.4

Discussion of bullet points under agenda item 15.4 will be grouped together as follows:

Poliomyelitis

o   Poliomyelitis eradication

-  Document A76/13

o   Polio transition planning and polio post-certification

-  Document A76/14

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·  Item 13.3

Substandard and falsified medical products

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(9)

·  Item 13.4

Strengthening rehabilitation in health systems

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(10)

·  Item 13.5

Draft global strategy on infection prevention and control

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(7)

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

09:00 and 14:30

Audit and oversight matters

·  Item 20.1

Report of the External Auditor

-  Documents A76/22 and A76/46

·  Item 20.2

Report of the Internal Auditor

-  Documents A76/23 and A76/46

·  Item 20.3

External and internal audit recommendations: progress on implementation

-  Documents A76/24 and A76/46

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

Management, legal and governance matters

·  Item 22.1

Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1 and and A76/39

·  Item 22.2

Discussion of bullet points under agenda item 22.2 will be grouped together as follows:

Matters emanating from the Working Group on Sustainable Financing:

o   Report of the Agile Member States Task Group on Strengthening WHO’s Budgetary, Programmatic and Financing Governance

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(15)

o   Secretariat implementation plan on reform

-  Documents A76/31 and A76/38

o   Sustainable financing: feasibility of a replenishment mechanism, including options for consideration

-  Documents A76/32 and A76/40

·  Item 22.3

Discussion of bullet points under agenda item 22.3 will be grouped together as follows:

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

o   WHO global action plan on promoting the health of refugees and migrants, 2019–2023

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(17)

o   WHO traditional medicine strategy 2014–2023

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(18)

Update on the Infrastructure Fund

o   Geneva buildings renovation strategy

-  Document A76/7 Rev.1

o   Update on information management and technology

-  Documents A76/33 and A76/48

Friday, 26 May 2023

Sixth Plenary meeting — Building E Room XIX

09:00

Awards

–  Document A76/INF./1

Executive Board: election

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

Immediately after conclusion of Item 6 in Plenary and 14:30

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·  Item 13.6

Global road map on defeating meningitis by 2030

-  Document A76/7 Rev.1

·  Item 13.7

Standardization of medical devices nomenclature

-  Document A76/7 Rev.1

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

Immediately after conclusion of Item 6 in Plenary and 14:30

Participation of Member States in WHO meetings

o   Voluntary Health Trust Fund for small island developing States (terms of reference)

-  Document A76/34

o   Current practices for funding participation of Member States in WHO meetings

-  Document A76/35 Rev.1

Collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental organizations

–  Document A76/36

Matters for information

·  Item 27.1

Progress reports

-  Documents A76/37 and A76/37 Add.1

Discussion of agenda item 27.1 will be grouped as follows: (A, B, C, D, E & F), (G & H), (I, J, K, L, M & N), (O & P)

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

A.    Strengthening local production of medicines and other health technologies to improve access (resolution WHA74.6 (2021))

B.    Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution WHA69.11 (2016) and decision WHA70(22) (2017))

C.   Global action on patient safety (resolution WHA72.6 (2019) and decision WHA74(13) (2021))

D.   Antimicrobial resistance (resolution WHA72.5 (2019))

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

F.    Global action plan on the public health response to dementia (decision WHA70(17) (2017))

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

G.   The World Together: Establishment of an intergovernmental negotiating body to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (decision SSA2(5) (2021))

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

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

I.      The role of the health sector in the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management towards the 2020 goal and beyond (decision WHA74(25) (2021))

J.     WHO global strategy on health, environment and climate change: the transformation needed to improve lives and well-being sustainably through healthy environments (decision WHA74(24) (2021))

K.    Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020–2030 (decision WHA73(12) (2020))

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

M.   Prevention of deafness and hearing loss (resolution WHA70.13 (2017) and decision WHA74(17) (2021))

N.   Plan of action on climate change and health in small island developing States (decision WHA72(10) (2019)) and paragraph 29 of document A72/16

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

O.   Global strategy on digital health (decision WHA73(28) (2020))

P.    Eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (resolution WHA72.15 (2019))

Saturday, 27 May 2023

Twelfth and thirteenth 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 16.1

Well-being and health promotion

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1, and A76/7 Add.2 and A76/7 Add.3

·  Item 16.2

Ending violence against children through health systems strengthening and multisectoral approaches

-  Document A76/7 Rev.1

·  Item 16.3

Social determinants of health

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1, A76/7 Rev.1 Add.1, A76/A/CONF./1, A76/A/CONF./1 Add.1 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(12)

·  Item 16.5

United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016−2025)

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(13)

Seventh and eighth meetings of Committee B — Building E Room XVII

09:00 and 14:30

Matters for information

·  Item 27.1 continued

Progress reports

-  Documents A76/37 and A76/37 Add.1

Discussion of agenda item 27.1 will be grouped as follows: (A, B, C, D, E & F), (G & H), (I, J, K, L, M & N), (O & P)

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

A.    Strengthening local production of medicines and other health technologies to improve access (resolution WHA74.6 (2021))

B.    Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution WHA69.11 (2016) and decision WHA70(22) (2017))

C.   Global action on patient safety (resolution WHA72.6 (2019) and decision WHA74(13) (2021))

D.   Antimicrobial resistance (resolution WHA72.5 (2019))

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

F.    Global action plan on the public health response to dementia (decision WHA70(17) (2017))

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

G.   The World Together: Establishment of an intergovernmental negotiating body to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (decision SSA2(5) (2021))

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

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

I.      The role of the health sector in the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management towards the 2020 goal and beyond (decision WHA74(25) (2021))

J.     WHO global strategy on health, environment and climate change: the transformation needed to improve lives and well-being sustainably through healthy environments (decision WHA74(24) (2021))

K.    Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020–2030 (decision WHA73(12) (2020))

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

M.   Prevention of deafness and hearing loss (resolution WHA70.13 (2017) and decision WHA74(17) (2021))

N.   Plan of action on climate change and health in small island developing States (decision WHA72(10) (2019)) and paragraph 29 of document A72/16

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

O.   Global strategy on digital health (decision WHA73(28) (2020))

P.    Eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (resolution WHA72.15 (2019))

Monday, 29 May 2023

Fourteenth and fifteenth 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 16.4

The highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities

-  Document A76/7 Rev.1

·  Item 16.6

Behavioural sciences for better health

-  Documents A76/7 Rev.1 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(23)

Ninth and tenth meetings of Committee B — Building E Room XVII

09:00 and 14:30

Audit and oversight matters

·  Item 20.4

Appointment of the External Auditor

-  Documents A76/25 and A76/25 Add.1

Tuesday, 30 May 2023

Sixteenth meeting of Committee A — Building E Room XX

09:00

Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

Eleventh 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. Report of meetings

Second Plenary meeting

In the Chair:
Dr Christopher Fearne (Malta)
President of the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly

The President of the Seventy-sixth 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, Marshall Islands, and Pakistan 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 A76/1 Rev.1):

·  To delete the following items:

-  Item 4: Invited speaker(s)

-  Item 5: Admission of new Members and Associate Members [if any]

-  Item 19.6: Special arrangements for arrears [if any]

-  Item 19.7: Assessment of new Members and Associate Members [if any]

-  Item 25: Agreements with intergovernmental organizations [if any]

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 A76/1 Rev.2.

Report of the Executive Board on its 151st and 152nd sessions, and on its Sixth special session

The Chair of the Executive Board, Dr Kerstin Vesna Petrič (Slovenia), 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 “WHO at 75: Saving lives, driving health for all”. The delegate of Tonga (who spoke on behalf of the Member States of the Western Pacific Region), and the delegate of Togo (who spoke on behalf of the Member States of the African Region) addressed the Assembly. These speakers were followed by the delegates of Sweden (who spoke on behalf of the European Union), Yemen (who spoke on behalf of the Council of Arab Health Ministers), Azerbaijan (who spoke on behalf of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM)), Cabo Verde (who spoke on behalf of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP)), Albania (who spoke on behalf of the South-eastern Europe Health Network), Vanuatu (who spoke on behalf of the Pacific Island countries), Lao People’s Democratic Republic (who spoke on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)), Russian Federation (who spoke on behalf of the Union State of Belorus and Russia), Egypt (who spoke on behalf of the Member States of the Eastern Mediterranean Region), Germany, Norway, Japan, Argentina, Denmark, Slovenia, Brazil, and China.

The meeting was adjourned.

First meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Dr Jalila bint Al Sayyed Jawad Hassan (Bahrain)

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 Mohammad Isham Jaafar (Brunei Darussalam) and Mr Martin Ndoutoumou Essono (Gabon) Vice-Chairs, and Mr Nogoibaev Bek (Kyrgyzstan), 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-sixth World Health Assembly.

Global strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016–2030)

The Chair opened the agenda item and invited the Committee to note the report contained in document A76/5 and provide guidance on the specific priority areas for action. Comments were invited from the floor.

The Chair suspended discussion on agenda item 12 and the meeting was adjourned.

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 Hakim Bouaziz (Algeria), Chair; and Ms Bevon McDonald (Guyana), Vice-Chair. The Committee found the credentials of the 189 Members listed in the Annex to its Report to be in accordance with Rules 23 and 24 of the Rules of Procedure of the Health Assembly and found them in order.

A recommendation concerning the representation of Myanmar is also contained in the Report of the Committee.

Third Plenary meeting

In the Chair:
Dr Christopher Fearne (Malta)
President of the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly

–  General discussion

The President resumed consideration of item 3 and invited the delegate of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the delegate of Indonesia to address the Assembly. These speakers were followed by the delegates of Peru, Portugal, Australia, Türkiye, Austria, Chile, Spain, Czechia, France, Latvia, El Salvador, Singapore, Fiji, Canada, and Russian Federation.

In accordance with Rule 56 of the Rules of Procedure, one delegation raised a point of order. The delegates of Kazakhstan, Ecuador, Poland, Guatemala, Philippines, and United States of America addressed the Assembly.

In response to a point of order, the President requested that delegations focus their interventions on health matters. The President invited the delegate of Cuba and the delegate of Netherlands to address the Assembly. These speakers were followed by the delegates of Israel, Republic of Korea, Kenya, Dominican Republic, Bahrain, Cyprus, Albania, Malaysia, Pakistan, and San Marino.

In accordance with Rule 57 of the Rules of Procedure, Sweden, China, United States of America, and Russian Federation exercised the right of reply.

The meeting was adjourned.

Second meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Dr Jalila bint Al Sayyed Jawad Hassan (Bahrain)

Later:
Dr Mohammad Isham Jaafar (Brunei Darussalam)

Proposed programme budget 2024–2025

The Chair opened the agenda item and invited the Committee to consider the draft resolution as contained in document A76/4 Add.2. The Chair gave the floor to the Chair of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board to make some introductory remarks. Comments were invited from the floor.

The Secretariat responded to issues raised and the draft resolution contained in document A76/4 Add.2 was approved.

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

The agenda item was closed.

Global strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016–2030)

The Chair reopened the agenda item and invited comments from the floor. Due to time constraints, delegations who had requested to speak would be given the floor at a subsequent session of the Committee, when discussion of this item would continue.

The meeting was adjourned.

4. Strategic Roundtables

The following strategic roundtables will take place in Room XVIII during the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly:

Tuesday, 23 May 2023

13:00-14:15 

Protecting and investing in the health and care workforce: an action-oriented agenda for the second half of the Sustainable Development Goals.

This roundtable builds on the Fifth Global Forum on Human Resources for Health, held in April 2023, and on WHA resolutions WHA75.17, WHA74.14, and WHA74.15. It provides an action-oriented agenda to protect and invest in the health and care workforce for the second half of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In the first half of the SDGs, the world experienced major disruptions due to COVID-19, other public health emergencies of international concern, protracted conflicts and a global increase in climate-related and humanitarian disasters. Health and care workers have remained at the forefront of local and national responses. In the early part of the pandemic, many became infected, and thousands lost their lives. The prevalence of anxiety, stress and burnout among health and care workers is alarming.

This situation adds to long-standing systemic challenges. The global health workforce shortage is declining significantly: from 18 million in 2013 to 15 million in 2020 and is projected at 10 million by 2030. This masks profound regional disparities. The situation calls for collective action, in support of SDG progress.

Wednesday, 24 May 2023

13:00-14:15

The role of the Health Community in Climate Action: taking stock and moving forward.

Climate change is the greatest health challenge of the 21st century. It brings deadly extreme heat and wildfires, increases non-communicable diseases and facilitates the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, driving health emergencies. It impacts our health workforce and infrastructure and reduces the ability to provide universal health coverage (UHC). Climate shocks and growing stresses such as droughts and rising sea levels undermine the environmental and social determinants of physical and mental health, from clean air and water to sustainable food systems, to livelihoods – threatening the existence of some nations. Delay will damage decades of improvements in global health and put at risk our commitments to ensure the human right to health for all.

This roundtable will discuss the role of the health community – including frontline health workers, Ministries of Health, intergovernmental and non-governmental health organizations and health academics in addressing the climate crisis. It will identify opportunities (including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP28, the United Nations Secretary-General Climate Ambition Summit 2023, and the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly) to firmly place the health community and WHO as key actors in addressing the climate crisis, and to drive action.

Thursday, 25 May 2023

13:00-14:15

Ending tuberculosis by 2030: universal access to care, multisectoral collaboration, and innovations to accelerate progress and combat antimicrobial resistance.

This roundtable will focus on the challenges and opportunities to end tuberculosis (TB) by 2030, by building on equitable universal access to TB prevention and care, and in alignment with the agendas of universal health coverage, antimicrobial resistance, and pandemic preparedness.

TB remains among the world's top infectious killers. In 2021, 1.6 million people lost their lives to TB. In 2018, world leaders at the United Nations (UN) high-level meeting on TB adopted a historic resolution A/RES/73/3, with ambitious targets. The declaration catalyzed progress towards ending TB, saving lives. However, disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with other ongoing global crises have reversed years of progress.

Getting back on track requires increased and sustained funding for universal access to TB services. TB services must be delivered free of stigma and discrimination; tackle antimicrobial resistance, advance multisectoral actions to address the drivers of the epidemic; and better tools including vaccines and innovative strategies. The second UN high-level Meeting on TB in September can provide the political incentive to turn the tide in the fight against TB.

In this roundtable, WHO will present the Flagship Initiative for 2023-2027, featuring new targets and a focus on enabling universal access to services and advancing research including through the TB Vaccine Accelerator Council. Ministers and other leaders, TB survivors, civil society, donors and partners will share experiences of leadership, innovation and action towards ending TB.

Friday, 26 May 2023

13:00–14:15

A safer and healthier tomorrow through restoring essential immunization today.

Between 2019–2022, 67 million children missed at least one dose of essential vaccines. This crisis in routine immunization is borne from the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Many children need the protection of lifesaving vaccines. We must enable all opportunities to vaccinate these children. 2023 marks a critical point: the actions and recovery of the essential immunization programme today will determine whether the 2030 immunization goals will be achieved.

Many countries have already made remarkable progress towards immunization recovery. This roundtable will examine the factors that drive this success. Special attention will be given to the role of community health workers in achieving global immunization targets. We will discuss best practices in engaging communities in immunization programmes and how to strengthen health systems from the bottom up. We will hear from healthcare workers, ministers and representatives of government, multi-lateral organizations, and civil society about what each stakeholder needs to do to reach all children and adolescents in support of #HealthForAll.

Saturday, 27 May 2023

13:00–14:15

Celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: a fit-for-purpose life-saving treaty.

As part of WHO's 75th anniversary, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of the key milestones in the history of WHO: the adoption of the first international public health treaty. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), an evidence-based instrument, provides new legal dimensions for international cooperation. This roundtable will call for Member States to set up implementation of the WHO FCTC measures and in particular support increased tobacco taxes towards public revenues which can be reinvested in public health.

The strategic roundtable will also provide lessons to inform ongoing negotiations for a WHO convention, agreement or other international instruments on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response following the COVID-19 pandemic.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the WHO FCTC by the Fifty-sixth World Health Assembly, Parties to the Treaty and other key players will join to celebrate the successes in tobacco control enabled by the WHO FCTC.

This roundtable will be concluded by an award ceremony for the 2023 World No Tobacco Day Director-General's Special Recognition Award.

5. Other meetings

The Secretariat has been advised that the following meetings will take place during the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly. This represents information received up to 22 May 2023:

Tuesday, 23 May 2023

07:30–08:50 Room XXV

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

08:00–08:45 Room XXIV

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

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 XXII

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

08:15–08:50 Room XXVI

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

13:00–14:30 Room XXV

Coordination meeting of the European Union.

Wednesday, 24 May 2023

07:30–08:50 Room XXV

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

08:00–08:45 Room XXIV

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

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 XXII

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

08:15–08:50 Room XXVI

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

13:00–14:30 Room XXV

Coordination meeting of the European Union.

18:00–20:00 Room XXVII

Ministerial Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

Thursday, 25 May 2023

07:30–08:50 Room XXV

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

08:00–08:45 Room XXIV

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

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 XXII

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

08:15–08:50 Room XXVI

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

13:00–14:30 Room XXV

Coordination meeting of the European Union.

Friday, 26 May 2023

07:30–08:50 Room XXV

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

08:00–08:45 Room XXIV

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

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 XXII

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

08:15–08:50 Room XXVI

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

13:00–14:30 Room XXV

Coordination meeting of the European Union.

Saturday, 27 May 2023

07:30–08:50 Room XXV

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

08:00–08:45 Room XXIV

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

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 XXII

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

08:15–08:50 Room XXVI

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

13:00–14:30 Room XXV

Coordination meeting of the European Union.

Monday, 29 May 2023

07:30–08:50 Room XXV

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

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 XXII

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

08:15–08:50 Room XXVI

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

13:00–14:30 Room XXV

Coordination meeting of the European Union.

Tuesday, 30 May 2023

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 XXII

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

08:15–08:50 Room XXVI

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

13:00–14:30 Room XXV

Coordination meeting of the European Union.

6. Arrangements for conduct of discussion in meetings

Plenary: theme of general discussion: “WHO at 75: Saving lives, driving health for all”.

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. Copies of statements to be made in the general discussion should be submitted to the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of the Health Assembly, by email (interpret@who.int), or handed in to room E-3025B, or in room XIX, where the plenary meetings are held, by the morning of Sunday, 21 May 2023. When submitting by email, please specify in the “Subject” and at the top of the statement, the name of the country and the meeting: “General Discussion”.

Member State delegations are asked to observe the time limit for verbal statements during the sessions. Plenary: 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).
Committees A & B: individual statements by Member States and Associate Members will be limited to three minutes (330 words), Regional and group statements will be limited to five minutes (550 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 30 minutes in advance by email to interpret@who.int.

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 EB149(3). Delegates wishing to have their statements posted on the Health Assembly webpage or to share a longer statement containing additional information may send it to statements@who.int.

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.

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/20230521-30_WHA76/index.html?lang=ar

Chinese:         https://player.4am.ch/who/20230521-30_WHA76/index.html?lang=zh
English:           https://player.4am.ch/who/20230521-30_WHA76/index.html?lang=en

French:           https://player.4am.ch/who/20230521-30_WHA76/index.html?lang=fr

Russian:          https://player.4am.ch/who/20230521-30_WHA76/index.html?lang=ru

Spanish:         https://player.4am.ch/who/20230521-30_WHA76/index.html?lang=es

The World Health Assembly application allows you to receive updates on the WHA76 programme of work and access documentation directly on your mobile device. Search for “WHO Events” in the Apple or Google Stores.

Documents for the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly can be accessed on the Internet through the WHO website (https://apps.who.int/gb/e/e_wha76.html) or scan the QR code below:

The WHO bookshop is located at the Palais des Nations on level 2 of the E building, at door 40, during the World Health Assembly. The latest publications and information products issued by WHO and its regional offices are available at a 50% discount. WHO souvenirs are also on sale, including items from a special collection of souvenirs to mark the 75th anniversary of the Organization. The WHO bookshop is open from Monday to Friday and from 09:00 to 16:30 at the Palais des Nations (during the Assembly) and at WHO Headquarters.

8. 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/976253

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