Journal No. 6   1 June 2024

The 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 A77/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° 6 Programme of meetings

Time	Plenary Room XIX	Committee A Room XX	Committee B Room XVII	Others Room XXVI
09:30–19:00				Drafting group on items 13.3 & 13.4
10:00			Ninth meeting
18:00	Eighth Plenary meeting
19:00		Fourteenth meeting
21:00	Eighth Plenary meeting (resumed)

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

 

 

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 des Nations from Friday, 31 May to Saturday, 1 June 2024 from 08:00–17:00

-  WHO headquarters on Sunday, 2 June to Monday, 3 June 2024 from 08:00–17:00, and on Tuesday, 4 June 2024 from 08:00 until the closure of the Executive Board session.

Restaurants:

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

Main cafeteria: 11:30–14:00

1. Date and working hours

The Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly will open on Monday, 27 May 2024 at 09:00. The working hours of the Health Assembly are from 09:00 to 12:00 and 14:30 to 17:30 (CEST). Evening sessions are planned as of Tuesday 28 May from 18:00 to 21:30 CEST. The Health Assembly will close no later than Saturday, 1 June 2024, as decided by the Executive Board at its 154th 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:

-  Monday, 27 to Friday, 31 May 2024 from 08:00 to 17:00

-  Saturday, 1 June 2024 from 08:00 until the closure of WHA77.

 

Cognisant of the large agenda still remaining and limited time, speaking times are proposed to be reduced as follows:

-  Member States: 2 minutes,

-  Groups statements: 3 minutes,

-  NSA constituency statements: 2 minutes,

-  Observers, UN and other international organisations and intergovernmental organisations: 1 minute,

-  Non-State actors in official relations: 45 seconds.

 

 

 

2. Programme of work of the Health Assembly

Saturday, 1 June 2024

Ninth meeting of Committee B — Building E Room XVII

10:00

Draft third report of Committee B

Document (draft) A77/52 containing two resolutions entitled:

-  Aligning the participation of Palestine in the World Health Organization with its participation in the United Nations

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

and two decisions entitled:

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

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

Agreements with intergovernmental organizations

-  Documents A77/30 and A77/30 Add.1

Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

Eighth Plenary meeting — Building E Room XIX

18:00

Reports of the main committees

Draft first report of Committee A

Document (draft) A77/45 containing one resolution entitled:

-  Draft fourteenth general programme of work, 2025–2028

Draft second report of Committee A

Document (draft) A77/49 containing three resolutions entitled:

-  Social participation for universal health coverage, health and well-being

-  Strengthening mental health and psychosocial support before, during and after armed conflicts, natural and human-caused disasters and health and other emergencies

-  Increasing availability, ethical access and oversight of transplantation of human cells, tissues and organs

and two decisions entitled:

-  Development of a global strategy and action plan for integrated emergency, critical and operative care, 2026–2035

-  Global action plan and monitoring framework on infection prevention and control

Draft first report of Committee B

Document (draft) A77/47 containing one resolution entitled:

-  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 two decisions entitled:

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

-  Report of the External Auditor

Draft second report of Committee B

Document (draft) A77/50 containing four resolutions entitled:

-  Parental leave

-  Strengthening health and well-being through sport events

-  Economics of health for all

-  Climate change and health

and four decisions entitled:

-  Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee

-  Update on the Infrastructure Fund: Geneva buildings renovation strategy and regional building projects

-  Process of handling and investigating potential allegations against WHO Directors-general

-  Updates and future reporting: strengthening integrated, people-centred health services

Draft third report of Committee A

Document (draft) A77/51 containing five resolutions entitled:

-  Accelerate progress towards reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goal targets 3.1 and 3.2

-  Antimicrobial resistance: accelerating national and global responses

-  Strengthening laboratory biological risk management

-  Strengthening health emergency preparedness for disasters resulting from natural hazards

-  Global Health and Peace Initiative

and one decision entitled:

-  Universal Health and Preparedness Review

Draft third report of Committee B

Document (draft) A77/52 containing two resolutions entitled:

-  Aligning the participation of Palestine in the World Health Organization with its participation in the United Nations

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

and two decisions entitled:

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

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

Fourteenth meeting of Committee A — Building E Room XX

19:00

Public health emergencies: preparedness and response

·  Item 13.4 continued

Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response

-  Documents A77/10, A77/A/CONF./10, A77/A/CONF./10 Add.1, A77/A/CONF./12 and A77/A/CONF./12 Add.1

·  Item 13.3 continued

Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005)

-  Document A77/9, A77/A/CONF./8 and A77/A/CONF./8 Add.1

Finalization of resolutions/decisions and reports

Eighth Plenary meeting resumed — Building E Room XIX

21:00

Reports of the main committees continued

Closure of the Health Assembly

 

 

3. Report of meetings

Seventh Plenary meeting

In the Chair:
Dr Edwin Dikoloti (Botswana)
President of the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly

Awards

-  Document A77/INF./1

The President welcomed the distinguished recipients of the prizes and the representatives of the foundations. The WHO Director-General Dr Tedros was invited to address the Health Assembly.

•          2024 Ihsan Doğramaci Family Health Foundation Prize

The President announced that the 2024 Ihsan Doğramaci Family Health Foundation Prize has been awarded to Dr Jamila Taiseer Yasser Al Abri of Oman.

Professor Tomris Türmen, President of the International Children’s Center, addressed the Assembly on behalf of the Ihsan Doğramaci Family Health Foundation.

Dr Jamila Al Abri accepted the award and addressed the Health Assembly.

•          2024 Sasakawa Health Prize

The President announced that the 2024 Sasakawa Health Prize has been awarded to Dr Doreen Ramogola-Masire of Botswana.

Mr Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of the Nippon Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, addressed the Assembly on behalf of the Sasakawa Health Foundation.

Dr Doreen Ramogola-Masire accepted the award and addressed the Health Assembly.

•          2024 United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize

The President announced that the 2024 United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize has been awarded to the National Death Registry System of the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia.

Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Sector, Ministry of Health and Prevention of the United Arab Emirates, addressed the Assembly on behalf of the United Arab Emirates Health Foundation.

Dr Maram Alotaibi accepted the award on behalf of the National Death Registry System of the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia and addressed the Health Assembly.

•          2024 His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and in Health Promotion

The President announced that the 2024 His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and in Health Promotion of the State of Kuwait Health Promotion Foundation has been awarded jointly to the Chinese Geriatrics Society and Dr Ahmed Hamed Saif Al Wahaibi of Oman.

His Excellency, Mr Naser Alhayen, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, addressed the Assembly on behalf of the State of Kuwait Health Promotion Foundation.

Professor Feng Cao accepted the award on behalf of the Chinese Geriatrics Society and addressed the Health Assembly.

Dr Ahmed Hamed Saif Al Wahaibi of Oman accepted the award and addressed the Health Assembly.

•          2024 Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health

The President announced that the 2024 Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health has been awarded to Dr Bader Al-Rawahi of Oman.

Dr Il-Soo Ha, President of the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare, addressed the Assembly on behalf of the Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Fund.

Dr Bader Al-Rawahi accepted the award and addressed the Health Assembly.

•          2024 Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion

The President announced that the 2024 Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion has been awarded jointly to Professor Bontle Mbongwe of Botswana and to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) of India.

His Excellency, Mr Mxolisi Nkosi, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations Office at Geneva, addressed the Assembly.

Professor Bontle Mbongwe accepted the award and addressed the Assembly.

Professor Pratima Murthy accepted the award on behalf of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) of India and addressed the Assembly.

Executive Board: election

-  Document A77/48

The President drew the Health Assembly’s attention to the list of 12 Members entitled to designate a person to serve on the Executive Board as recommended by the General Committee in accordance with Rule 101 of the Rules of Procedure.

The Health Assembly accepted the list of 12 Members entitled to designate a person to serve on the Executive Board as drawn up by the General Committee in accordance with Rule 100 of the Rules of Procedure. The following were therefore declared elected:

-  Brunei Darussalam

-  Bulgaria

-  Chile

-  Costa Rica

-  Israel

-  Lebanon

-  Norway

-  Poland

-  Republic of Korea

-  Somalia

-  Thailand

-  Zimbabwe

 

Several delegations requested the floor to express their positions for the record of the Assembly.

The meeting was adjourned.

 

 

Eleventh meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Mrs Katarzyna Drążek – Laskowska (Poland)

Draft third report of Committee A

The Chairman called upon The Rapporteur (Mr Lombo Emma Tiaho [Burkina Faso]) to read out the third draft report of Committee A, document (draft) A77/51 containing five resolutions entitled:

-  Accelerate progress towards reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goal targets 3.1 and 3.2

-  Antimicrobial resistance: accelerating national and global responses

-  Strengthening laboratory biological risk management

-  Strengthening health emergency preparedness for disasters resulting from natural hazards

-  Global Health and Peace Initiative

and one decision entitled:

-  Universal Health and Preparedness Review

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

Financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2024-2025

Sustainable financing: WHO investment round

The Chair reopened the grouped agenda items, drew the Committee’s attention to relevant documents are A77/14, A77/15, A77/37, A77/17 and A77/35 and invited delegates to consider the questions indicated in document A77/15.

The floor was opened to the remaining speakers as read out by the Secretariat.

The Chair announced that, due to time constraints, delegations who had requested to speak would be given the floor at the beginning of the next session, when discussion of this group of agenda items would continue.

Discussion of this group of agenda item was suspended and the meeting adjourned.

 

 

Seventh meeting of Committee B

In the Chair:
Dr Feras Hawari (Jordan)

Draft second report of Committee B

The Chairman called upon The Rapporteur (Ms Marcela Arias Moncada [Honduras]) to read out the second draft report of Committee B, document (draft) A77/50 containing four resolutions entitled:

-  Parental leave

-  Economics of health for all

-  Climate change and health

-  Strengthening health and well-being through sport events

and four decisions entitled:

-  Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee

-  Process of handling and investigating potential allegations against WHO Directors-general

-  Update on the Infrastructure Fund: Geneva buildings renovation strategy and regional building projects

-  Updates and future reporting: strengthening integrated, people-centred health services

The resolutions and decisions were approved and the second report of Committee B was adopted.

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

-  Item 14.2

Implementation of resolution WHA75.11 (2022)

The Chair opened the subitem for discussion and invited the Committee to consider the draft decision contained in document A77/A/CONF./6, the draft resolution contained in document A77/A/CONF./9 taking into account the white paper outlining the agreed process for structured voting. The Chair opened the floor for comments. The Chair then gave the floor to the Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme, Dr Ryan, to make his remarks. The Committee noted the report contained in document A77/13.

In accordance with Rule 74 of the Rules of Procedure, two roll-call votes were taken.

In consideration of the draft decision contained in document A77/A/CONF./6, the Chair drew a letter in order to identify the first country to vote which was “Y“. Since Yemen is suspended from voting, the voting began with Zambia. The vote resulted in 72 votes in favour to 10 votes against, with 35 abstentions and 60 Member States absent as follows:

Votes in favour: Albania, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic (the), Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Indonesia, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), North Macedonia, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines (the), Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea (the), Republic of Moldova (the), Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the), United States of America (the), Uruguay.

Votes against: Algeria, Belarus, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (the), Eritrea, Lao People's Democratic Republic (the), Nicaragua, Russian Federation (the), Syrian Arab Republic (the).

Abstentions: Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Gambia (the), Honduras, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates (the), Viet Nam.

Absent: Andorra, Azerbaijan, Bahamas (the), Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Congo (the), Cook Islands, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo (the), Djibouti, Eswatini, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guinée équatoriale (la), Guyana, Haiti, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands (the), Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Niger (the), Nigeria, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Suriname, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania (the), Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The draft decision contained in document A77/A/CONF./6 was approved.

In consideration of the draft resolution contained in document A77/A/CONF./9, the Chair drew a letter in order to identify the first country to vote which was “G“. The vote resulted in 13 votes in favour to 54 votes against, with 46 abstentions and 64 Member States absent as follows:

Votes in favour: Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (the), Eritrea, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Lao People's Democratic Republic (the), Nicaragua, Niger (the), Russian Federation (the), Syrian Arab Republic (the), Thailand.

Votes against: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia , Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), North Macedonia, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea (the), Republic of Moldova (the), Romania, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the), United States of America (the), San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, Ukraine, Vanuatu.

Abstentions: Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Colombia, Dominican Republic (the), Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Gambia (the), Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines (the), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates (the), Viet Nam.

Absent: Andorra, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahamas (the), Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Congo (the), Cook Islands (the), Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo (the), Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liberia , Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands (the), Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Nigeria, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Suriname, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda , United Republic of Tanzania (the), Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The draft resolution contained in document A77/A/CONF./9 was rejected.

Several delegates gave an explanation of vote under Rule 77 of the Rules of Procedure.

The item was closed and the meeting adjourned.

Twelfth meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Mrs Katarzyna Drążek – Laskowska (Poland)
Later:
Mr Alexandre Peña Ghisleni (Brazil)                   

Financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2024–2025

Sustainable financing: WHO investment round

The Chair reopened the agenda items and invited the remaining delegations, as read out by the Secretariat, and non-State actors who had requested to speak at the previous session, to take the floor.

At the invitation of the Chair, Dr Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mr Hollo, Director Planning, Resource Coordination and Performance Monitoring and Dr Boehme, Assistant Director-General, External Relations and Governance took the floor.

The Committee noted the reports contained in A77/14, A77/15, A77/37, A77/17 and A77/35, thus closing the agenda items.

Global technical strategy and targets for malaria 2016–2030

The Chair reopened the agenda item and invited the Committee to consider the questions as indicated in document A77/6. The floor was opened for discussion.

Dr Salomon Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage/Communicable Diseases and Noncommunicable Diseases took the floor.

The Committee noted the report contained in document A77/6 and closed the agenda item.

Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·  Item 14.4

Poliomyelitis

o  Poliomyelitis eradication

o  Polio transition planning and polio post-certification

·  Item 14.5

Smallpox eradication: destruction of variola virus stocks

The Chair opened this group of agenda subitems and drew the Committee’s attention to the relevant document A77/4. Comments were invited from the floor.

At the invitation of the Chair, Dr Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr O’Leary, Director, Polio, Dr Van Kerkhove, Director ad interim, Epidemic & Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention and Dr Ihekweazu, Assistant Director-General for the Division of Health Emergency Intelligence, Surveillance Systems in the Emergencies Programme took the floor.

The Committee noted the reports contained in document A77/4, thus closing the agenda item.

The meeting adjourned.
 

Eighth meeting of Committee B

In the Chair:
Dr Masami Sakoi (Japan)

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

The Chair reopened the agenda item and reminded the delegates that at a previous session, the Committee approved a proposed amendment contained in document A77/B/CONF./3. The documents currently under consideration are A77/B/CONF./1, as amended in A77/B/CONF./4 containing three additional amendments which will be considered separately by the Committee.

In accordance with Rule 74 of the Rules of Procedure, a roll-call vote was taken in consideration of the proposed amendment in paragraph 27 in document A77/B/CONF./4, the Chair drew a letter in order to identify the first country to vote which was “A“. The vote resulted in 74 votes in favour to 19 votes against, with 41 abstentions and 43 Member States absent, as follows:

Votes in favour: Algeria, Angola, Bahamas (the), Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands (the), Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (the), Djibouti, Dominican Republic (the), Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Gambia (the), Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic (the), Libya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger (the), Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines (the), Poland, Qatar, Russian Federation (the), Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic (the), Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Uganda, United Arab Emirates (the), United Republic of Tanzania (the), Viet Nam, Zimbabwe.

Votes against: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), North Macedonia, Paraguay, Slovakia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the), United States of America (the), Uruguay.

Abstentions: Armenia, Belgium, Bhutan, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Madagascar, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Portugal, Republic of Korea (the), Republic of Moldova (the), Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, Vanuatu.

Absent: Albania, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo (the), Democratic Republic of the Congo (the), Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands (the), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Zambia.

In accordance with Rule 74 of the Rules of Procedure, a roll-call vote was taken in consideration of the proposed amendment in paragraph 28 in document A77/B/CONF./4, the Chair drew a letter in order to identify the first country to vote which was “E“. The vote resulted in 114 votes in favour to 7 votes against, with 14 abstentions and 42 Member States absent, as follows:

 

 

Votes in favour: Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas (the), Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands (the), Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (the), Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic (the), Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia (the), Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic (the), Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger (the), Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines (the), Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea (the), Romania, Russian Federation (the), San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic (the), Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Uganda, United Arab Emirates (the), United Republic of Tanzania (the), Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe.

Votes against: Argentina, Czechia, Hungary, Israel, Paraguay, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the), United States of America (the).

Abstentions: Austria, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Fiji, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Republic of Moldova (the), Slovakia, Thailand, Ukraine, Uruguay.

Absent: Albania, Andorra, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo (the), Democratic Republic of the Congo (the), Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands (the), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Zambia.

In accordance with Rule 74 of the Rules of Procedure, a roll-call vote was taken in consideration of the proposed amendment in paragraph 29 in document A77/B/CONF./4, the Chair drew a letter in order to identify the first country to vote which was “V“. The vote resulted in 106 votes in favour to 8 votes against, with 20 abstentions and 43 Member States absent, as follows:

Votes in favour: Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas (the), Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands (the), Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (the), Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic (the), Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia (the), Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic (the), Latvia, Libya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger (the), Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines (the), Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea (the), Romania, Russian Federation (the), San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic (the), Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Uganda, United Arab Emirates (the), United Republic of Tanzania (the), Viet Nam, Zimbabwe.

Votes against: Argentina, Czechia, Hungary, Israel, Paraguay, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the), United States of America (the), Vanuatu.

Abstentions: Austria, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Fiji, Germany, Jamaica, Kenya, Lithuania, Madagascar, Micronesia Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Nepal, Peru, Republic of Moldova (the), Slovakia, Thailand, Ukraine, Uruguay.

Absent: Albania, Andorra, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo (the), Democratic Republic of the Congo (the), Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands (the), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Zambia.

In accordance with Rule 74 of the Rules of Procedure, a roll-call vote was taken in consideration of the draft decision in document A77/B/CONF./4 as amended, the Chair drew a letter in order to identify the first country to vote which was “Q“. The vote resulted in 102 votes in favour to 6 votes against, with 28 abstentions and 41 Member States absent, as follows:

Votes in favour: Angola, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas (the), Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands (the), Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (the), Djibouti, Dominican Republic (the), Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia (the), Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic (the), Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger (the), Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines (the), Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea (the), Russian Federation (the), San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uganda, United Arab Emirates (the), United Republic of Tanzania (the), Viet Nam, Zimbabwe.

Votes against: Argentina, Czechia, Hungary, Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the), United States of America (the).

Abstentions: Algeria, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Fiji, Germany, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Libya, Lithuania, Madagascar, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), Panama, Paraguay, Republic of Moldova (the), Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic (the), Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vanuatu.

Absent: Albania, Andorra, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo (the), Democratic Republic of the Congo (the), Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands (the), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Zambia.

The Committee approved the decision in document A77/B/CONF./1, as amended.

The Chair opened the floor for comments and several delegations gave an explanation of vote under Rule 77 of the Rules of Procedure.

 

 

Collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental organizations

The Chair opened the item and invited the Committee to consider the report contained in document A77/31 and the draft resolution contained in document A77/B/CONF./2.  He then invited comments from the floor.

The Committee noted the report contained in A77/31.

In accordance with Rule 73 of the Rules of Procedure, a vote by show of hands was taken. The vote resulted in 101 votes in favour to 5 votes against, with 21 abstentions and 50 Member States absent, as follows:

-  Members entitled to vote: 177

-  Number of Members absent: 50

-  Present and voting: 106

-  Abstentions: 21

-  In favour: 101

-  Against: 5

The draft resolution contained in document A77/B/CONF./2 was adopted.

Several delegates gave an explanation of vote under Rule 77 of the Rules of Procedure and the agenda item was closed.

Review of an update on matters considered by the Executive Board

·  Item 14.1

WHO’s work in health emergencies

The Chair opened the subitem and invited the Committee to consider the report contained in document A77/12 and the draft resolution contained in document EB154/2024/REC/1, EB154.R7.  Comments were invited from the floor. The Chair then gave the floor to the Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme, the Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean and the Director-General to make their remarks.

The Committee noted the report contained in document A77/12.

In accordance with Rule 73 of the Rules of Procedure, a vote by show of hands was taken. The vote resulted in 93 votes in favour to 2 votes against, with 12 abstentions and 70 Member States absent, as follows:

-  Members entitled to vote: 177

-  Number of Members absent: 70

-  Present and voting: 95

-  Abstentions: 12

-  In favour: 93

-  Against: 2

The draft resolution contained in document EB154/2024/REC/1, EB154.R7 was adopted.

Several delegates gave an explanation of vote under Rule 77 of the Rules of Procedure and the agenda item was closed.

In accordance with Rule 57 of the Rules of Procedure, one delegation exercised the right of reply.

The meeting was adjourned.
 

Thirteenth meeting of Committee A

In the Chair:
Mr Apurva Chandra (India)

Public health emergencies: preparedness and response

·  Item 13.4 continued

Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response

·  Item 13.3 continued

Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005)

The Chair gave the floor to Ms Precious Matsoso, co-Chair of the Bureau of Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) and Dr Ashley Bloomfield, co-chair of the Bureau of the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (WGIHR), to update the Committee on progress made.

Matters for information: progress reports

The Chair opened the agenda item and drew the Committee’s attention to relevant documents A77/33 and A77/33 Add.1.

The Chair then opened the floor for comments.

At the invitation of the Chair, Dr Aylward, Assistant Director‑General, Universal Health Coverage/Life Course, Dr Nakatani, Assistant Director-General, Access to Medicines and Health Products & Assistant Director-General ad interim, Antimicrobial Resistance, responded to questions raised.

The Committee noted the reports contained in document A77/33 and A77/33 Add.1 and the Chair closed the agenda item.

The meeting was adjourned.

 

 

4. Strategic Roundtables

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

Saturday, 1 June 2024

13:00–14:15 Room XVIII

Climate change and health: a global vision for joint action.

Feeding into efforts to shape the global health architecture for addressing climate change, this roundtable will help define a plan to support countries to advance implementation, including of health outcomes and commitments from UN Climate Change Conferences (COPs).

The roundtable also aims to increase momentum and strengthen collaboration and coordination for driving action. Attendees should gain an enhanced understanding of the high-level global vision for climate and health, as well as of relevant initiatives at a global, regional and country level.

Panellists will look ahead to COP29 in Azerbaijan and COP30 in Brazil and reflect on how to build on the pioneering efforts by the UAE for COP28. Also on the agenda will be the climate and health resolution expected to be adopted at the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly and the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH).

This roundtable has particular significance, as the response to climate change is one of the six key strategic objectives of WHO’s Fourteenth General Programme of work for the period 2025-2028. It will facilitate coordination and amplify calls for adequate funding to overcome the obstacles of fragmented funding mechanisms and siloed approaches, to address complex climate and health challenges more effectively.

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/20220524-0601_Strategic_Roundtables/index.html?lang=ar

Chinese:          https://player.4am.ch/who/20220524-0601_Strategic_Roundtables/index.html?lang=zh

English:           https://player.4am.ch/who/20240527-0601_Strategic_Roundtables/index.html?lang=en

French:            https://player.4am.ch/who/20220524-0601_Strategic_Roundtables/index.html?lang=fr

Russian:          https://player.4am.ch/who/20220524-0601_Strategic_Roundtables/index.html?lang=ru

Spanish:          https://player.4am.ch/who/20220524-0601_Strategic_Roundtables/index.html?lang=es

5. Other meetings

The Secretariat has been advised that the following meetings will take place during the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly. This represents information received up to 31 May 2024:

Saturday, 1 June 2024

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.

08:15–09:00 Room XXIV

Coordination meeting of the European Union.

13:00–14:30 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 two minutes (220 words), Regional and group statements will be limited to three minutes (330 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 one minute (110 words). Statements by non-State actors in official relations with the Organization will be limited to 45 seconds and two 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 WHA75(12).

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 subitem in the subject line.

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 public 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/20240527-0601_WHA77/player.html?lang=ar

Chinese:          https://player.4am.ch/who/20240527-0601_WHA77/player.html?lang=zh

English:           https://player.4am.ch/who/20240527-0601_WHA77/index.html?lang=en

French:            https://player.4am.ch/who/20240527-0601_WHA77/player.html?lang=fr

Russian:          https://player.4am.ch/who/20240527-0601_WHA77/player.html?lang=ru

Spanish:          https://player.4am.ch/who/20240527-0601_WHA77/player.html?lang=es

Documents for the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly can be accessed on the Internet through the WHO website (https://apps.who.int/gb/e/e_wha77.html).

The World Health Assembly application allows you to receive updates on the WHA77 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.

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. 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.

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