SEA/RC69/8Rev.1: Overview of WHO Reform

Abstract

Over the last five years the World Health Organization has made significant progress towards meeting the objectives and deliverables of WHO Reform, key components of which include providing effective policy and technical support to Member States; alignment of financing and staffing needs to match priorities and requirements; efficient mechanisms for compliance, accountability and risk management; and a culture of evaluation and strategic communication. WHO Reform deliverables are grouped into three categories, namely, Programmatic, Governance and Managerial. The WHO South-East Asia Region has actively participated in the Reform process through the implementation of Programmatic, Governance and Managerial reforms. The Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014 reinforced the need for additional reforms in WHO’s work in health emergencies, since the Organization’s work in this area is closely linked to the broader Reform Agenda. The purpose of this Agenda item is to further the Reform process within the SEA Region by: (‎i)‎ actively engaging Member States at the Regional Committee in relation to Reform matters; (‎ii)‎ seeking the guidance of Member States on global, regional and country reform matters; and (‎iii)‎ deciding on how to implement the World Health Assembly Decision WHA69(‎8)‎ in the SEA Region. The attached Working Paper was presented to the High-Level Preparatory Meeting for its review and recommendations. The recommendations made by the HLP Meeting for the consideration of the Sixty-ninth Session of the Regional Committee are:Actions by Member States (‎1)‎ Continue to be closely involved in the implementation of recommendations from the recently adopted Framework for engagement of non-State actors (‎FENSA)‎. (‎2)‎ Consider measures to align practices and procedures at the Regional Committee taking into account best practices from all six WHO regions as decided in the World Health Assembly Decision WHA 69(‎8)‎. Action by WHO (‎1)‎ Revise the Regional Committee Working Paper in line with the discussions of this High-Level Preparatory Meeting and, in particular, incorporate recommended actions from the World Health Assembly Decision WHA 69(‎8)‎. This Working Paper and the HLP Meeting recommendations are submitted to the Sixty-ninth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia for its consideration and decision.