WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION FIFTY-EIGHTH WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY (Draft) A58/53 20 May 2005
First report of Committee B (Draft)
Committee B held its first meeting on 19 May 2005 under the chairmanship of Dr Jerome Walcott (Barbados). On the proposal of the Committee on Nominations,1 Dr José Pereira Miguel (Portugal) and Dr Md. Abdur Rahman (Bangladesh) were elected Vice-Chairmen, and Mr Yee Ping Yi (Singapore), Rapporteur. It was decided to recommend to the Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly the adoption of the attached resolutions and decision relating to the following agenda items: 15. Health conditions of, and assistance to, the Arab population in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine One resolution entitled: – Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem and in the occupied Syrian Golan 17. Financial matters 17.3 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 Five resolutions entitled: – Members in arrears in the payment of their contributions to an extent which would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution – Arrears in payment of contributions: Georgia – Arrears in payment of contributions: Iraq – Arrears in payment of contributions: Republic of Moldova – Arrears in payment of contributions: Tajikistan
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Document A58/48.
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19.
Staffing matters 19.3 Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules One resolution entitled: – Salaries of staff in ungraded posts and of the Director-General 19.5 Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee One decision
20.
Proposal for establishment of World Blood Donor Day One resolution entitled: – Blood safety: proposal to establish World Blood Donor Day
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Agenda item 15
Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem and in the occupied Syrian Golan The Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly, Mindful of the basic principle established in the Constitution of WHO, which affirms that the health of all peoples is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security; Recalling all its previous resolutions on health conditions in the occupied Arab territories; Expressing appreciation for the report of the Director-General on the health conditions of, and assistance to, the Arab population in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine;1 Expressing its concern at the deterioration of the economic and health conditions as well as the humanitarian crises resulting from the continued occupation and the severe restrictions imposed by Israel, the occupying power; Affirming the right of Palestinian patients and medical staff to the health facilities available at the Palestinian health institutions in occupied East Jerusalem; Deploring the impact on the Palestinian environment and in particular on Palestinian water resources of the disposal of Israeli waste in the West Bank; Concerned about the possible health effects on the Palestinian people of the “enhanced X-ray machine” used by Israel at Palestinian border-crossing points, 1. CALLS UPON Israel, the occupying power, to halt immediately all its practices, policies and plans which seriously affect the health conditions of civilians under occupation; 2. DEMANDS that Israel reverse its practice of dumping waste in the occupied Palestinian territory; 3. EXTENDS its gratitude to Member States, and to intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations for their continued support in meeting the health needs of the Palestinian people; 4. EXPRESSES its deep appreciation to the Director-General for his efforts to provide necessary assistance to the Palestinian people, the rest of the Arab population in the occupied Arab territories, and other peoples of the region;
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Document A58/24.
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5.
REQUESTS the Director-General: (1) to submit a fact-finding report on the health and economic situation in the occupied Palestinian territory; (2) to undertake without delay an independent health-impact assessment of the “enhanced X-ray machine” used by Israel at Palestinian border-crossing points; (3) to take urgent steps, in cooperation with Member States, to support the Palestinian Ministry of Health in its efforts to overcome the current difficulties and to help it during and after the announced Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank, in particular so as to guarantee the free movement of all health personnel and patients within and out of the occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem, and the normal provision of medical supplies to the Palestinian medical premises; (4) to provide health-related technical assistance to the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan; (5) to continue providing necessary technical assistance to meet the health needs of the Palestinian people, including the handicapped and injured; (6) to support the development of the health system in Palestine including development of human resources; (7) to report on implementation of this resolution to the Fifty-ninth World Health Assembly.
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Agenda item 17.3
Members in arrears in the payment of their contributions to an extent which would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution The Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly, Having considered the third report of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board to the Fifty-eighth Health Assembly on Special arrangements for settlement of arrears (Members in arrears in the payment of their contributions to an extent which would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution);1 Noting that, at the time of opening of the Fifty-eighth Health Assembly, the voting rights of Afghanistan, Argentina, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Central African Republic, Comoros, Dominican Republic, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Nauru, Niger, Republic of Moldova, Somalia, Suriname, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan remained suspended, such suspension to continue until the arrears of the Member State concerned have been reduced, at the present or future Health Assemblies, to a level below the amount that would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution; Noting that Uruguay was in arrears at the time of the opening of the Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly to such an extent that it is necessary for the Health Assembly to consider, in accordance with Article 7 of the Constitution, whether or not the voting privileges of Uruguay should be suspended at the opening of the Fifty-ninth World Health Assembly, DECIDES: (1) that in accordance with the statement of principles set out in resolution WHA41.7 if, by the time of the opening of the Fifty-ninth Health Assembly, Uruguay is still in arrears in the payment of its contributions to an extent that would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution, Uruguay’s voting privileges shall be suspended as from the said opening; (2) that any suspension that takes effect as aforesaid shall continue at the Fifty-ninth and subsequent Health Assemblies, until the arrears of Uruguay have been reduced to a level below the amount that would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution; (3) that this decision shall be without prejudice to the right of any Member to request restoration of its voting privileges in accordance with Article 7 of the Constitution.
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Document A58/43 Rev.1.
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(Draft) A58/53
Agenda item 17.3
Arrears in payment of contributions: Georgia The Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly, Having considered the third report of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board on Special arrangements for settlement of arrears (Members in arrears in the payment of their contributions to an extent which would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution),1 with respect to the request of Georgia for the settlement of its outstanding contributions, and the terms of that proposal as set forth in the report on special arrangements for settlement of arrears annexed to the third report, 1. DECIDES to restore the voting privileges of Georgia at the Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly; 2. ACCEPTS that Georgia shall pay its outstanding contributions, totalling US$ 4 439 163, in 15 annual instalments payable in each of the years 2006 to 2020, as set out below, subject to the provisions of Financial Regulation 6.4, in addition to the annual contributions due during the period: US$ 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Total 88 785 88 785 133 175 221 960 221 960 221 960 221 960 221 960 355 130 443 915 443 915 443 915 443 915 443 915 443 913 4 439 163
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3. DECIDES that, in accordance with Article 7 of the Constitution, voting privileges shall be automatically suspended again if Georgia does not meet the requirements laid down in paragraph 2 above; 4. REQUESTS the Director-General to report to the Fifty-ninth World Health Assembly on the prevailing situation; 5. REQUESTS the Director-General to communicate this resolution to the Government of Georgia.
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Agenda item 17.3
Arrears in payment of contributions: Iraq The Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly, Having considered the third report of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board on Special arrangements for settlement of arrears (Members in arrears in the payment of their contributions to an extent which would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution),1 with respect to the request of Iraq for the settlement of its outstanding contributions, and the terms of that proposal as set forth in the report on special arrangements for settlement of arrears annexed to the third report, 1. DECIDES to restore the voting privileges of Iraq at the Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly;
2. ACCEPTS that Iraq shall pay its outstanding contributions, totalling US$ 6 398 801, in 15 annual instalments payable in each of the years 2006 to 2020, as set out below, subject to the provisions of Financial Regulation 6.4, in addition to the annual contributions due during the period: US$ 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Total 426 579 426 579 426 579 426 579 426 579 426 579 426 579 426 579 426 579 426 579 426 579 426 579 426 579 426 579 426 695 6 398 801
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Document A58/43 Rev.1.
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3. DECIDES that, in accordance with Article 7 of the Constitution, voting privileges shall be automatically suspended again if Iraq does not meet the requirements laid down in paragraph 2 above; 4. REQUESTS the Director-General to report to the Fifty-ninth World Health Assembly on the prevailing situation; 5. REQUESTS the Director-General to communicate this resolution to the Government of Iraq.
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Agenda item 17.3
Arrears in payment of contributions: Republic of Moldova The Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly, Having considered the third report of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board on Special arrangements for settlement of arrears (Members in arrears in the payment of their contributions to an extent which would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution),1 with respect to the request of Republic of Moldova for the settlement of its outstanding contributions, and the terms of that proposal as set forth in the report on special arrangements for settlement of arrears annexed to the third report, 1. DECIDES to restore the voting privileges of Republic of Moldova at the Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly; 2. ACCEPTS that Republic of Moldova shall pay its outstanding contributions, totalling US$ 2 950 023, in 15 annual instalments payable in each of the years 2006 to 2020, as set out below, subject to the provisions of Financial Regulation 6.4, in addition to the annual contributions due during the period: US$ 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Total 1
245 000 200 000 200 000 192 088 192 085 192 085 192 085 192 085 192 085 192 085 192 085 192 085 192 085 192 085 192 085 2 950 023
Document A58/43 Rev.1.
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3. DECIDES that, in accordance with Article 7 of the Constitution, voting privileges shall be automatically suspended again if Republic of Moldova does not meet the requirements laid down in paragraph 2 above; 4. REQUESTS the Director-General to report to the Fifty-ninth World Health Assembly on the prevailing situation; 5. REQUESTS the Director-General to communicate this resolution to the Government of Republic of Moldova.
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Agenda item 17.3
Arrears in payment of contributions: Tajikistan The Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly, Having considered the third report of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board on Special arrangements for settlement of arrears (Members in arrears in the payment of their contributions to an extent which would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution),1 with respect to the request of Tajikistan for the settlement of its outstanding contributions, and the terms of that proposal as set forth in the report on special arrangements for settlement of arrears annexed to the third report, 1. DECIDES to restore the voting privileges of Tajikistan at the Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly; 2. ACCEPTS that Tajikistan shall pay its outstanding contributions, totalling US$ 514 604, in 10 annual instalments payable in each of the years 2006 to 2015, as set out below, subject to the provisions of Financial Regulation 6.4, in addition to the annual contributions due during the period: US$ 51 460 51 460 51 460 51 460 51 460 51 460 51 460 51 460 51 460 51 464 514 604
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Total
3. DECIDES that, in accordance with Article 7 of the Constitution, voting privileges shall be automatically suspended again if Tajikistan does not meet the requirements laid down in paragraph 2 above; 4. REQUESTS the Director-General to report to the Fifty-ninth World Health Assembly on the prevailing situation; 5. REQUESTS the Director-General to communicate this resolution to the Government of Tajikistan.
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Document A58/43 Rev.1.
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(Draft) A58/53
Agenda item 19.3
Salaries of staff in ungraded posts and of the Director-General The Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly, Noting the recommendations of the Executive Board with regard to remuneration of staff in ungraded posts and of the Director-General, 1. ESTABLISHES the salaries of Assistant Directors-General and Regional Directors at US$ 172 860 per annum before staff assessment, resulting in a modified net salary of US$ 117 373 (dependency rate) or US$ 106 285 (single rate); 2. ESTABLISHES the salary of the Director-General at US$ 233 006 per annum before staff assessment, resulting in a modified net salary of US$ 154 664 (dependency rate) or US$ 137 543 (single rate); 3. DECIDES that those adjustments in remuneration shall take effect from 1 January 2005.
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Agenda item 19.5
Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee The Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly nominated Mrs R. Veerapen of the delegation of Mauritius as a member, and Mrs C. Patterson of the delegation of Australia as an alternate member, of the WHO Staff Pension Committee for a three-year term until May 2008.
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Agenda item 20
Blood safety: proposal to establish World Blood Donor Day The Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly, Recalling resolution WHA28.72 which urged the development of national blood services based on the voluntary, nonremunerated donation of blood; Having considered the report on blood safety;1 Alarmed by the chronic shortage of safe blood and blood products, particularly in low- and medium-income countries; Mindful that preventing the transmission of HIV and other bloodborne pathogens through unsafe blood and blood-product transfusions requires the collection of blood only from donors at the lowest risk of carrying such infectious agents; Recognizing that voluntary, nonremunerated blood donation is the cornerstone of a safe and adequate national blood supply that meets the transfusion requirements of all patients; Noting the positive responses to World Blood Donor Day, 14 June 2004, for the promotion of voluntary, nonremunerated blood donation, 1. AGREES to the establishment of an annual World Blood Donor Day, to be celebrated on 14 June each year; 2. RECOMMENDS that this blood donor day should be an integral part of the national blooddonor recruitment programme; 3. URGES Member States: (1) to promote and support the annual celebration of World Blood Donor Day;
(2) to establish or strengthen systems for the recruitment and retention of voluntary, nonremunerated blood donors and the implementation of stringent criteria for donor selection; (3) to introduce legislation, where needed, to eliminate paid blood donation except in limited circumstances of medical necessity and, in such cases, to require informed assent of the transfusion recipient; (4) to provide adequate financing for high-quality blood donation services and for extension of such services to meet the needs of the patients;
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Document A58/38.
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(5) to promote multisectoral collaboration between government ministries, blood transfusion services, professional bodies, nongovernmental organizations, civil society and the media in the promotion of voluntary, nonremunerated blood donation; (6) to ensure the proper use of blood transfusion in clinical practice so as to avoid abuse of blood transfusion, which may result in a shortage of blood and hence stimulate the need for paid blood donation; (7) to support the full implementation of well-organized, nationally coordinated and sustainable blood programmes with appropriate regulatory systems through, in particular: (a) government commitment and support for a national blood programme with qualitymanagement systems, by means of a legal framework, a national blood-safety policy and plan, and adequate resources, (b) organization, management and infrastructure to permit a sustainable blood transfusion service, (c) (d) (e) (f) equitable access to blood and blood products, voluntary, nonremunerated blood donors from low-risk populations, appropriate testing and processing of all donated blood and blood products, appropriate clinical use of blood and blood products;
(8) to establish a quality process for policy- and decision-making for blood safety and availability based on ethical considerations, transparency, assessment of national needs, scientific evidence, and risk/benefit analysis; (9) to share information nationally and internationally in order to make clear the scientific, economic and social basis of national policy decisions related to blood safety and availability; (10) to strengthen partnerships at all levels in order to accomplish these recommended actions; 4. CALLS UPON international organizations and bodies concerned with global blood safety to collaborate in promoting and supporting World Blood Donor Day; 5. INVITES donor agencies to provide adequate funding for initiatives to promote voluntary, nonremunerated blood donation; 6. REQUESTS the Director-General: (1) to work with other organizations of the United Nations system, multilateral and bilateral agencies, and nongovernmental organizations to promote World Blood Donor Day; (2) to work with concerned organizations to provide support to Member States in strengthening their capacity to screen all donated blood against major infectious diseases in order to ensure that all blood collected and transfused is safe. = 16
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