EXECUTIVE BOARD 136th session Geneva, 26 January–3 February 2015
EB136/1 (annotated) 19 November 2014
Provisional agenda (annotated) 1. 2. 3. Opening of the session and adoption of the agenda Report by the Director-General Report of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board
The Board will receive at the opening of its session the report of the twenty-first meeting of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee, which is scheduled to be held from 21 to 23 January 2015.
4.
Report of the regional committees to the Executive Board
In decision WHA65(9) on WHO reform, the Health Assembly endorsed the proposal that chairpersons of the regional committees routinely submit to the Board summary reports of the committees ’ deliberations. The Board is invited to consider the recommendations of the regional committees.
5.
WHO reform 5.1 Framework of engagement with non-State actors
The report responds to decision WHA67(14), in which the Health Assembly requested the Director-General, inter alia, to submit a paper to the Executive Board at its 136th session, ensuring that Member States receive it by mid-December 2014, in order to allow them sufficient time to study the content and to be better prepared for discussion and deliberation. A second document is also submitted to the Board providing information on the deliberations of the regional committees on the matter, as requested by decision WHA67(14).
5.2
Method of work of the governing bodies
In response to a request by the Executive Board at its 135th session, the Secretariat ’s report provides recommendations for improving the work of the governing bodies, with a view to promoting manageable agendas, reforming reporting requirements, encouraging early discussion of draft resolutions, and ensuring timely distribution of documentation. In addition, options for saving time and better focusing on the strategic work of the governing bodies will be presented.
5.3
Overview of reform implementation
The Secretariat will report to the Board on the status of WHO ’s reform process, and describe how reform has helped the Organization in responding to the outbreak of Ebola virus disease. The report will also give details of the areas for further improvement that have been identified during the Ebola response.
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6.
Noncommunicable diseases 6.1 Outcome of the Second International Conference on Nutrition
In decision EB134(2), the Executive Board requested the Director-General, inter alia, to report to the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly, through the Executive Board at its 136th session, on the outcome of the Second International Conference on Nutrition. This report describes the outcomes of the Conference and WHO’s role in its follow-up.
6.2
Maternal, infant and young child nutrition: development of the core set of indicators
The comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young child nutrition, endorsed by the Health Assembly in resolution WHA65.6, sets out six global targets for 2025. In decision WHA67(9) the Health Assembly endorsed seven indicators to monitor progress towards the achievement of the global nutrition targets as part of the core set of indicators of the global monitoring framework on maternal, infant and young child nutrition and requested the Director-General, inter alia, to complete the work on the development of the core set of indicators and an extended set of indicators to track processes that have an impact on the global nutrition targets in specific country settings. This report proposes 14 additional indicators as well as an extended set of optional indicators to track processes. The Board is requested to consider the global monitoring framework on maternal, infant and young child nutrition, and to provide further guidance on the frequency of periodic revisions of the monitoring framework.
6.3
Update on the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity
In an effort to better inform and fashion a comprehensive response to childhood obesity, the Director-General established a high-level Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity. This report describes the scope and purpose of the Commission, as well as its current work.
6.4
Follow-up to the 2014 high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to undertake a comprehensive review and assessment of the progress achieved in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases
At the Sixty-Seventh World Health Assembly the Director-General was requested to report to the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly on the role of WHO in the follow-up to the high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to undertake a comprehensive review and assessment of the progress achieved in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (New York, 10 and 11 July 2014). This report is submitted in line with that request. The Board is invited to note the report and to provide further guidance on the possible need to develop a set of process indicators, capable of application across country settings, in order to assess the progress made in the implementation of United Nations General Assembly resolution 66/2. In a second document, pursuant to paragraph 15 of the terms of reference for the global coordination mechanism on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, the Director-General is submitting the proposed work plan for the global coordination mechanism covering the period 2016 –2017 to the Board for its consideration.
6.5
Global status report on violence and health
This document describes progress made in implementing resolution WHA67.15, in line with a request contained in that resolution. Among other things, the report provides details of the Secretariat’s continuing work to: strengthen its efforts to develop scientific evidence on the magnitude, trends, health consequences of and risk and protective factors for violence; and provide technical support for strengthening the role of the health system in tackling violence.
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6.6
Global burden of epilepsy and the need for coordinated action at the country level to address its health, social and public knowledge implications
At the request of a Member State, the Secretariat is providing information on the global burden of epilepsy and the need to raise the priority accorded to coordinated action at country levels in order to mitigate its health and socioeconomic consequences. The Board is invited to note the report and provide further guidance.
7.
Promoting health through the life course 7.1 Monitoring the achievement of the health-related Millennium Development Goals
In response to requests made in resolutions WHA58.31, WHA63.15, WHA63.17, WHA63.24, WHA64.13 and WHA65.7, this report summarizes progress towards achievement of the health-related Millennium Development Goals and specific targets. In line with the relevant additional requests in those resolutions, it also describes progress made towards reducing child mortality through: the prevention and treatment of pneumonia; reducing perinatal and neonatal mortality; prevention and management of birth defects; and achieving universal coverage of maternal, newborn and child health care.
7.2
Health and the environment • Addressing the health impact of air pollution
A report on addressing the health impact of air pollution was considered by the Executive Board at its 135th session. In light of comments made during the discussions, the Board decided to include the issue of the health impact of air pollution on the provisional agenda of its 136th session. Among other things, the report outlines a number of strategies for the prevention, control and mitigation of the adverse effects of air pollution on health.
• Climate and health: outcome of the WHO Conference on Health and Climate The WHO Conference on Health and Climate (Geneva, 27–29 August 2014) marked a major step in responding to the requests made to the Director-General by the Health Assembly in resolution WHA61.19. The present report summarizes the proceedings and conclusions of the Conference.
7.3
Adolescent health
A comprehensive plan on adolescent health, based on current evidence and existing global commitments and action plans, and with measurable outcomes, may be needed in order to support countries to implement interventions and strategies for adolescents’ health, taking into consideration their national contexts. In the report, therefore, the Secretariat is proposing elements of a plan together with a process for consultation with countries and stakeholders. The Executive Board is invited to provide guidance thereon.
7.4
Women and health: 20 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
The report highlights progress made in relation to women and health since the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action (1995). It also reviews the unfinished business of women and health in the context of the Millennium Development Goals, together with challenges and emerging priorities in respect of the twentieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration.
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8.
Preparedness, surveillance and response 8.1 Antimicrobial resistance
In response to resolution WHA67.25, the Secretariat will present a draft global action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance, to be submitted to the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly through the Executive Board at its 136th session. In a separate report, details will be provided of progress made in implementing the other aspects of resolution WHA67.25.
8.2
Poliomyelitis
In May 2014 the Director-General declared the spread of wild poliovirus a “public health emergency of international concern” and issued temporary recommendations to deal with the growing risk of further spread. The report describes the impact of emergency measures to interrupt circulation of both endemic and imported wild polioviruses, together with the new measures to stop international spread. It also proposes a firm timeline for the withdrawal of type-2 oral polio vaccine globally in April 2016, which requires urgent action by Member States to ensure the interruption of any persistent circulating vaccine-derived type-2 poliovirus and full implementation of readiness criteria such as the introduction of inactivated polio vaccine.
8.3
Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005)
In line with the reporting mechanism established under resolution WHA61.2, the Director-General will report on progress made by States Parties and the Secretariat on implementation of the Regulations. In a second document, the Director-General will report on the advice provided to her by the IHR Review Committee on second extensions for establishing national public health capacities and on the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005), following its meeting on 13 and 14 November 2014.
9.
Communicable diseases 9.1 Malaria: draft global technical strategy: post-2015
At the Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly, Member States expressed support for the proposal that the Secretariat draft a global technical strategy for malaria for the post-2015 period. The Board is invited to consider the draft WHO global technical strategy for malaria 2016 –2030, and to recommend its submission to the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly.
9.2
Dengue: prevention and control
The escalation of dengue fever worldwide poses a serious public health problem. At the Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly in May 2014, several Member States referred to the public health and economic burdens of dengue in the plenary discussion on the link between climate and health. This report outlines the global threat to public health posed by dengue, the elements of the global strategy to prevent and control the disease, and essential steps to be taken.
9.3
Global vaccine action plan
In line with resolution WHA65.17, a summary report is provided on the progress made towards the achievement of the global immunization targets, using the monitoring and accountability framework approved by the Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly and including the recommendations of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization, which met in October 2014.
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9.4
2014 Ebola virus disease outbreak
The Secretariat’s report notes the challenges posed by the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa and describes the global response. The current epidemiological situation is reviewed, along with the response by WHO, the United Nations system as a whole and other international partners. Updates are given on: research and development in the areas of therapeutics, vaccines and clinical trials; logistics and operational issues; resource mobilization; and preparedness, including capacities required by the International Health Regulations (2005).
10.
Health systems 10.1 Strengthening emergency and essential surgical care and anaesthesia as a component of universal health coverage
The Executive Board at its 135th session agreed to include strengthening emergency and essential surgical care and anaesthesia as a component of universal health coverage on the provisional agenda of its 136th session and that a new version of the report that it had noted would be prepared. Strengthening capacity to deliver basic surgical and anaesthetic services at first referral facilities can contribute to reducing death and disability from both communicable and noncommunicable diseases and support progress towards universal health coverage. On that basis, the Board is invited to consider specific country-level and Secretariat actions for supporting improved service delivery in this area.
10.2 WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel In resolution WHA63.16, the Health Assembly decided that the first review of the relevance and effectiveness of the Code should be made by the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly. The Executive Board is invited to consider the process that has been established to facilitate the first review, and the progress made to date.
10.3 Substandard/spurious/falsely-labelled/falsified/counterfeit medical products The third meeting of the Member State mechanism for Substandard/spurious/falsely-labelled/falsified/ counterfeit medical products was held in Geneva, Switzerland from 29 October to 31 October. Among other things, the Member State mechanism discussed the review of itself that was decided upon by the Health Assembly in resolution WHA65.19. The outcome document of the third meeting forms the basis for reporting back to the Health Assembly through the Executive Board at its 136th session. The present report also includes an update by the Secretariat on the following: activities undertaken to implement the work plan, results of the exercise to prioritize items in the work plan and the results of technical meetings to finalize the electronic consultations held earlier on the two technical items in the work plan.
10.4 Follow-up of the report of the Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development: Financing and Coordination In accordance with decision WHA67(15), the Secretariat will report on the exploration of the possibility of using an existing mechanism to host a pooled fund towards research and development with the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases. In line with resolution WHA66.22 and decision WHA67(15), the Secretariat will submit a second report detailing progress made in implementing the selected health research and development demonstration projects.
10.5 Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property In line with resolution WHA62.16, the Secretariat is submitting a report setting out a timeline for the process leading to the presentation to the governing bodies of an evaluation report on the global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property.
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10.6 Blood and other medical products of human origin In response to proposals from Member States to call for a Health Assembly resolution on self-sufficiency in blood and blood products based on voluntary non-remunerated donations, and the call at the Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly for the WHO Guiding Principles on Human Cell, Tissue and Organ Transplantation to be applied to medical products of human origin, the Secretariat has produced this report which covers both blood and other medical products of human origin.
11.
Programme and budget matters 11.1 Implementation and financing of Programme budget 2014–2015: update
The report provides an account of progress made in implementation of the Programme budget 2014 –2015.
11.2 Proposed programme budget 2016–2017 A revised draft of the Proposed programme budget 2016–2017 has been prepared, following review and discussion by the regional committees, for consideration by the Board.
11.3 Strategic budget space allocation In accordance with the steps and timelines proposed by the Secretariat to the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board at its twentieth meeting, and in response to comments made during the discussion of the relevant report of the Committee to the Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly, the Secretariat is providing an update on the development of the new strategic budget space methodology.
12.
Financial matters 12.1 Draft financial strategy for WHO
In its report on financing of administrative and management costs, which was noted by the Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly, the Secretariat proposed to present a report linking the various reform initiatives in the financing domain and mapping out the broad strategic directions for the financing of WHO.
12.2 Scale of assessments for 2016–2017 The Board is invited to consider the scale of assessments for 2016 –2017 and a draft resolution recommending its adoption by the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly.
13.
Management and governance matters 13.1 Evaluation
The report by the Secretariat provides an update on progress made in implementing the Organization ’s evaluation policy.
13.2 Real estate: update on the Geneva buildings renovation strategy The Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly considered an earlier update on the Geneva buildings strategy and adopted decision WHA67(12) in which, inter alia, the Health Assembly noted the updated buildings renovation strategy, authorized the Director-General to proceed with the initial planning phase, including the organization of an architectural competition, and requested the Director-General, among other things, to present to the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly the selected design for the new building with an outline of the building
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specifications and a financial update of the entire renovation strategy. In line with decision WHA67(12), the Secretariat is providing the Board with a further update on the Geneva buildings renovation strategy.
13.3 Reports of committees of the Executive Board • Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations During its session the Board will receive the report of the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations, which contains, inter alia, the Committee’s recommendations on requests from organizations for admission into official relations with WHO, and the review of collaboration between WHO and one third of the organizations in official relations during the period 2012–2014.
• Foundations and awards The Board will consider the reports of the selection panels for the following prizes to be awarded in 2015: the Sasakawa Health Prize, the United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize, the State of Kuwait Prize for Research in Health Promotion, and the Dr Lee Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health. The Board is invited to approve the report of the Dr A.T. Shousha Foundation Committee. The Board is also invited to consider the following: a report from the meeting of the Jacques Parisot Foundation; and proposed changes to the Statutes of the State of Kuwait Prize for Research in Health Promotion. 13.4
Provisional agenda of the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly and date, place and draft provisional agenda of the 137th session of the Executive Board
14.
Staffing matters 14.1
Appointment of the Regional Director for Africa
The document contains the Regional Committee’s proposal to the Board for the appointment of the Regional Director.
14.2 Appointment of the Regional Director for Europe The document contains the Regional Committee’s proposal to the Board for the appointment of the Regional Director.
14.3 Statement by the representative of the WHO staff associations 14.4 Human resources: update The report provides an update on the implementation of the Organization-wide human resources strategy.
14.5 Report of the International Civil Service Commission The report contains relevant amendments following the United Nations General Assembly’s consideration of the recommendations of the International Civil Service Commission.
14.6 Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules Amendments to the Staff Rules made by the Director-General are submitted for confirmation by the Board in accordance with Staff Regulation 12.2. Proposed amendments to the Staff Regulations are presented for consideration by the Board for submission to the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly.
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15.
Matters for information 15.1 Reports of advisory bodies • Expert committees and study groups
In compliance with Regulation 4.23 of the Regulations for Expert Advisory Panels and Committees, the Director-General submits to the Board for its consideration a report on meetings of expert committees and study groups, including a summary of the recommendations contained in the reports of expert committees and observations on their significance for public health policies and implications for the Organization ’s programmes. In a second report, the Secretariat will provide details of both meetings and membership of expert committees that met in 2014.
16. Note:
Closure of the session
1. In accordance with Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board, the Officers of the Board consulted with the Director-General regarding the draft provisional agenda that had been transmitted to Member States for comment on 13 June 2014, as well as five proposals for additional items that were received from Member States by the deadline of 5 September. The consultation was conducted via email on 10 September 2014. The Officers of the Board recommended that additional items be included in the provisional agenda for the 136th session of the Board in January 2015 as follows:
• Under the category noncommunicable diseases, one item entitled “Global burden of epilepsy and the need for coordinated action at the country level to address its health, social and public knowledge implications”;
• Under the category promoting health through the life course, one item entitled “Women and health: 20 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action”;
• Under the category health systems, an item entitled “Self-sufficiency in safe blood products, based on voluntary non-remunerated donation” and a second item entitled “Global consensual principles on the donation and use of medical products of human origin”, to be combined into a single item entitled “Blood and other medical products of human origin”. 2. The Officers of the Board, in accordance with Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board, also recommended not to include in the provisional agenda of the 136th session of the Board a new item proposed by a Member State entitled “Combating viral hepatitis”.
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