WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTE
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC BUREAU REGIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL
REGIONAL COMMITTEE Seventh Session Manila 7-13 September 1956 MINUTES OF THE FOURTH MEETING
WP/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l 28 September 1956
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
Institute of Hygiene Wednesday, 12 September 1956 at 9:00 a.m. CHAIRMAN: Dr. J. Bierdrager
CONTENTS 1 2
Consideration of draft resolution on campaigns against smallpox Consideration of draft resolution on malaria eradication First draft report of the Sub-Committee on Programme and Budget Mental health programmes
4
.......
4 11
3 4
24
wp/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 2 Fourth Meet1ng Wednesday, 12 September 1956 at 9: 00 a.m. PrESEJ?!'
I
Representat1 ves of' Member States AUSTRALIA CHINA Dr. II. E. Downes Miss E. Warren Dr. L. C. Yen Dr. C. II. Yen Dr. Y. T. Kuo
FRANCE JAPAN
Medecin-Colonel R. Augere Medecin-Colonel Aretas Dr. M. Kusumoto Mr. A. Sa.ita Mr. T. Nakagawa Dr. C. C. Lee Mr. Do Soon Chung Dr. K. Keola Dr. C. S. Sayavongs Dr. J. Dierdrager
KOREA
LAOS NE'l'IIERLANDS
NEW ZEALAND PHILIPPINES
Dr. F. S. Maclean Dr. R. Tumbokon
Dr. E. Agustin Dr. T. Gomez Dr. A. C. Regale. Dr. J. de Paiva. Martins
PORruGAL
UNITED KINGDCM
Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr.
W. M. M. A. G.
G. Evans D. bin Ahmad Doraisingham R. Edmonds Graham-Cumming
UNITED srATES
Dr. R.K.C. Lee
Dr. K. Dain Dr. II. DeLi en Dr. L. K. Quyen Dr. P. o. Can
VIETNAM
WP/RC7/Mln/4 Rev.l Page 3 II Representatives of the United Nations and Specialized Agencies UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND UNrrED NATIONS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BOARD III Mr.
P. O. Hanson, Jr.
Mr. E. Ward'
Representatives of other Inter-Governmental Organizations SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION Dr. Thos. C. Lonie
IV
Representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations in official relations with ~IO INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF NURSES INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF GYNECOLOGY AND ODSTErRICS INTERNATIONAL PAEDIATRIC ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL SOCIErY FOR DLOOD TRANSFUSION INTERNATIONAL SOCIErY FOR TIrE WELFARE OF CRIPPLES Mrs.
R. Ordiz
Dr. A. Baens Dr. F. del Mundo Dr. R. Y. Atienza Dr. J. S. Santillan Dr. J. Z. Santa Cruz Dr. R. Rivera-Ramirez Dr. A. Z. Romualdez Secretary: Dr. I. C. Fang Regional Director
INTERNATIONAL UNION AGAINST CANCER MEDICAL HOMEN I S INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
WP/FfJ7 /Min/4 Rev.1 Page 4 1
CONSIDERATICN OF DRAFT RESOLUTION ON CAMPAICNS AGAINST SMALLPOX (WP/RC7.Rl3)
Tbe CHAIRMAN asked the Committee to consider the following draft resolution on campaigns against smallpaoc prepared by the rapporteurs: liThe Regional Committee, 1. NarES
the action taken by certain governments to implement
the recommendations of the inter-regional consultant on smallpox; and 2. THANKS those governments who have submitted reports. 1t
Dr. H.E. DOWNF.3 (Australia) moved the adoption of the resolution; this was seconded by Dr. C.H. YEN (China) and unanimously approved. 2
CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT RF.30LUTION ON MALARIA ERADICATION (WP/RC7.RlO) The CHAffiMAN invited Dr. W. Glyn Evans (United Kingdom) to introduce
the draft resolution on behalf of tre Working Group.
Dr. EVANS informed
the Committee that the Working Group had tried several times to prepare a resolution satisfactory to its members and finally decided to reduce it to the smallest size and incorporate the two points which had been considered the vital essentials. Reference to the proposed training course in Indo(a) the Working Group was not
nesia had been omitted for two reasons:
quite sure what the feeling of the Committee would be on this subject and therefore thought that it was premature to draft anything on this point,
and (b) if the Regional Committee decided definitely on the training course, it would be much better if this should beoome the subject of a separate resolution. The Working Group had therefore prepared the following re-
solution and the United Kingdom delegation had much pleasure in proposing
wp/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 5 that the Regional Committee adopt it: "The Regional Committee, Having noted with approval the action already taken by the Ninth World Health Assembly and by the Regional Director of the Western Pacific towards the eradication of malaria, RESOLVES 1. that the Director-General be asked to give priority
to ant1malaria projects and to provide funds for them when necessary from the Malaria Eradication Special Account, and 2. that the attention of all those concerned be called
to the absolute necessity of co-ordinating antimalaria programmes of adjoining countries belonging to different regions as well as the programmes of countries within one region." Medecin-Colonel ARETAS (France) seconded the adoption of the resolution, which was unanimously approved. The CHAIRMAN asked the Committee to consider the draft resolution contained in document WP/RC7/7 Add.l.
Dr. H. DELIEN (USA) asked What facilities existed in Indonesia for this training course and What was the plan of programme for the course. The REGIONAL MALARIA ADVISER explained that there was a malaria institute in Djakarta, which was part of the Eykman Instituut which had recently been rehabilitated and expanded with the assistance of the International Co-operation Administration in Indonesia. WHO had also been pro-
viding aid to this institute in the form of an entomologist and perhaps a malariologist. The proposal to establish an inter-regional training
course in Indonesia included the assignment of professional teaching staff who could strengthen the Institute. As regards the type of training, it
wp/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 6
was understood that this would chiefly be for the professional group - meaning, malariologists, entomologists and public-health engineers. It was hoped that
these people, who would be sent from either of the two regions to this course, would receive the necessary training and field experience so that when they returned to their own countries they could in turn train other staff locally. Dr. W. GLYN EVANS (United Kingdom) stated that the United Kingdom
delegation was particularly interested in this proposal.
There was definitely
a need for a training course for malariologists in that part of the world and, speaking for the Borneo territories, he was of the opinion that it would probably help solve the problem. Dr. EVANS then asked the following questions:
(a) what language would be used for this training course? and (b) what, in the opinion of the Regional Malaria Adviser, did the Institute for Medical Research in Kuala Lumpur not offer at the present time regarding the training course? The REGIONAL MALARIA ADVISER said that he could only predict that the course would be conducted in the English language because he supposed that the conSUltants who would be assigned by WHO to assist in the training course would be English-speaking, or at least have a working knowledge of English. Regarding (b), the REGIONAL MALARIA ADVISER agreed that the Institute for Medical Research in Kuala Lumpur was an excellent institute and there was no question but that if the Institute were willing to undertake such a training course it would do so with excellent results. During his last visit to
Kuala Lumpur, however, he gained the impreSSion that the Institute had a tremendous number of research projects on hand which would require considerable work for the next few years. One reason why Headquarters was
WP/RC1/Min/4 Rev.l Page 1
proposing the holding of the course in Indonesia was the fact that the needs of that country were much greater than those of the other countries in the two regions involved, and therefore it would be more economical to hold the school in Indonesia than to send the trainees out of Indonesia. Dr. EVANS said that he had been informed by the representative of the
Federation of Malaya that what the Regional Malaria Adviser had just stated was correct and the Institute for Medical Research could not undertake this training course. He added that the United Kingdom delegation supported the
proposal but would like to add a clause to the resolution iUdicating that special attention should be paid to training at a level lower than the professional level and also to the possibility of using the Malay language. The REGIONAL MALARIA ADVISER stated that although a great number of the people in the South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions spoke the Malay language, he doubted very much that the course could be made available to other countries whose peoples did not speak Malay, if it were conducted in this language. Dr •
EVANS explained that he did not mean to suggest that the instruction
should be exclusively in Malay, as it was realized that certain types of technical instruction were very difficult in the Malay language. He would,
however, like the idea of the possibility of including instruction in the Malay language in this new training establishment to be kept in mind.
WP/RC?/Min/4 Rev.l Page 8 Medecin-Colonel ARETAS (France) asked if provision could be made for holding a French course. There were many countries interested in malajia
control and in regard to the French-speaking countries in the Western Pacific, such as Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam, it would be very useful i f a Frenchspeaking course could be started. This had been done in Africa with success.
He did not mean that the French-speaking people could not attend the English course but it would be profitable if these courses could be held in both working languages. The SECRETARY stated that the Secretariat fully appre-
ciated the position indicated by the representative of France and if a request were received for 1959 this possibility would be considered. ARETAS agreed to mention this to his government. Dr. C.H. YEN (China) stated that the proposal to set up a training centre in [ndonesia was extremely important. He presumed that the training Medecin-Colonel
1<lould be mbre or less directed towards control and eradication in which a great part1would be field work. I
In view of this, he would like the Secre-
tariat to state whether or not other regions like the Western Pacific had coopo.r'....blc, if not better, facilities for this purpose. The REGIONAL MALARIA ADVISER replied that in the Western Pacific there were some ~ery
good malaria institutes where training facilities for proHe
fessicnal,as well as sub-professional or auxiliary staff# were provided. mentioned as examples the Taiwan Provincial Malaria Institute in China (Taiwan), knd the Malaria Institute of the Department of Health of the Republic of the Philippines. These two institutes had been utilized far
the training of professional personnel on fellowships from other countries. Dr. EVANS suggested that the Committee consider the addition of a few lines at ,the end of the resolution, to read:
wp/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 9 "ASKS that, wen the training course is organized, particular attention be given to the possibility of training antimalaria workers at an academic level below the professional and to the possibility of training in the Malay language, as well as in English. II
Dr. R. K. C. LEE (USA) referred to document WP/RC7/5, Technical Assistance Funds, where provision had been made for about $78 000 for malaria-control programmes, and to document wp/RC7/7 Add.2, giving a list of projects and fellowships to be financed by the Malaria Eradication Special Account in 1958. He asked wich of the fellowships would be under the
Indonesia training progranune,from which Member Countries the fellows would come, and what plan had been worked out in this respect. The REGIONAL MALARIA ADVISER explained that several requests for malaria fellowships in 1958 had been received and it had been proposed that, if the malaria training centre in Indonesia were established, then full utilization would be made of the facilities and the fellOWS, as well as those wo would be awarded fellowships in the future from this region, would be trained there. Dr. LEE asked which of the fellowships tentatively budgetted for 1958
would be sent to Indonesia for training. The REGIONAL MALARIA ADVISER stated that a request for assistance had been received from the British Solomon Islands Protectorate so that if funds bec€::lle available, and if the school were established, two fellows would be sent from the British Solomon Islands Protectorate. A request
for a fellowship in malaria control had also been received from Macau.
WP/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 10 Two fellowships had been requested by Netherlands New Guinea and it was
understood that the Federation of Malaya was planning to undertake the training of a number of malaria-control personnel. The Government of the
Federation had also indicated that WHO assistance might be requested as soon as plans had been finalized, and it was expected that a number of candidates from Malaya could be trained in Iudonesia. It was, of course,
understood that adequate information on the fellows' background should be obtained before placement could be determined. The SECRETARY called the attention of the Committee to the fact that all Technical Assistance activities in 1958 were highly tentative, as had been indicated in the introduction to the document. The CHAIRMAN referred to the suggested amendment by the representative of the United Kingdom and Dr. EVANS formally proposed the addition of the suggested paragraph. Dr. LEE stated that he would like to discuss the proposal of the
representative of the United Kingdom further.
He was of the opinion that
the training of non-professional workers should be carried out by the Member Countries themselves, particularly when there were language problems. He
suggested that this was a policy question which the Committee should discuss and decide and the Secretary could perhaps advise the Committee on whether or not the training of malaria workers who were non-professionals should be carried out on the local level by the Member Countries themselves. The SECRETARY expressed the opinion that the sub-professional group, not only in malaria control but also of workers in other fields, should be trained locally, but stated that the training course being proposed was not of the sub-professional level. Dr. EVANS said that in view of the
WP/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 11 explanation just given by the Secretary his delegation would withdraw its suggestion. The CHAIRMAN invited the Committee to consider the adoption of the draft resolution contained in document wp/RC7/7 Add.I. that the resolution be adopted.
Dr. EVANS proposed
Mr. A. SAlTA (Japan) seconded the resolu-
tion which was then carried, with the representative of the Philippines abstaining.
3
FIRST DRAFT REPORT OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON PROGRAMME AND BUDGET (wp/RC7/21) . The CHAIRMAN, in introducing the draft report of the Sub-Committee on
the Programme and Budget, stated that a very thorough review had taken place and invited the Committee to comment on item 2.1, "Modifications in the Basic and Supplementary Programmes and Budget for 1957 (wp/RC7/4)" under Regular Funds. Regular Funds:
Mr. A. SAlTA (Japan) expressed full agreement with the Chairman's
statement that the matter had been thoroughly investigated and congratulated the Sub-Committee on the work accomplished. for the full documentation they had provided. He also thanked the Secretariat He wished, however, to refer
to the information furnished by the Secretariat that the reduction made had cmounted to $151 330, and nGked whether the reduction for the Western Pacific Region was justifiable as compared with the reduced amounts in other regions. If this were not the case, then the Regional Committee could ask the Director-General to compensate for this in the future.
WP/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 12 The SECRETARY stated that it had been necessary for the Director-General to reduce the total basic 1957 regional field allocation by ~741 600.
Mr.
SArrA pointed out that the entire amrunt allocated for field projects had
to be divided among seven items: the six regions "Region Undesignated". If any r eduction had
of the Organization, and
to be made, this should be
divided equally into seven parts.
The $741 600, if divided in this way,
would therefore make a reduction cf approximately $100 000 instead of $150 000. The figure of ~151 330 seemed to be a high amount of reduction in this region. Mr. SAlTA expressed regret that neither the Director-General nor a representative from Headquarters was present but asked the Secretary haw the reduction had been effected, and whether it had been done in accordance with instructions of the Heal th .~ssembly.
The SECRETARY thanked Mr. Saita for calling the attention of both the Committee and the Secretariat to this point. He explained that at this stage However,
he was not in a position to say why Headquarters had done this.
inasmuch as the matter had already been settled, he would be willing to transmit the information to the Director-General and call his attention to it. As soon as a reply had been received, this information would be cirPerhaps one of the reasons for the large
culated to all Member Governments.
reduction was that, starting 1957, all projects for which reimbursement was being provided by UNICEF were to be taken over by WHO. This being the case,
some of the regions where there were a large number of these UNICEF-assisted projects had now to provide for the costs of these programmes - in the Eastern Mediterranean, Africa and South-East Asia Regions, there were a number of these projects which were now being financed by WHO. Therefore,
WP/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 13 money had to be allocated to fulfil this commitment. Such a situation did
not, however, exist in the Western Pacific Region as all projects which UNICEF used to finance in the previous years were now taken care of. Mr. SAlTA thanked the Secretary, although he was not in complete agree-
ment with the statement just given.
hS far as modifications for 1957 were
concerned, documentWP/RC7/4 gave a clear picture of how programmes were to be modified in accordance with the reduction in the budget. His govern-
ment was interested in the Inter-country Programmes given in Appendix I, particularly the Study Group on Venereal-Disease Control which had been relegated to the Supplementary List. Unlike fellowships which could easily
be implemented within short notice, seminars, study groups or conferences needed long and thorough preparations. It had not, therefore, been wise to
drop this type of programme out of the Regular programme and relegate it to the Supplementary List. government was involved. Further, in this type of programme, a host He recalled the case of a malaria conference for'
Which a good deal of preparation had been made by the host country and suddenly WHO decided to change the site of the conference, much to the inconvenience of the host government. As far as the Study Group on venereal-Disease
Control was concerned, his government had been asked, and had agreed, to act as host and preparatory work, including financial arrangements, had already started. It appeared that the WHO Secretariat was not giving can-
sideration to the implications affecting the host government and he asked the Secretary if this project could not be financed under Technical Assistance funds. The SECRET.ARY, referring to the change of site for the malaria conference, expressed regret that this had happened, but it had been beyond the control
WP/Re7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 14 of the Regional Office.
.;is regards the Venereal-Disease Study Group, he and difficulties broU~lt
appreciated the.
inconve~icnccs
on the host govern-
ment but if there were no funds available it was impossible to carry out the project. It was not possible to finance the Study Group from Technical
Assistance in view of the ruling of the Executive Board that only 10% of the money. could be used for inter-country or inter-regional projects and this had already been committed. The only way would be to consider this request
in the next programme planning period. Dr. H.E. DOWNES (Australia) realized the difficult position that the Regiora 1 Director was in when reducing the various projects in the Region. He referred to the remarks he had made in the meeting of the Sub-Committee on the Programme and Budget as far as venereal diseases and treponematoses were concerned and stated that he wished to support the action of the Regional Director. Mr. SArrA stated that he had raised the matter not from the medicul
point of view but because his government tad been requested to act as host to the seminar. Dr. F.S. MACLEA.N (New Zealand) referred to the following draft resolution proposed by the Sub-Committee: liThe Regio:nal Committee, Having considered the modifications made in the regular programme for 1957, which became necessary as a result of the decision of the Ninth World Health !:ssemblyto establish an effective working budget for that year at an amount less than that requested by the DirectorGeneral,
WP/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 15 Having considered the report of the Regional Director on the action taken in regard to the Supplementary List of Projects approved by the Regional Committee at its sixth session, NOTES the action taken to accommodate as many of the approved activities as possible within the resources CBde available to the Western Pacific Region." and stated that the resolution did not resolve anything, but merely considered and took note. Since the adjustments made to the 1957 programme which had been
forced upon the Regional Director were a matter of importance and of some difficulty, he felt that the Committee should approve or disapprove the action taken. read: "APPROVES the action taken by the Regional Director in modifying the programme for 1957 to bring it within the resources available." He proposed therefore that the last paragraph should be amended to
Mr. SAITA seconded the proposed amendment. Dr. IXWNES recarked that the information supplied by the Secretariat in
document WP/RC7/4 was very welcome;
it would, however, be helpful if an
additional column headed "Cost" were inserted on the various projects to be reduced. The CHAIRMAN drew attention to the amended resolution which was unanimously adopted.
Mr. A. SAlTA (Japan) requested information on the difference between the figures in documents WP/RC7/22 and wp/RC7/5 Part I regarding
WP/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 16 the percentages for regional office and field activities under Regular funds. The SECRETARY referred Mr. Saita to pages 64-65 of Official
Records 69 and stated that in obtaining the data requested by Dr. Evans, the planning figures of other regions had been utilized as there was no source of reference available for the actual revised figures by region. The Secretar:ia t had had to use its own planning figures to show some level of comparison. Mr. SAITA said that it seemed to him as though the amount requested ly the Regional Director last year had been ~677
571 instead of
~826
628.
The Secretary agreed but stated that the Director-General had included probable additional funds in the event of the return of inactive Members. Dr. W. GLYN EVANS (United Kingdom) expressed appreciation of the considerable amount of work entailed in collecting the data and arranging it in a form easy to understand. He had made his own calculation which
showed the average percentage of regional office and field activities to be 11.3% and
88.7i respectively. The most economically run regional Rc~ioual
office was the South-Eust Asia
Office, followed by the Regional
Office for !frica, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Regional Office for Europe, Regional Office for the ATestern Pacific, and the Regional Office for the ~mericas.
This comparison did not necessarily
reflect the proportion of money spent at the desk with that spent in the field. This was not a matter of great concern at the present time
but he would urge the Secretary to exercise care in the work of the office. Dr. H.E. DOWNES (Lustralia) thought that the proportion of money devoted to the Regional Office as compared to field activities had been
wp/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 17 increased 5~
owing to the transfer to regional office responsibility of EpidemioJogi~al
the Singapore
Intelligence Station.
The SECRETARY called the attention of the Committee to the fact that the amount of other extra-budgetary funds available definitely affected these proportions. If the Western Pacific Region had as much as the
Regional Office for Africa, the proportion would be on the other side. Further, the cost of living in the Philippines was very high and were it not for this the Western Pacific Regional Office could easily be the most economical. Dr. F. S. MACLEAN (New Zealand) stated that the cost of travel within
the Region should also be considered.
The area of the Western Pacific was
the largest while the effective European area could fit inside Australia. The cost of duty travel and leave travel for members of the Secretariat was, therefore, very greatly inflated compared to the other more compact regions. As the United Kingdom representative had calculated the average proportion of all regions as 11%, the Regional Director should be congratulated on the nearness of his region's proportion to this average. Dr. OOWNES introduced the following draft resolution:
"The Regional Committee, Realizing that the programmes for the Region which it approves may need modification should the subsequent World Health Assembly reduce the proposed effective working budget, REQUESTS the Regional Director, as far as it is practicable, to reduce the budgetary requirements of projects within the Region on a. pro-ra.ta basis. II
WP/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 18 He believed that, in principle, there should be a fair allocation of reduction between regions. The proposed resolution wculd effect a reasonably proportionate reduction from projects in the Region in the event of a budget reduction, in other words, thore would be a pro-rata basis of reduction as far as practicable to do so. Dr. MACLEaN disagreed with the proposal and considered any attempt to reduce project allocations on a pro-rata basis as extremely dangerous. For example, a project prepared on the most economical basis (or one involving a single fellowship) would be wrecked in the event of a pro-rata reduction. There were also the projects carried over from the previous plann~
year which involved the general heal th
ng of the country concerned.
Only if countries all had a number of projects more or less in equal pro-
portion could a pro-rata reduction be easily effected. Dr. DavNES stated that his resolution did not specifically refer to the 1958 programme and budget but was of a more general nature and covered future programmes. Commenting on the remarks of Dr. r1aclean, Dr. OOWNES
stated that he had carefully inserted the phrase lias far as practicable" to cover the situations mentioned. Mr. SArrA asked the Secrotary if he were in a position to give a
rough estimate of what the Director-General might allocate to WPRO for 1958. The SECRETARY replied that the Dircctor-General was still awaiting
the proposals of the regions and he cruld only base his estimtes for presentation to the Executive Board when he had received all of these. Mr. SAlTA asked whether the Regional Committee should endorse, approve or merely take note of the proposed programme and budget for 1958.
wp/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 19 The Secretary stated that the Regional Committee was expected to give direction and guidance on what should be recOmmended to Headquarters.
Dr. R. K. C. LEE (USA) pointed out that this subject had been discussed in previous committee meetings and it had been the practice not to approve but merely to consider, study and take note of the proposed budget for 1958. Dr. A. C. REGALA (Philippines) requested further information from the
Secretary who stated that, according to the Constitution of WHO, Article 50, item g, the Director-General had requested the Regional Direotor to prepare budget estimates and to obtain the recommendation of the Regional Committee in order that he could use it in the preparation of his programme and budget. Dr. LEE stated that he would accept the word "recommendation" which was
different from "approval".
Mr. SAITA thanked the Committee for discussing
this point and stated that his government did not want to be in a position later on at the World Health Assembly where it might have to go back on his delegation's position in this meeting. Dr. LEE referred to the resolution on the
1958 programme and budget
proposed by the Sub-Committee and stated that he wished to propose the following addition: "DIRECTS the Regional·Director to follow priorities already approved should the World Health Assembly reduce the effective working budget. II Dr. EVANS seconded the proposed amendment. Dr. REGALA stated that while
his delegation supported the substance of the amendment proposed, he would like the Secretary to inform the group whether a set of priorities had been established. The SECRETARY drew' the attention of the Committee to resolution
\~/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l
Page 20 . WP/RC6.R7 in which it was stated that: "The Regional Committee, Having studied the proposed guiding principles concerning projects to be financed with Regular funds, ADOPTS the criteria proposed; and REQUESTS the Regional Director to follow these criteria when formula ting future programmes • • • I
"
The resolution as amended by the United States proposal was then unanimously approved. Technical Assistanqe Programme The CHA~
(wp!RC7/5, Part II and Add.l)
drew the attention of the Committee to the following re-
solution proposed by the Sub-Committee: liThe Regional Committee, Having reviewed the activities planned to be carried out in 1957 and 1958 under the Expanded Programme for Technical Assistance, Considering that the country programming procedure established for the Tec~nical
Assistance Programme reduces the effective review
which the Regional Committee can make of the country projects proposed for financing from Technical Assistance funds, Noting that the amount of Technical Assistance funds available from year to year for health work is not only dependent on the place in their total programmes which governments give to health, but also may fluctuate from yoar to year as a result of the voluntary nature of the financial support for the programme,
WP/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 2l 1.
NOTES the projects requ€sted by governments in the "t-lestem
Pacific Regional Office for health work in 1957; 2. APPROVES the regional (and inter-country) projects proposed
to be financed by Technical Assistance funds, and requests that these projects be approved by the Technical Assistance Board and Technical ~sistance
Committee; course in health education requested by the
3.
NOTES the
traini~'
South Pacific Commission as a joint WHO/SPC project, and adds its request to that of the Commission that the project be approved by the Technical lssistance Board and Technical ~ssistance
Committee
and financed from Technical Assistance funds in 1957, considering the urgency of the project for the people of the territories concerned;
4.
RECOGNIZES that the projects and amounts shown for 1958 are
for the purpose of original planning only, and that there is no assurance as to the amount of funds which may become available far health work in the Western Pacific Region in 1958;
5.
URGES governments in the Region, in the development of their
annual country programmes, to give the emphasis to .tealth projects necessary to support their economic development, and particularly to assure that continuing projects are safeguarded." Mr. A. SArrA (Japan) requested clarification of the word "APPROVES" in the second paragraph of the operative part of the resolution, an d enquired if the Regional Committee could approve the regional and intercountry programmes. The SECRETARY stated that the word "and" should be
deleted and the portion should read "regional (inter-country) projects".
wp/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 22 Dr. R. K. C. LEE (USA) stated that during the meeting of the
Sub-Committee he had pointed to the lack of supervision or jurisdiction by the C~ittee
over the Technical Assistance programme and funds which He 'WOndered whether the Regional Committee
would continue for 1957 and 1958.
might render an objection, so that the Regional Committee could have some say on this phase of the international programme. The SECRETARY referred to paragraph 2 of the resolution which contained a statement along these lines. Mr. SAITA moved the adoption of
the resolution, which was seconded by Medecin-Colonel ARETAS (France) and, unanimously approved. Supplemental Programme and SUpplementary List of Projects Dr. F. S. MACLEAN (New Zealand) proposed the adoption of the following
resolution submitted by the Sub-Committee: "The Regional Coromi ttee , Having, as a part of its consideration of the proposed programme and budget estimates for 1958, reviewed the Basic and Supplemental Programmes, and the Supplementary List of Projects which were requested by governments and recommended by the Regional Director, but which could not be accommodated within the tentative regional allocations for 1957 and 1958, or in the proposed Technical Assistance estimates for 1957, Recalling that the Supplemental Programme ,is expected
to be implemented only to the extent to which inactive Members resume active participation in the work of the Organization, and that no source of finanCing the projects in the Supplementary
WP/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 23 List cm be foreseen at this time, 1.
BELIEVES that the projects in the Supplementary List should
be considered part of the regional prograllll'ne and s~uld therefore be forwarded to the Director-General for submission to the Executive Board and the World Health Assembly; 2.
RF..QUESTS the Regional Director to implement as many of the
projects in the Supplemental Programme and Supplementary List
as
possible, as and when funds are available, from whatever source;
3.
AUTHORIZES the Regional Director to establish priorities in
implementing projects in the Supplemental Programme and Supplementary List." This was seconded by Mr. A. SAITA (Japan) and adopted. Establishment of a Sub-Commjttee on Programme and Budget The CHAIRMAN then presented the following resolution prepared by the Sub-Committee: "The Regional Conunittee, Having established a sub-committee on programme and budget during the last two sessioll3 to examine the proposed Programme and Budget prior to it being discussed by the Committee; Noting that such an arrangement has proved to be most useful in studying and assessing the proposed Programme and Budget, 1.
DECIDES that the establishment of a sub-committee on programme
and budget, conSisting of six members plus the Chairman of the Regional Committee, should become a routine activity of the Regional Committee,
wp/RC7/Min/4 Rev.l Page 24 2. RECOMMENDS that the membership of this sub-committee be
rotated among the representatives of various Members, subject to the provision that any representative desiring to be a member of the Sub-Committee should be entitled to participate." Dr. H. E. OOWNES (Australia) moved its adoption and it was unanimously approved. Dr. OOWNES then asked whether the Committee would consider his
draft resolution previously proposed.
Dr. W. GLYN EVANS (United Kingdom)
said that he was not in agreement with this proposal because the phrase " .•• as far as practicable, to reduce the budgetary requirements of projects within the Region on a pro-rata basis" was too restrictive and the word "approves" was not within the authority of the Cornrni ttee . out that there was no reference to of the programme. ~pproval
Dr. OOWNES pointed
of the budget, merely to approvul
There being no further comments, he moved the adoption of
the resolution which was approved by 4 votes to 3, with 5 abstentions.
4
MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMMES (WP/RC7/l3)
The CHAIRMAN drew the attention of the Committee to the Executive Board resolution on mental health. Dr. C. H. YEN (China) proposed that the draft
resolution contained in the report should be adopted and this was unanimously agreed.
The meeting rose at 12.15 p.m.