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SEA/RC69/21: Review of Regional Committee resolutions

July 1, 2016 World Health Organization

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REGIONAL COMMITTEE Sixty-ninth Session Colombo, Sri Lanka 5–9 September 2016

Provisional Agenda item 11.3 SEA/RC69/21 20 July 2016

Governing Body matters: Review of Regional Committee resolutions The Sixty-eighth session of the Regional Committee in Dili, Timor-Leste, committed to reexamine past resolutions for their relevance and timeliness with a view to decide on a set of criteria and time frame for phasing out resolutions that have already been implemented/acted upon or have outlived their relevance. This is all the more important in view of the streamlining of WHO’s Governance functions to allow greater focus on global and regional priorities in the limited time available at the Governing Body meetings. The Informal Working Group (IWG) on past Regional Committee Resolutions met on 14–15 March 2016, followed by the Technical Consultation of Member States of the SEA Region to review past Regional Committee resolutions that pertained to a 15-year period dating from 2000 to 2015, in the Regional Office in New Delhi on 7–8 June 2016. The recommendations of the Technical Consultation, including the department-wise categorization of 78 resolutions and the criteria proposed for categorization of the resolutions, were reviewed and noted by the High-Level Preparatory Meeting. The HLP Meeting accordingly made the following recommendation for action by Member States: (1) Recommend that the Draft Decision approved by the HLP Meeting be placed before the Sixty-ninth Session of the Regional Committee for its consideration and decision (the Draft Decision is placed as Annexure C of this Working Paper). This Working Paper and the HLP Meeting recommendation are submitted to the Sixty-ninth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia for its consideration and decision.

SEA/RC69/21

Background 1. Every year, the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia adopts resolutions on technical, administrative and Programme Budget matters. On average, 7–10 resolutions are adopted at each Regional Committee session following thorough deliberations, keeping in view the current health situation and relevance in the countries of the Region. Many of these resolutions need follow-up and implementation at the regional and country levels. 2. The commitment to re-examine the resolutions for their relevance and timeliness is based on the need to streamline WHO’s Governance functions to efficiently utilize the limited time available at the meetings of the Governing Bodies for deliberations on global and regional health priorities. This is in line with the WHO Reform process, and particularly Governance Reform. A review of past resolutions in the South-East Asia Region was desired to explore whether it may be helpful to sunset some of the resolutions that were superseded by subsequent resolutions or developments, as has been done by other WHO regions. In several cases, this is necessitated by the recommendations contained in resolutions that have already been implemented/acted upon, rendering them redundant for further follow-up. 3. Further, the extent to which these resolutions are being monitored remains unclear. Although some of the resolutions explicitly state the frequency of reporting on them at subsequent Regional Committee sessions, many resolutions are open-ended and do not have any reporting requirements. 4. In the case of many resolutions, the periodicity and time frame for reporting also varies. While some are to be reported upon only once to a specific session of the Regional Committee, depending on the nature of topics covered, others are to be reported several times over with some even extending to the Seventy-ninth Session of the Regional Committee in 2026. 5. The majority of the resolutions refer to WHO’s continued provision of technical support to countries to ensure, among others: i) ii) iii) iv) capacity-building; strengthening health systems; facilitating cooperation and exchange of experiences by intensifying collaboration; calling for mobilizing resources for implementing the resolutions.

6. Some of the resolutions also call for specific action points such as the convening of a regional workshop on the subject of the resolution or the preparation of a regional strategy on a specific technical topic.

Discussions at the Sixty-eighth Session of the Regional Committee 7. This issue was first discussed at the High-Level Preparatory Meeting for the Sixty-eighth Session of the Regional Committee in July 2015. Upon consideration, the Sixty-eighth Session of the Regional Committee held in September 2015 recommended the following:

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(1) the establishment of an Informal Working Group consisting of members from Bangladesh, India and Thailand to study actions taken by the Eastern Mediterranean and European Regions of WHO in this regard; and (2) organization of a Technical Consultation with Member States before the next HLP Meeting of July 2016 to decide on a set of criteria and time frame for phasing out resolutions that have already been implemented/acted upon or have outlived their utility and relevance.

Informal Working Group 8. The meeting of the Informal Working Group (IWG), consisting of members (representatives and/or delegates) from Bangladesh, India and Thailand, was held on 14–15 March 2016. It was chaired by Mr Md Azam-e-Sadat, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh. The IWG held consultations on the matter with the following objectives:   Study the South-East Asia Regional Committee resolutions of the past 15 years; Review the approach adopted by the Regional Offices for the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe on the subject of review of past resolutions of their respective regional committees; and Draft a set of criteria and time-frame for sunsetting past resolutions that have outlived their relevance or have already been implemented/acted upon.

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9. A total of 78 resolutions were reviewed by the IWG, and it was agreed that the resolutions will be grouped into three categories, namely “Active”, “Conditional sunset”, and “Complete sunset” with a set of given criteria for each such categorization. 10. It was also decided at the IWG meeting that the “Technical Consultation of Member States” (of 7–8 June 2016 in New Delhi) would consider the criteria/time frame with the view to provide guidance/recommendations on the review of past resolutions.

Technical Consultation 11. On the recommendations of the IWG, the Technical Consultation of Member States of the SEA Region to review past Regional Committee resolutions was held in New Delhi on 7–8 June 2016. 12. The technical consultation considered the report of the IWG on past Regional Committee resolutions along with the working paper prepared in pursuance of the criteria recommended by the IWG. 13. All Member States of the SEA Region, with the exception of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, participated in the technical consultation, which was chaired by H.E. Mr Hussain Rasheed, Minister of State for Health, Ministry of Health, Maldives. Dr Rashidun Nessa from Bangladesh and Dr Phusit Prakongsai from Thailand were Co-Chair and Rapporteur respectively for the meeting. The report of the Technical Consultation to review past Regional Committee resolutions is provided in Annexure A. 14. The technical consultation noted that, in line with the WHO Reform agenda recommending a manageable number of resolutions, there was a commitment to re-examine past resolutions for

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their relevance and timeliness. The technical consultation considered an in-depth examination of a total of 78 resolutions presented by all the departments of SEARO. It held detailed deliberations on individual resolutions based on the criteria recommended by the IWG with the following additions: 15. Sunset: New strategies/World Health Assembly resolutions/Regional Committee resolutions superseded earlier/existing resolution. 16. Conditional sunset: New strategies/World Health Assembly resolutions/ Regional Committee resolutions that partly cover elements of existing resolutions. (The above factors were added to the set of criteria recommended by the IWG for the “Sunset” and “Conditional sunset” categories, respectively.) 17. The criteria thus adopted by the Technical Consultation are outlined in the Report of the Technical Consultation (Annexure 1 of the Report). 18. Upon examination of past Regional Committee resolutions with respect to the factors of time-frame, continued relevance and actionable agenda vis-à-vis adopted criteria, the technical consultation arrived at the unanimous agreement on grouping the resolutions into categories of “Complete sunset”, “Conditional sunset” and “Active” for recommendation to the HLP.

High-Level Preparatory (HLP) Meeting 19. The working paper, based on the review by technical departments as per guidance of the IWG, had recommended the following:    35 recommended for Complete sunset, 6 for Conditional sunset, and 37 are proposed to be kept Active.

20. Upon consideration of the same by the Member States during the Technical Consultation and discussions, the categorization emerged as follows:    29 recommended for Complete sunset, 19 recommended for Conditional sunset, and 30 recommended for being kept Active.

21. However, upon further consideration by the HLP Meeting, the final categorization emerged as follows:    32 recommended for Complete sunset, 16 recommended for Conditional sunset, and 30 recommended for being kept Active.

22. The final department-wise categorization of past resolutions is given as Annexure B. 23. Taking further note of the Working Paper, the HLP Meeting also recommended to the Sixty-ninth Session of the Regional Committee the following conditions to be attendant to the individual categories of “Sunset”, “Conditional sunset” and “Active” until any further review or decision of the Regional Committee is made in this regard:

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Sunset:   Activities under the resolution, whether on the part of the Organization or Member States, stand implemented. It will no longer be actionable and would, therefore, not be used as the basis for technical, programmatic or normative work in future by the technical unit concerned. The resolution may, however, be recalled in regional resolutions/decisions/strategies/frameworks and referred to as part of the historical corpus of technical/programmatic/normative works undertaken in the area, if needed. The resolution would no longer be used to generate resources or incur expenditures by Budget Centres in the SEA Region. Activities and/or reporting would no longer be required in pursuance of the resolution.

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  ii)

Conditional sunset:    The resolution would remain actionable in full or in part, as needed. The resolution would not be archived until further review and decision. The technical unit concerned would initially carry out an annual review of the elements of the resolutions in terms of the latest developments up to the point of review, including Global Strategies, Frameworks, Plans of Action, and Regional Committee or World Health Assembly resolutions adopted until that point, and suggest further steps. Technical consultation of Member States would review and consider the suggestion of the technical unit concerned to revise, update or “Sunset” the resolution in keeping with the latest World Health Assembly/Regional Committee resolutions, global and regional strategies, frameworks and plans of action. The report of the technical consultation would be submitted for consideration of the HLP Meeting for appropriate recommendations to the Regional Committee every year initially.

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iii) Active:   The resolution would remain in force. Elements in the resolution would continue to operate and used to plan, implement and guide technical/programmatic/normative work in the given area. Technical units would document the activities undertaken by the Organization and Member States in implementing the resolution.

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The progress in implementing the resolution and achievements by the Organization as well as Member States would be reviewed every year initially in a Technical Consultation. The report of this Technical Consultation on progress in implementation, activities undertaken and achievements would initially be presented annually to the Regional Committee through the HLP Meeting unless the periodicity of reporting is otherwise specified in the resolution itself.

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The way forward 24. The Regional Committee is invited to consider the draft Decision recommended by the HLP Meeting as contained in Annexure C.

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Annexure A

Report of the Technical Consultation of Member States to review past Regional Committee resolutions 7–8 June 2016, WHO-SEARO, New Delhi, India The Technical Consultation of Member States of the South-East Asia Region to review past Regional Committee resolutions was held in WHO-SEARO, New Delhi, on 7–8 June 2016. Background This issue was first discussed in the High-Level Preparatory (HLP) Meeting for the Sixty-eighth Session of the Regional Committee in July 2015. Upon consideration, the Sixty-eighth Session of the Regional Committee held in Dili, Timor-Leste, in September 2015, noted the issue and recommended the following: (1) establishing an informal working group consisting of members from Bangladesh, India and Thailand to study actions taken by the Eastern Mediterranean and European regions in this regard; and (2) organizing a technical consultation with Member States before the HLP Meeting in July 2016 to decide on a set of criteria and time-frame for phasing out resolutions that have already been implemented/acted upon or have outlived their utility and/or relevance. The Technical Consultation considered the report of the Informal Working Group (IWG) on past Regional Committee resolutions – that took place on 14–15 March 2016 – along with the working paper prepared in pursuance of the criteria recommended by the IWG. The Informal Working Group consisted of members (representatives/delegates) from Bangladesh, India and Thailand, and was chaired by Mr Md Azam-E-Sadat, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh, with the following objectives:    to study the RC resolutions of the past 15 years; to review the approach adopted by the Eastern Mediterranean and European regions of WHO on the subject of review of past resolutions of their respective RCs; and to draft a set of criteria and time-frame for sunsetting past resolutions that have outlived their relevance or have already been implemented/acted upon.

A total of 78 resolutions were reviewed, and it was agreed that the resolutions will be grouped into three categories, namely, “Active”, “Conditional sunset” and “Complete sunset”, with given criteria for such categorization. It was also decided at the Informal Working Group meeting that the “Technical Consultation of Member States” on 7–8 June 2016 could consider the criteria/time-frame with the view to provide guidance/recommendations on the review of past resolutions.

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Report/recommendation All Member States of the SEA Region, except Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, participated in the Technical Consultation. A statement on behalf of the Regional Director was delivered at the opening session by Dr Arun B. Thapa, Director, Programme Management, WHO South-East Asia. The following were unanimously elected Chair, Co-Chair and Rapporteur for the meeting: Maldives H.E. Mr Hussain Rasheed Minister of State for Health Ministry of Health, Male, Republic of Maldives Bangladesh Dr Rashidun Nessa Director (Planning and Research), DGHS Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Dhaka, Bangladesh Thailand Dr Phusit Prakongsai Director, Bureau of International Health Office of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Public Health Nonthaburi, Thailand Rapporteur Co-Chair Chair

A brief outline of the meeting, including background, objectives and criteria adopted by the informal working group, was presented by the Partnerships, Inter-Agency Coordination and Resource Mobilization Unit (PIR), followed by respective departments that made presentations on resolutions grouped according to the Programme Areas of work. The Technical Consultation noted that, in line with the WHO Reform agenda on ensuring a manageable number of resolutions, there was a commitment from the Governing Bodies of WHO to re-examine past resolutions for their relevance and timeliness. This effort is all the more important in view of streamlining WHO’s Governance functions to allow greater focus on global and regional priorities in the limited time available at the WHO Governing Body meetings. The Technical Consultation considered the in-depth examination of a total of 78 resolutions presented by all the departments, and held detailed deliberations on individual resolutions after adopting the criteria recommended by the IWG with the following additions: Sunset: New strategies/World Health Assembly/Regional Committee resolutions that supersede earlier/existing resolutions.

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Conditional sunset: New strategies/World Health Assembly/Regional Committee resolutions that partly cover elements of existing resolutions. (The above points were added to the set of criteria recommended by the IWG for the “Sunset” and “Conditional sunset” categories, respectively.) The criteria thus adopted by the Technical Consultation are attached in Annexure 1. Upon examination of the past Regional Committee resolutions with respect to the time frame, continued relevance and actionable agenda vis-à-vis the adopted criteria, the Technical Consultation arrived at the unanimous agreement on grouping the resolutions into categories of “Complete sunset”, “Conditional sunset” and “Active” for recommendation to the HLP. The working paper, based on the review by the technical departments as per guidance of the IWG, recommended the following:    35 resolutions recommended for Complete sunset, 6 resolutions recommended for Conditional sunset, and 37 resolutions proposed to be kept Active.

However, upon consideration of the same by Member States during the Technical Consultation and discussions, the final categorization emerged as follows:    29 resolutions recommended for Complete sunset, 19 resolutions recommended for Conditional sunset, and 30 resolutions recommended for being kept Active.

The final department-wise categorization of past resolutions is given in Annexure 2. It was decided that the recommendations of the Technical Consultation would be placed at the HLP Meeting to be recommended for the further consideration of and decision by the Sixty-ninth Session of the Regional Committee in September 2016. It was further decided to include in the recommendation to the HLP Meeting that the resolutions being categorized as “Conditional sunset” and/or “Active” may be initially reviewed every year, keeping in view the latest developments up to the point of review, including Global Strategies, Frameworks, Plans of Action, Regional Committee or World Health Assembly resolutions adopted up to that point. It was suggested that achievements and progress of the active Regional Committee resolutions, which do not have specific reporting requirements, should be reported by the Regional Director to the sessions of the Regional Committee. It was also recommended that the conditions attendant to Complete sunset/Conditional sunset and Active categories may be included in the working paper for the HLP Meeting for it to consider placing the same before the Regional Committee along with the given categorization. The Technical Consultation concluded its work with a vote of thanks to the Secretariat for their commendable work, Member States for their active participation, and the Chair and Co-Chair for the efficient conduct of the two-day deliberations.

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Annexure 1

Criteria to review Regional Committee resolutions Criteria for ‘Sunset’ of resolutions

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Requested actions completed. Reporting requirements met. Resolution superseded by later/subsequent resolutions addressing the same issue and all actions. New strategies/World Health Assembly/Regional Committee resolutions supersede earlier/existing resolution. Resolution with a generic set of actions and no specific deliverables. Resolution relevant to a specific event/incident. Resolution relating to the annual report of the work of WHO in the SEA Region and reports of statutory meetings.  Not to sunset resolutions in anticipation of new resolutions.

Criteria for ‘Conditional sunset’ of resolutions

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Requested actions only completed for specific subsections of a resolution. Reporting requirements met for specific subsections of a resolution. Revision/update recommended. New strategies/World Health Assembly resolutions/Regional Committee resolutions that partly cover elements of an existing resolution.  Specific time-line for sunsetting to be proposed.

Criteria for keeping a resolution ‘Active’

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Relevance of resolution to the Regional Flagship Priority Areas 2015 –2020. Relevance of resolution to current programme of work. Relevance of resolution to the Sustainable Development Goals. Resolution pertains to an ongoing scope of development. Resolution pertains to a critical cross-cutting issue relevant to Regional Strategic Priorities. Resolution requires periodic reporting.

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Annexure 2 Responsible department CDS Resolution number SEA/RC53/R11 Topic of technical resolution Cross-border collaboration on control of communicable diseases Complete sunset Conditional sunset Yes Active Total Comments The resolution is relevant to Flagships related to UHC, AMR and NTD, current Programme of Work (1.3 and 1.4), SDGs. It is a critical cross-cutting issue for elimination of diseases in the Region. Periodic reporting should be done at least every 2 years.  Member States observed the subject resolution was too old and the justification given covered cross-border malaria cooperation among Member States. The Secretariat was requested to provide more information on (i) any active cross-border collaborations taking place in other communicable disease areas, or (ii) any new strategies being adopted, or (iii) any plans to submit a new resolution on this Agenda item. Member States were informed that many activities are currently taking place in crossborder malaria elimination. Intense cross-border projects are ongoing between some Member States of the Region to respond to the severe malaria resistance problem. Due to the adoption of malaria elimination goals by Member States, many new projects are being taken up at the country level. It was envisaged to continue to have a resolution such as this which provides a bigger umbrella to cover all or several communicable diseases.

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SEA/RC53/R6

Blood safety

Yes

Plenty of work still needs to be done: The Region is still short of having adequate quantities of safe blood available for transfusion, the quality of screening of blood is questionable in some settings and conversion of blood into components is still inadequate.  Member States observed that this resolution is very old. They were of the opinion that since the Sixty-third World Health Assembly adopted a resolution on the availability, safety and quality of blood products and the Sixty-seventh Health Assembly adopted a resolution on regulatory systems strengthening for medical products, which included blood products, they advised the Secretariat to consider the resolution and its relevance to the Region. It was suggested that this resolution could also be considered for Conditional sunset, while incorporating what the World Health Assembly has mentioned in its resolutions.

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Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC59/R5

Topic of technical resolution Regional initiatives for eradication/elimination of tropical diseases

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset Yes

Active

Total

Comments Suggest to include other NTDs endemic in the Region that are targeted for elimination, namely rabies, blinding trachoma and schistosomiasis, and update the resolution in view of the WHO’s NTD roadmap and the SDG 3.3.  Member States observed that this resolution was adopted 10 years ago. Keeping in view the open-ended reporting of this resolution; it was proposed to update the resolution with periodic reporting of two years. There were discussions to broaden the scope of the resolution to emphasize the elimination target(s). Member States were informed that this Flagship subject would be discussed at the Regional Committee this year and there may be some update or possibility of adoption of a new resolution. Member States agreed with the Secretariat’s proposal of Conditional sunset for this resolution.

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SEA/RC60/R6

Revised Malaria Control Strategy: Focusing on a new paradigm

Yes

An update of the resolution is recommended in order to turn this resolution into an active one – alternatively it could be replaced by a new resolution (depending on whether malaria will be on the Regional Committee agenda or not)  A new strategy has been adopted focusing on malaria elimination. This Global Strategy is being used to develop a new strategy for this Region emphasizing on acceleration towards elimination. It was noted that though some points of this resolution were outdated but some needed to be updated as they were still relevant, such as those on World Malaria Day, resource mobilization, capacity-building, and technical support to Member States etc., which needed to be continued. Member States agreed with the Secretariat’s proposal of Conditional sunset for this resolution.

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Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC61/R5

Topic of technical resolution Dengue prevention and control

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset Yes

Active

Total

Comments Replacing this resolution with a new one focused on the SEA Region and taking note of current developments on dengue prevention and control. The resolution was based on the Dengue Strategic Plan for the Asia-Pacific 2008–2015, the timeline of which has ended.  Earlier dengue was limited to a few countries, but it is now emerging in other countries of the Region as well, and given this Member States desired if there were any plans to formulate a new strategy on dengue. It was informed that the Regional Office was planning to have a regional analysis of the dengue situation in order to continue to support Member States in dengue prevention and control.)

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SEA/RC60/R5

The new Stop TB Strategy and its implementation

Yes

The new strategy “End TB Strategy” announced through World Health Assembly resolution WHA 67.1 supersedes this resolution.    Member States were informed that since the resolution was adopted in 2007 and focused on the Stop TB Strategy, its implementation in Member States is now outdated. The new Strategy “The End TB Strategy” and a new World Health Assembly resolution are in place. Member States agreed with the Secretariat’s proposal for Complete sunset of this resolution.

SEA/RC64/R6

Regional Health Sector Strategy on HIV, 2011– 2015

Yes

There is the possibility of a World Health Assembly resolution. Member States in the SEA Region may wish to have a fresh Regional Committee resolution on the subject. Hence, these resolutions can be sunset.   The resolution was based on the Regional Health Sector Strategy on HIV, 2011–2015, whose timeline is already over. The New Global Health Sector Strategy on HIV, STI and Hepatitis in the context of universal health coverage was adopted at the recently concluded World Health Assembly. The Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly also adopted a resolution in this regard.

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Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC67/R5

Topic of technical resolution Viral hepatitis

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset Yes

Active

Total

Comments There is a possibility of a World Health Assembly resolution on this. Member States in the SEA Region may wish to have a fresh Regional Committee resolution on this. Hence, this resolution can be sunset. It was noted that the resolution was adopted only two years back and was still relevant to the Region. The resolution is linked with the new Global Strategy adopted by the World Health Assembly and the Regional Strategy was under development to keep the momentum going.  Member States agreed with the Secretariat’s revised proposal for Conditional sunset of this resolution.

CDS Total DPM SEA/RC63/R6 Capacity-building of Member States in global health

Yes

8 As this resolution is to be reported on during the Regional Committee in 2016, it should be kept active. It might be prudent to include in the Secretariat’s report during the Regional Committee in 2016 a recommendation for a sunsetting date for this resolution. 1 This is being phased out, along with other resolutions, to integrate into the new proposed Regional Committee resolution on Ending Preventable Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality. (To be kept under Conditional sunset category until the new resolution is passed by the Sixtyninth Regional Committee.) This is being phased out, along with other resolutions, to integrate into the new proposed Regional Committee resolution on Ending Preventable Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality. (To be kept under Conditional sunset category until the new resolution is passed by the Sixtyninth Regional Committee.) This is being phased out, along with other resolutions, to integrate into the new proposed RC Resolution on Ending Preventable Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality. (To be kept under Conditional sunset category until the new resolution is passed by the Sixty-ninth Regional Committee.)

DPM Total FGL SEA/RC53/R9 Maternal mortality Yes

SEA/RC56/R9

Health of the newborn

Yes

SEA/RC58/R2

Skilled care at every birth

Yes

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Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC58/R6

Topic of technical resolution Polio eradication: Final Strategy Challenges in polio eradication

Complete sunset Yes

Conditional sunset

Active

Total

Comments Actions in the resolution on the eradication of polio have been completed and the SEA Region was certified polio-free in 2014.

SEA/RC60/R8

Yes

Actions in the resolution have been completed and the SEA Region was certified polio-free in 2014. (To be kept in the Active category in view of the challenges being faced over vaccine availability.) The resolution SEA/RC66/R5 of the Sixty-sixth Session of the Regional Committee is active and therefore this becomes outdated.

SEA/RC62/R3

South-East Asia regional efforts on measles elimination 2012: Year of Intensification of Routine Immunization in the South-East Asia Region: Framework for increasing and sustaining coverage Measles Elimination and Rubella/Congenital Rubella Syndrome Control

Yes

SEA/RC64/R3

Yes

The resolution SEA/RC64/R3 is time-bound and the actions outlined in it have been completed.

SEA/RC66/R5

Yes

The resolution has been expanded to include rubella/Congenital Rubella Syndrome control along with measles elimination.

FGL Total HSD SEA/RC53/R3 Equity in health and access to health care Management of decentralization of health care

3 Yes

8 Superseded by resolution SEA/RC64/R2 on strengthening the community-based workforce in the context of revitalizing primary health care. This resolution has a generic set of actions and no specific deliverables. The resolution is 14 years old and related to a particular report. The relevant topic has been superseded by the Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly resolution on “Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.

SEA/RC55/R3

Yes

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Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC55/R4

Topic of technical resolution Accessibility of essential medicines Social health insurance

Complete sunset Yes

Conditional sunset

Active

Total

Comments This resolution is superseded by a later resolution (SEA/RC62/R6) and discussion on all issues has been undertaken. It calls for providing support on health financing policy-making, including social health insurance. The criteria for sunsetting this resolution have been met. No specific deliverables (Criteria 4). Superseded by resolution SEA/RC65/R6 on universal health coverage. In addition, superseded by Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly resolution on Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Completely sunset, requirements met and resolution superseded by later resolution in 2014 (SEA/RC67/R3: Delhi Declaration on Traditional Medicine). This resolution is superseded by later resolutions and is thus proposed to be sunset. Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly passed the new Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030. The UN Sustainable Development Goals have replaced the Millennium Development Goals. Furthermore, the Health Metrics Network no longer exists.

SEA/RC56/R5

Yes

SEA/RC56/R6

Traditional systems of medicine Strengthening of nursing and midwifery workforce management Health information system development relating to Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) and Health Metrics Network (HMN) Promoting patient safety in health care

Yes

SEA/RC56/R7

Yes

SEA/RC59/R10

Yes

SEA/RC59/R3

Yes

Reporting requirement and subsequent resolution supersedes this resolution, i.e. SEA/RC68/R4 on patient safety contributing to universal health coverage. Furthermore, the Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly passed a resolution on strengthening integrated, people-centred health services. Reporting requirements met (Regional Committee document SEA-RC62-16) and resolution superseded by subsequent Regional Committee resolutions SEA-RC65-R7 and SEA-RC67-R6.

SEA/RC59/R6

Strengthening the health workforce in South-East Asia International migration of health personnel: A challenge for health systems in developing countries

Yes

SEA/RC60/R9

Yes

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Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC63/R5

Topic of technical resolution Regional Strategy on Universal Health Coverage

Complete sunset Yes

Conditional sunset

Active

Total

Comments The resolution called to mobilize efforts for, and produce a regional strategy to attain, universal health coverage in the SEA Region. Criteria to sunset are met, as requested actions were completed and a later resolution adopted, with which the Regional Strategy for Universal Health Coverage in the SEA Region was passed two years later (SEA-RC65-R6).

SEA/RC65/R7

Strengthening Health Workforce Education and Training in the Region Public health, innovation, essential health research and intellectual property rights International trade and health Revitalizing primary health care

Yes

The resolution has been fully addressed by submitting the Regional Strategy to Strengthen Health Workforce Education and Training to the Sixty-seventh session of the Regional Committee two years later. The Sixty-seventh session of the Regional Committee passed this strategy, adopting a fresh resolution on the subject (SEA-RC67-R6). Yes Collaborative programmes are ongoing and also relevant to Regional Flagship Priority Areas.

SEA/RC59/R7

SEA/RC59/R9

Yes

The Programme of Work is ongoing and also relevant to the Regional Flagship Priority Areas.

SEA/RC61/R3

Yes

Should be reviewed as collaborative work toward universal health coverage proceeds. (Holistic resolution in a key area to attain universal health coverage. Open-ended resolution should be reviewed as collaborative work towards universal health coverage proceeds. Recommended for review during 2017.) Resolution remains relevant as implementation of SDGs begins. Should be reviewed as collaborative work towards universal health coverage continues to progress. (Furthermore, Sixtyninth World Health Assembly just passed the Framework for Engagement of Non-State Actors, which contains, inter alia, principles for private sector engagement. Recommended for review in 2017.) Yes Cover access and SSFFC issues which are important to Member States and relevant to Regional Flagship Priority Areas 2015–2020. (Does not require specific reporting but does cover access and SSFFC (substandard, spurious, falsely labelled) issues which are important to SEA Region Member States and relevant to Regional Flagship Priority Areas 2015–2020.)

SEA/RC62/R4

Engaging the private sector in providing health services to meet national health systems goals Measures to ensure access to safe, efficacious, quality and affordable medical products

Yes

SEA/RC62/R6

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Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC64/R2

Topic of technical resolution Strengthening of the community-based health workforce in the context of revitalizing primary health care National essential drug policy, including the rational use of medicines Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development: Financing and Coordination Regional Strategy for Universal Health Coverage Health Intervention and Technology Assessment in Support of Universal Health Coverage Effective management of medicines Covering every birth and death: Improving civil registration and vital statistics

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset

Active Yes

Total

Comments The resolution continues to be relevant to universal health coverage, which is a regional strategic priority. It is one important aspect of strengthening the health workforce generally as well as of encouraging rural retention of health personnel.

SEA/RC64/R5

Yes

Requires two-year reporting cycle. Relevance to SDGs and cross-cutting issues.

SEA/RC65/R3

Yes

Collaborative programme is ongoing and also relevant to Regional Flagship Priority Areas. Sixtyninth World Health Assembly passed a resolution as follow-up of the report of the CEWG. In addition, a report is being tabled to the Sixty-ninth Regional Committee session, and recommended for review at the Seventieth session.

SEA/RC65/R6

Yes

It calls for supporting countries in the context of collaborative work towards universal health coverage, through a range of modalities. Relevant to SDGs.

SEA/RC66/R4

Yes

It calls for supporting countries in the context of universal health coverage through a range of modalities. Important to generate evidence for informed decisions in support of universal health coverage.

SEA/RC66/R7

Yes

Two yearly reporting cycles. Furthermore, a regional consultation and situation analysis is called for every approximately four years. Clear relevance to SDGs and universal health coverage. Ongoing collaborative programme in a vital area needed for improvement. Fundamental to improving equity and quality in the work to support universal health coverage. Furthermore, there are reporting requirements to be met.

SEA/RC67/R2

Yes

SEA/RC69/21 Page 19

Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC67/R3

Topic of technical resolution Traditional medicine: Delhi Declaration

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset

Active Yes

Total

Comments Active with regional action plan and periodic reporting. Regional consultation on traditional medicine has been implemented in October 2015 with action plan, which is a key step in its implementation. The work in implementing the action plan is in progress and periodic reporting is required. Fully active resolution, with actions relevant to regional Strategic Priority Area. Furthermore, periodic reporting required, i.e. every two years commencing from 2016 for the coming decade.

SEA/RC67/R6

Strengthening health workforce education and training in the Region Patient safety contributing to sustainable universal health coverage Community-based health services and their contributions to universal health coverage Regional Strategy on Health Information Systems 12 Yes

Yes

SEA/RC68/R4

Yes

Forthcoming reporting requirements and ongoing collaborative programmes to this field.

SEA/RC68/R6

Yes

Ongoing collaborative work. This will continue to be an important area of engagement, as in community-based health services that clearly relate to achieving universal health coverage.

SEA/RC63/R7

Reporting requirement met in 2015. The strategy remains relevant. However, it will be influenced by the eventual agreement on SDGs reporting. Therefore, it is proposed to re-visit sunsetting in one year, i.e. 2017 14 29 The 10 point Regional Strategy has been replaced by new Regional Food Safety Strategy 20132017. Therefore, this resolution is no longer valid. The resolution is obsolete and outdated, it is dated pre-tsunami 2004. Has been replaced by new international and national mechanisms that have been introduced. Emergency reforms in WHO are also underway. SEARO support for emergency preparedness and response has scaled up quite significantly since this resolution.

HSD Total HSE SEA/RC53/R7 Food safety

Yes

SEA/RC57/R3

Emergency health preparedness

Yes

SEA/RC69/21 Page 20

Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC58/R3

Topic of technical resolution Health action in emergencies

Complete sunset Yes

Conditional sunset

Active

Total

Comments At present, the resolution is obsolete and outdated, and replaced by new international and national mechanisms. Further to this resolution, SEARO established a regional health emergency fund called SEARHEF (South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund). Further to this resolution, SEARO also established 12 SEA Region Benchmarks for emergency preparedness and response (EPR) and conducted benchmark assessments in 10 out of 11 of its Member State. The reports of these assessments have been published. Emergency Reform in WHO is also underway. SEARO support for emergency preparedness and response has scaled up considerably since this resolution.

SEA/RC58/R4

International Health Regulations (2005)

Yes

As of now only two countries from the SEA Region have achieved the minimum IHR core capacities. Some other Member States may achieve the minimum core capacities by June 2016 while the rest will need more time to achieve this. The core capacities of IHR (2005) that was implemented from 2007 were to be achieved by 2012. The date was extended twice till 2014 and then to 2016 with special approval of the Director-General. There will be no more extensions. Two Member States achieved the targeted capacities by 2014 and few more will be able to achieve this by 2016. A new resolution with a monitoring and evaluation framework will be endorsed for IHR beyond 2016 at the Health Assembly. (Proposed for Conditional Sunsetting until adaption of a new resolution for IHR post-2016 by the World Health Assembly including its review.) Proposed for Complete sunsetting since new APSED is being developed and is likely to be introduced in 2016. Also in the context of the new IHR post-2016. Resolution pertaining to pre-Jaipur Declaration of 2011. Recent resolution of 2015 (SEA/RC68/R3) is relevant and mentions global action plans on AMR.

SEA/RC58/R5

Asia-Pacific Strategy on Emerging Diseases Prevention and containment of antimicrobial resistance South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund

Yes

SEA/RC63/R4

Yes

SEA/RC60/R7

Yes

This is proposed to be kept active since it is about the establishment of the fund (SEARHEF) as well as about its financial regulatory mechanisms which are still active and relevant.

SEA/RC62/R5

Yes

This is proposed to be kept active since it's about the establishment of the fund (SEARHEF) as well as about its financial regulatory mechanisms which are still active and relevant.

SEA/RC69/21 Page 21

Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC68/R2

Topic of technical resolution Response to emergencies and outbreaks Antimicrobial resistance

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset

Active Yes

Total

Comments New resolution to cover new changes at international and national levels. Reflects emergency risk management as a Regional Flagship Priority Area/priority. References are also made to new global frameworks, i.e. Sendai and SEA Region Benchmarks as well as ongoing WHO Reform. A recent resolution – post-Jaipur Declaration of 2011. Reflects all current initiatives for AMR and the programme being a Flagship Area/Priority.

SEA/RC68/R3

Yes

HSE Total NDE SEA/RC53/R10 WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Healthy settings

5 Yes

10 Superseded by a later resolution (SEA/RC68/R7).

SEA/RC53/R4

Yes

1. 2.

Complete sunsetting as this resolution was time-bound and activities were completed in 2001. Largely covered by SEA/RC59/R4.

SEA/RC59/R8

Alcohol consumption control – Policy options Nutrition and food safety in the South-East Asia Region Scaling up prevention and control of chronic noncommunicable diseases in the SouthEast Asia Region Tobacco control Noncommunicable Diseases, Mental Health and Neurological Disorders

Yes

Superseded by a later Regional Committee resolution/Regional Action Plan (SEA/RC67/R4)

SEA/RC60/R3

Yes

Food safety portion is proposed for Complete sunsetting as mentioned in item no. 67 (SEA/RC53/R7).

SEA/RC60/R4

Yes

Superseded by a later resolution/action plan (SEA/RC66/R6).

SEA/RC61/R4 SEA/RC65/R5

Yes Yes

Superseded by a later Regional Committee resolution (SEA/RC68/R7). 1. Superseded by SEA/RC66/R6 on NCD subsection. 2. On mental health content is quite general. 3. On neurological disorders, we have another resolution (SEA/RC65/R8) that provides better coverage.

SEA/RC69/21 Page 22

Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC54/R2

Topic of technical resolution Mental health and substance abuse, including alcohol

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset Yes

Active

Total

Comments The subsection on alcohol is superseded by a later Regional Committee resolution (SEA/RC67/R4). The majority (on substance abuse) should be still active. It is timely to have a new Regional Committee Agenda and resolution on mental health and substance abuse, to make them relevant to the current situation and global strategies, until then this can be Completely sunset. Review mitigation efforts including implementation of guidelines and standards, surveillance, early screening, and diagnosis and treatment in five affected countries. To be sunset by 2020.

SEA/RC54/R3

Arsenic contamination of ground water affecting countries of the South-East Asia Region Vision 2020: The right to sight

Yes

SEA/RC53/R8

Yes

Relevance to assist Programme of Work and strategies, with 2020 as end-date timeline. (Secretariat to check whether there is any duplication with the World Health Assembly resolution WHA66.4. It is also a very old resolution and to move from Active to Conditional sunsetting as there is a World Health Assembly resolution in place.) Yes Ongoing: the role of health in WASH in health facilities and water quality monitoring and surveillance.

SEA/RC56/R8

Water, sanitation and hygiene determinants of health: Role of Health Ministers Iodine Deficiency Disorders in the SouthEast Asia Region

SEA/RC57/R4

Yes

Still relevant to continuing Programme of Work. (A lot of work on this has already been done in the Region and it can be moved from Active to Conditional sunsetting. A discussion suggested keeping it active, since only one country in the Region has achieved universal salt iodization and iodine deficiency disorders have not been eliminated, and current status of households with adequately iodized salt ranges from 40%–92% across countries. Proposed to keep active with a timeline for revision in 2017.) Still non-superseded and required to continue Programme of Work.

SEA/RC59/R4

Regional Strategy for Health Promotion Climate change and human health Yes

Yes

SEA/RC62/R2

Ongoing in the areas of research, mitigation, adaptation and capacity development. (Proposed for Conditional sunsetting as there are World Health Assembly resolutions on climate change.)

SEA/RC69/21 Page 23

Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC63/R2

Topic of technical resolution Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset

Active Yes

Total

Comments Still relevant to current Programme of Work, Sustainable Development Goals and global strategies. (The proposal has been to move it from Active to Conditional sunsetting as there are World Health Assembly resolutions on this.) Requirement to continue due to Programme of Work.

SEA/RC63/R3

Coordinated approach to prevention and control of acute diarrhoea and respiratory infections Regional Nutrition Strategy: Addressing malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies Comprehensive and Coordinated Efforts for the Management of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Developmental Disabilities Regional Action Plan and Targets for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (2013–2020) South-East Asia Regional Action Plan to Implement Global Strategy to Reduce Harmful Use of Alcohol Yes

Yes

SEA/RC64/R4

Still has not been superseded by later resolution (under the new Regional Strategy to be tabled and adopted at the Sixty-ninth Regional Committee session). (If the new strategic action plan will be an Agenda item in the upcoming Regional Committee in 2016, the currently Active strategy “Regional Nutrition Strategy: addressing malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies” (2011–2015) would be moved from Active to Conditional sunsetting.) Yes Still relevant to current Programme of Work.

SEA/RC65/R8

SEA/RC66/R6

Yes

Relevant to current Programme of Work, Sustainable Development Goals, Flagship Priority Area, Global and Regional Strategy (Action Plan).

SEA/RC67/R4

Yes

Relevant to current Programme of Work, Sustainable Development Goals, Global Strategy and Regional Action Plan.

SEA/RC69/21 Page 24

Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC68/R5

Topic of technical resolution Cancer Prevention and Control - The way forward Dili Declaration on Tobacco Control

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset

Active Yes

Total

Comments Relevant to current Programme of Work, Regional Action Plans, Sustainable Development Goals, Flagship Priority Area.

SEA/RC68/R7

Yes

Relevant to current Programme of Work, Sustainable Development Goals, Flagship Priority Area, and global and regional action plans. 22 78

NDE total Grand total

7 29

5 19

10 30

SEA/RC69/21 Page 25

Annexure B

Final department-wise categorization of Regional Committee resolutions Responsible department CDS Resolution number SEA/RC53/R11 Topic of technical resolution Cross-border collaboration on control of communicable diseases Complete sunset Conditional sunset Yes Active Total Comments The resolution is relevant to Flagships related to UHC, AMR and NTD, current Programme of Work (1.3 and 1.4), SDGs. It is a critical cross-cutting issue for elimination of diseases in the Region. Periodic reporting should be done at least every 2 years.  Member States observed the subject resolution was too old and the justification given covered cross-border malaria cooperation among Member States. The Secretariat was requested to provide more information on (i) any active cross-border collaborations taking place in other communicable disease areas, or (ii) any new strategies being adopted, or (iii) any plans to submit a new resolution on this Agenda item. Member States were informed that many activities are currently taking place in crossborder malaria elimination. Intense cross-border projects are ongoing between some Member States of the Region to respond to the severe malaria resistance problem. Due to the adoption of malaria elimination goals by Member States, many new projects are being taken up at the country level. It was envisaged to continue to have a resolution such as this which provides a bigger umbrella to cover all or several communicable diseases.



SEA/RC53/R6

Blood safety

Yes



SEA/RC69/21 Page 26

Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC59/R5

Topic of technical resolution Regional initiatives for eradication/elimination of tropical diseases

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset Yes

Active

Total

 



SEA/RC60/R6

Revised Malaria Control Strategy: Focusing on a new paradigm

Yes



SEA/RC69/21 Page 27

Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC61/R5

Topic of technical resolution Dengue prevention and control

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset Yes

Active

Total



SEA/RC60/R5

The new Stop TB Strategy and its implementation

Yes

SEA/RC64/R6

Regional Health Sector Strategy on HIV, 2011– 2015

Yes



SEA/RC69/21 Page 28

Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC67/R5

Topic of technical resolution Viral hepatitis

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset Yes

Active

Total

CDS Total DPM SEA/RC63/R6 Capacity-building of Member States in global health

Yes

8 As this resolution is to be reported on during the Regional Committee in 2016, it should be kept active. It might be prudent to include in the Secretariat’s report during the Regional Committee in 2016 a recommendation for a sunsetting date for this resolution. 1 The Technical Consultation had recommended that this resolution be placed under the Conditional sunset category. The HLP Meeting proposed that this be moved to the Complete sunset category in view of the Draft resolution on Ending Preventable Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality in the South-East Asia Region in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Global Strategy on Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health that will be considered by the Sixty-ninth Session of the Regional Committee. The Technical Consultation had recommended that this resolution be placed under the Conditional sunset category. The HLP Meeting proposed that this be moved to the Complete sunset category in view of the Draft resolution on Ending Preventable Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality in the South-East Asia Region in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Global Strategy on Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health that will be considered by the Sixty-ninth Session of the Regional Committee.

DPM Total FGL SEA/RC53/R9 Maternal mortality Yes

SEA/RC56/R9

Health of the newborn

Yes

SEA/RC69/21 Page 29

Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC58/R2

Topic of technical resolution Skilled care at every birth

Complete sunset Yes

Conditional sunset

Active

Total

Comments The Technical Consultation had recommended that this resolution be placed under the Conditional sunset category. The HLP Meeting proposed that this be moved to the Complete sunset category in view of the Draft resolution on Ending Preventable Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality in the South-East Asia Region in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Global Strategy on Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health that will be considered by the Sixty-ninth Session of the Regional Committee. Actions in the resolution on the eradication of polio have been completed and the SEA Region was certified polio-free in 2014.

SEA/RC58/R6

Polio eradication: Final Strategy Challenges in polio eradication

Yes

SEA/RC60/R8

Yes

SEA/RC62/R3

Yes

SEA/RC64/R3

Yes

The resolution SEA/RC64/R3 is time-bound and the actions outlined in it have been completed.

SEA/RC66/R5

Yes

The resolution has been expanded to include rubella/Congenital Rubella Syndrome control along with measles elimination.

FGL Total HSD SEA/RC53/R3 Equity in health and access to health care

6 Yes

8 Superseded by resolution SEA/RC64/R2 on strengthening the community-based workforce in the context of revitalizing primary health care.

SEA/RC69/21 Page 30

Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC55/R3

Topic of technical resolution Management of decentralization of health care

Complete sunset Yes

Conditional sunset

Active

Total

Comments This resolution has a generic set of actions and no specific deliverables. The resolution is 14 years old and related to a particular report. The relevant topic has been superseded by the Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly resolution on “Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.

SEA/RC55/R4

Accessibility of essential medicines Social health insurance

Yes

This resolution is superseded by a later resolution (SEA/RC62/R6) and discussion on all issues has been undertaken. It calls for providing support on health financing policy-making, including social health insurance. The criteria for sunsetting this resolution have been met. No specific deliverables (Criteria 4). Superseded by resolution SEA/RC65/R6 on universal health coverage. In addition, superseded by Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly resolution on Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Completely sunset, requirements met and resolution superseded by later resolution in 2014 (SEA/RC67/R3: Delhi Declaration on Traditional Medicine). This resolution is superseded by later resolutions and is thus proposed to be sunset. Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly passed the new Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030. The UN Sustainable Development Goals have replaced the Millennium Development Goals. Furthermore, the Health Metrics Network no longer exists.

SEA/RC56/R5

Yes

SEA/RC56/R6

Yes

SEA/RC56/R7

Yes

SEA/RC59/R10

Yes

SEA/RC59/R3

Yes

SEA/RC59/R6

Strengthening the health workforce in

Yes

SEA/RC69/21 Page 31

Responsible department

Resolution number

Topic of technical resolution South-East Asia

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset

Active

Total

Comments

SEA/RC60/R9

International migration of health personnel: A challenge for health systems in developing countries Regional Strategy on Universal Health Coverage

Yes

This resolution has been superseded by the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel (World Health Assembly resolution WHA63.16). The voluntary reporting requirements under the WHO Global Code cover all component clauses of this resolution (and beyond). Six WHO SEA Region Member States are already reporting on the provisions of the WHO Global Code, and more are anticipated to follow. The resolution called to mobilize efforts for, and produce a regional strategy to attain, universal health coverage in the SEA Region. Criteria to sunset are met, as requested actions were completed and a later resolution adopted, with which the Regional Strategy for Universal Health Coverage in the SEA Region was passed two years later (SEA-RC65-R6).

SEA/RC63/R5

Yes

SEA/RC65/R7

Yes

SEA/RC59/R7

SEA/RC59/R9

Yes

The Programme of Work is ongoing and also relevant to the Regional Flagship Priority Areas.

SEA/RC61/R3

Yes

SEA/RC69/21 Page 32

Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC62/R4

Topic of technical resolution Engaging the private sector in providing health services to meet national health systems goals Measures to ensure access to safe, efficacious, quality and affordable medical products Strengthening of the community-based health workforce in the context of revitalizing primary health care National essential drug policy, including the rational use of medicines Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development: Financing and Coordination Regional Strategy for Universal Health Coverage Health Intervention and Technology Assessment

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset Yes

Active

Total

Comments Resolution remains relevant as implementation of SDGs begins. Should be reviewed as collaborative work towards universal health coverage continues to progress. (Furthermore, Sixtyninth World Health Assembly just passed the Framework for Engagement of Non-State Actors, which contains, inter alia, principles for private sector engagement. Recommended for review in 2017.)

SEA/RC62/R6

Yes

Cover access and SSFFC issues which are important to Member States and relevant to Regional Flagship Priority Areas 2015–2020. (Does not require specific reporting but does cover access and SSFFC (substandard, spurious, falsely labelled) issues which are important to SEA Region Member States and relevant to Regional Flagship Priority Areas 2015–2020.)

SEA/RC64/R2

Yes

The resolution continues to be relevant to universal health coverage, which is a regional strategic priority. It is one important aspect of strengthening the health workforce generally as well as of encouraging rural retention of health personnel.

SEA/RC64/R5

Yes

Requires two-year reporting cycle. Relevance to SDGs and cross-cutting issues.

SEA/RC65/R3

Yes

SEA/RC65/R6

Yes

It calls for supporting countries in the context of collaborative work towards universal health coverage, through a range of modalities. Relevant to SDGs.

SEA/RC66/R4

Yes

It calls for supporting countries in the context of universal health coverage through a range of modalities. Important to generate evidence for informed decisions in support of universal health

SEA/RC69/21 Page 33

Responsible department

Resolution number

Topic of technical resolution in Support of Universal Health Coverage

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset

Active

Total coverage.

Comments

SEA/RC66/R7

Effective management of medicines Covering every birth and death: Improving civil registration and vital statistics Traditional medicine: Delhi Declaration

Yes

SEA/RC67/R2

Yes

SEA/RC67/R3

Yes

Active with regional action plan and periodic reporting. Regional consultation on traditional medicine has been implemented in October 2015 with action plan, which is a key step in its implementation. The work in implementing the action plan is in progress and periodic reporting is required. Fully active resolution, with actions relevant to regional Strategic Priority Area. Furthermore, periodic reporting required, i.e. every two years commencing from 2016 for the coming decade.

SEA/RC67/R6

Yes

SEA/RC68/R4

Yes

Forthcoming reporting requirements and ongoing collaborative programmes to this field.

SEA/RC68/R6

Yes

Ongoing collaborative work. This will continue to be an important area of engagement, as in community-based health services that clearly relate to achieving universal health coverage.

SEA/RC63/R7

SEA/RC69/21 Page 34

Responsible department HSD Total HSE

Resolution number

Topic of technical resolution

Complete sunset 12

Conditional sunset 3

Active 14

Total 29

Comments

SEA/RC53/R7

Food safety

Yes

The 10 point Regional Strategy has been replaced by new Regional Food Safety Strategy 20132017. Therefore, this resolution is no longer valid. The resolution is obsolete and outdated, it is dated pre-tsunami 2004. Has been replaced by new international and national mechanisms that have been introduced. Emergency reforms in WHO are also underway. SEARO support for emergency preparedness and response has scaled up quite significantly since this resolution. At present, the resolution is obsolete and outdated, and replaced by new international and national mechanisms. Further to this resolution, SEARO established a regional health emergency fund called SEARHEF (South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund). Further to this resolution, SEARO also established 12 SEA Region Benchmarks for emergency preparedness and response (EPR) and conducted benchmark assessments in 10 out of 11 of its Member State. The reports of these assessments have been published. Emergency Reform in WHO is also underway. SEARO support for emergency preparedness and response has scaled up considerably since this resolution. Yes As of now only two countries from the SEA Region have achieved the minimum IHR core capacities. Some other Member States may achieve the minimum core capacities by June 2016 while the rest will need more time to achieve this. The core capacities of IHR (2005) that was implemented from 2007 were to be achieved by 2012. The date was extended twice till 2014 and then to 2016 with special approval of the Director-General. There will be no more extensions. Two Member States achieved the targeted capacities by 2014 and few more will be able to achieve this by 2016. A new resolution with a monitoring and evaluation framework will be endorsed for IHR beyond 2016 at the Health Assembly. (Proposed for Conditional Sunsetting until adaption of a new resolution for IHR post-2016 by the World Health Assembly including its review.) Proposed for Complete sunsetting since new APSED is being developed and is likely to be introduced in 2016. Also in the context of the new IHR post-2016. Resolution pertaining to pre-Jaipur Declaration of 2011. Recent resolution of 2015 (SEA/RC68/R3) is relevant and mentions global action plans on AMR.

SEA/RC57/R3

Emergency health preparedness

Yes

SEA/RC58/R3

Health action in emergencies

Yes

SEA/RC58/R4

International Health Regulations (2005)

SEA/RC58/R5

Asia-Pacific Strategy on Emerging Diseases Prevention and containment of

Yes

SEA/RC63/R4

Yes

SEA/RC69/21 Page 35

Responsible department

Resolution number

Topic of technical resolution antimicrobial resistance

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset

Active

Total

Comments

SEA/RC60/R7

South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund Response to emergencies and outbreaks Antimicrobial resistance

Yes

This is proposed to be kept active since it is about the establishment of the fund (SEARHEF) as well as about its financial regulatory mechanisms which are still active and relevant.

SEA/RC62/R5

Yes

This is proposed to be kept active since it's about the establishment of the fund (SEARHEF) as well as about its financial regulatory mechanisms which are still active and relevant.

SEA/RC68/R2

Yes

New resolution to cover new changes at international and national levels. Reflects emergency risk management as a Regional Flagship Priority Area/priority. References are also made to new global frameworks, i.e. Sendai and SEA Region Benchmarks as well as ongoing WHO Reform. A recent resolution – post-Jaipur Declaration of 2011. Reflects all current initiatives for AMR and the programme being a Flagship Area/Priority. 10 Superseded by a later resolution (SEA/RC68/R7).

SEA/RC68/R3

Yes

HSE Total NDE SEA/RC53/R10 WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Healthy settings

5 Yes

SEA/RC53/R4

Yes

3. 4.

Complete sunsetting as this resolution was time-bound and activities were completed in 2001. Largely covered by SEA/RC59/R4.

SEA/RC59/R8

Alcohol consumption control – Policy options Nutrition and food safety in the South-East Asia Region

Yes

Superseded by a later Regional Committee resolution/Regional Action Plan (SEA/RC67/R4)

SEA/RC60/R3

Yes

Food safety portion is proposed for Complete sunsetting as mentioned in item no. 67 (SEA/RC53/R7).

SEA/RC69/21 Page 36

Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC60/R4

Topic of technical resolution Scaling up prevention and control of chronic noncommunicable diseases in the SouthEast Asia Region Tobacco control Noncommunicable Diseases, Mental Health and Neurological Disorders Mental health and substance abuse, including alcohol

Complete sunset Yes

Conditional sunset

Active

Total

Comments Superseded by a later resolution/action plan (SEA/RC66/R6).

SEA/RC61/R4 SEA/RC65/R5

Yes Yes

SEA/RC54/R2

Yes

The subsection on alcohol is superseded by a later Regional Committee resolution (SEA/RC67/R4). The majority (on substance abuse) should be still active. It is timely to have a new Regional Committee Agenda and resolution on mental health and substance abuse, to make them relevant to the current situation and global strategies, until then this can be Completely sunset. Review mitigation efforts including implementation of guidelines and standards, surveillance, early screening, and diagnosis and treatment in five affected countries. To be sunset by 2020.

SEA/RC54/R3

Arsenic contamination of ground water affecting countries of the South-East Asia Region Vision 2020: The right to sight

Yes

SEA/RC53/R8

Yes

SEA/RC56/R8

Water, sanitation and hygiene determinants of health: Role of Health Ministers

SEA/RC69/21 Page 37

Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC57/R4

Topic of technical resolution Iodine Deficiency Disorders in the SouthEast Asia Region

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset

Active Yes

Total

Comments Still relevant to continuing Programme of Work. (A lot of work on this has already been done in the Region and it can be moved from Active to Conditional sunsetting. A discussion suggested keeping it active, since only one country in the Region has achieved universal salt iodization and iodine deficiency disorders have not been eliminated, and current status of households with adequately iodized salt ranges from 40%–92% across countries. Proposed to keep active with a timeline for revision in 2017.) Still non-superseded and required to continue Programme of Work.

SEA/RC59/R4

Regional Strategy for Health Promotion Climate change and human health Yes

Yes

SEA/RC62/R2

Ongoing in the areas of research, mitigation, adaptation and capacity development. (Proposed for Conditional sunsetting as there are World Health Assembly resolutions on climate change.) Yes Still relevant to current Programme of Work, Sustainable Development Goals and global strategies. (The proposal has been to move it from Active to Conditional sunsetting as there are World Health Assembly resolutions on this.) Requirement to continue due to Programme of Work.

SEA/RC63/R2

Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion

SEA/RC63/R3

Yes

SEA/RC64/R4

SEA/RC65/R8

SEA/RC69/21 Page 38

Responsible department

Resolution number SEA/RC66/R6

Topic of technical resolution Regional Action Plan and Targets for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (2013–2020) South-East Asia Regional Action Plan to Implement Global Strategy to Reduce Harmful Use of Alcohol

Complete sunset

Conditional sunset

Active Yes

Total

Comments Relevant to current Programme of Work, Sustainable Development Goals, Flagship Priority Area, Global and Regional Strategy (Action Plan).

SEA/RC67/R4

Yes

Relevant to current Programme of Work, Sustainable Development Goals, Global Strategy and Regional Action Plan.

SEA/RC68/R5

Cancer Prevention and Control - The way forward Dili Declaration on Tobacco Control 7 31 5 16

Yes

Relevant to current Programme of Work, Regional Action Plans, Sustainable Development Goals, Flagship Priority Area.

SEA/RC68/R7

Yes

Relevant to current Programme of Work, Sustainable Development Goals, Flagship Priority Area, and global and regional action plans. 22 78

NDE total Grand total

10 30

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Annexure C

Draft Decision Review of Regional Committee resolutions The Regional Committee considered the report of its Sixty-eighth session on the establishment of an Informal Working Group consisting of members from Bangladesh, India and Thailand to study actions taken by the Eastern Mediterranean and European regions of WHO on reviewing Regional Committee resolutions in those regions, and to organize a Technical Consultation with Member States before the next High-Level Preparatory (HLP) Meeting to decide on a set of criteria and time frame for phasing out resolutions that have already been implemented/acted upon or have outlived their utility and relevance. The Committee noted the recommendations of the Informal Working Group and the Technical Consultation of Member States of the SEA Region to review past Regional Committee resolutions that outline the criteria to categorize a resolution as “Active” or “Conditional sunset” or “Complete sunset” and, reviewing a total of 78 resolutions based on this criteria, the Committee underscored the suggestions made by the High-Level Preparatory Meeting on the conditions to be attendant on the individual categories and, having further considered the report of the Secretariat, decided to: a) adopt the categorization of past resolutions into “Sunset”, “Conditional sunset” and “Active” categories, and the criteria suggested for each such category by the Technical Consultation of Member States; b) categorize accordingly the 78 resolutions as 32 resolutions for “Complete sunset”, 16 resolutions for “Conditional sunset”, and retain as “Active” 30 resolutions; c) “Sunset” resolutions dating prior to the period of review undertaken through the Informal Working Group and Technical Consultation which are more than 15 years old, unless specific periodic reporting requirements are entailed and continue to remain therewith. In case any such resolution pertains to an issue of importance and/or continued relevance to the South-East Asia Region with an actionable agenda, the technical unit involved may propose a fresh resolution or decision to incorporate the latest technological/programmatic developments on the subject of the resolution; and

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d) request the Regional Director to establish, in accordance with this Decision, a mechanism to periodically review the existing “Conditional sunset” and “Active”, and the new resolutions at appropriate intervals and frequencies in a cost-effective manner, and place recommendations of the review for endorsement of the Regional Committee; and also e) request the Regional Director to review all the proposed new resolutions and strategies to avoid overlapping and ensure streamlining of their contents.

Key facts

Organisation World Health Organization (WHO)

Document type Governing Bodies documents

Adoption date July 1, 2016

Source World Health Organization