Essential public health functions (Resolution)

16 REGIONAL COMMITIEE: FIFTY-TIlIRD SESSION (3) to ensure that the development of WHO programmes is firmly grounded on ethical principles; (4) to work with countries and WHO Headquarters to pursue further work in this area, to draw up a systematic framework to guide countries on integrating ethical issues into their public health policies, and to report back to the Regional Committee by 2006. Eighth meeting, 20 September 2002 WPRlRC53/SRl8 WPRlRC53.R7 ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH FUNCTIONS The Regional Committee, Having considered the report on essential public health functions: the role of ministries ofhealth;1 Acknowledging the need to ensure that the public health infrastructure is positioned to respond effectively and efficiently to broadening public health demands and challenges; Noting that the Western Pacific Regional Office has identified a need to evaluate and strengthen public health infrastructures in Member States in order to meet current and future public health demands; Recognizing that many essential public health functions are central to the responsibility of the State, particularly the ministry of heath, for effective stewardship with respect to health; Further recognizing the need for health sector reforms to pay greater attention to public health; Recalling that health systems were one of the eleven priorities identified in the general programme of work, 2002-2005, approved by the Fifty-fourth World Health Assembly in resolution WHA54.1, and recognizing that public health is a significant and crucial part of every health system; 1. URGES Member States: (I) to evaluate and monitor the delivery of all essential public health functions; (2) to strengthen their public health infrastructure wherever gaps and weaknesses are identified; (3) to incorporate work on essential public health functions into sectoral reform; (4) to monitor and evaluate the impact of policies of other sectors on public health and to respond in an appropriate and timely manner in order to ensure protection of public health; J Document WPRlRC53/1O. REPORT OF THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE 17 2. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (1) to pursue further consultation and discussions with Member States and other relevant parties on the proposed essential public health functions; (2) to develop guidelines, tools and indicators based on essential public health functions that will assist Member States to evaluate, monitor, and strengthen their public health infrastructures and responsibilities; (3) to promote the reorientation of health professionals, managers, policy-makers and government institutions in the Region towards public health, in line with the development of essential public health functions, and the strengthening of the central role of the ministry of health; (4) to disseminate to Member States the documentation on the three-country case- study on essential public health functions undertaken in the Region; (5) to report back to the Regional Committee by 2006. Eighth meeting, 20 September 2002 WPRlRC53/SRl8 WPRlRC53.R8 FIFTY-FOURTH AND FIFTY-FIFTH SESSIONS OF THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE The Regional Committee, 1. DECIDES that the dates of the fifty-fourth session shall be from 8 to 12 September 2003; 2. CONFIRMS that the fifty-fourth session of the Regional Committee shall be held at the regional headquarters in Manila; 3. EXPRESSES its appreciation to the Government of China for its offer to act as host to the fifty-fifth session of the Regional Committee in 2004; 4. ACCEPTS the invitation of the Government of China provided a satisfactory agreement can be concluded between the Government and WHO by 31 March 2004. Eighth meeting, 20 September 2002 WPRlRC/SRl8 16 REGIONAL COMMITIEE: FIFTY-TIlIRD SESSION (3) to ensure that the development of WHO programmes is firmly grounded on ethical principles; (4) to work with countries and WHO Headquarters to pursue further work in this area, to draw up a systematic framework to guide countries on integrating ethical issues into their public health policies, and to report back to the Regional Committee by 2006. Eighth meeting, 20 September 2002 WPRlRC53/SRl8 WPRlRC53.R7 ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH FUNCTIONS The Regional Committee, Having considered the report on essential public health functions: the role of ministries ofhealth;1 Acknowledging the need to ensure that the public health infrastructure is positioned to respond effectively and efficiently to broadening public health demands and challenges; Noting that the Western Pacific Regional Office has identified a need to evaluate and strengthen public health infrastructures in Member States in order to meet current and future public health demands; Recognizing that many essential public health functions are central to the responsibility of the State, particularly the ministry of heath, for effective stewardship with respect to health; Further recognizing the need for health sector reforms to pay greater attention to public health; Recalling that health systems were one of the eleven priorities identified in the general programme of work, 2002-2005, approved by the Fifty-fourth World Health Assembly in resolution WHA54.1, and recognizing that public health is a significant and crucial part of every health system; 1. URGES Member States: (I) to evaluate and monitor the delivery of all essential public health functions; (2) to strengthen their public health infrastructure wherever gaps and weaknesses are identified; (3) to incorporate work on essential public health functions into sectoral reform; (4) to monitor and evaluate the impact of policies of other sectors on public health and to respond in an appropriate and timely manner in order to ensure protection of public health; J Document WPRlRC53/1O.