(WPR!RC19/SR/6)
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE SIXTH MEETING
WHO Conference Hall Tuesday, 8 October 1968 at-2.30 p.m. CHAIRMAN:
Dr C.S. Gatmaitan (Philippines)
CONTENTS
1
Statement by the Assistant Director-General Consideration of draft resolutions •.•..•.•••.•.•.•••••••.••• Report by the Chairman of the Technical Discussions Time, place and duration of the twentieth and twenty-first sessions of the Regional Committee
217
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2
217 225 225
3 4 5
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Consideration of the report presented by the Sub-Commi ttee on Programme and Budget and draft resolutions ••••.••••.••.••.••.••.•...•••.••••••.••.••• Adoption of the draft report of the Committee •.•.••••••.•••• Resolution of appreCiation .........•...........•....•.•..•.. Adj o~ent ................................................. .
226
6
229 229
7 8
230
•
-213".
214
REGIONAL COMMITI'EE: NINETEENTH SESSION
SIXTH MEETING
Tuesday, 8 October 1968 at 2.30 p.m.
PRESENT
I.
Representatives of Member States AUSTRALIA Dr Mr Dr Mr Dr
H.M. Franklands Tore Lokoloko R.F.R. Scragg P.A. Jackson R.H. MacDonald
CAMOODIA CHINA
Dr Thor Peng 'Ihong Dr C.K. Chang Dr Y.T. Wang Dr L.P. Chow
Medecin-General J. Rondet JAPAN Dr l<Ir f.lr Mr
T. Muranaka K. \.oJatanabe N. Maekawa Y. Masuko
IAOS MAIAYSIA NEW ZEAIAND
Dr Tiao Ja1svasd Visouthiphongs Dr Chong Chun Hian
Dr C.N.D. Taylor Dr Dr Dr Dr Dr Dr Dr Dr Dr C.S. Gatmaitan J. Dizon J. Navarro E. Agustin G. Balbin E. Perez F. Nepomuceno J. Sumpa1co J. Caedo
PHILIPPINES
PORTUGAL REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Dr N.C. de Andrade
Mr Sang-Yung Soh Dr K.S. Chang
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE SIX'IH fJJEE.TING
215
UNITED KINGDOlvl
Dr P.H. Tang Dr C.H. Gurd Dr R.K.C. Lee Dr J .K. Shafer Dr H. DeLien Dr L@ Nh8:n Th~
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
.-
.. II.
VIET-NA.l"1 vJFSTERN SAMOA
flJr Luamanuvae Eti
Representatives of the United Mati,ons and Specialized Agencies UNITED NATIONS AND UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN IS FUND Mr A.E. Meager
III.
Representatives of other intergovernmental organizations INTERNATIONAL COMMI'ITEE OF MILITARY MEDICINE AND PHARMACY SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION Colonel P.J. Barcelona, MC
Dr A. Guinea
IV.
Representatives of non-governmental organizations INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ARCHITECTS Mr J.E. Ninalga
...
INTERNATIONAL DENTAL FEDERATION INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR HEALTH EDUCATION THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, INC. INTERNATIONAL COMMITI'EE OF CATHOLIC NURSF..s
Dr F. Rojas
Miss C. del Rosario
Dr J. Galvez, Jr.
Mrs M. Ordonez
216
REGIONAL COMMI'I'I'EE: NINETEENTH SESSION
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF NURSES WORLD FEDERATION OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION
Mrs R.S. Diamante l1rs C.M. Abad
Mrs C. Floro Dr H.M.C. Poortman
v.
WHO Secretariat ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-GENERAL SECRETARY
Dr N.F. Izmerov
L'r Francisco J. Dy Regional Director
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE SIXTH MEETING
217
1
STATElI1ENT BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-GENERAL
Dr IZMEROV, Assistant Director-General, regretted that he had
not been able to attend the opening of the session and participate in the celebration of i'/HO's Twentieth Anniversary at the regional level. The grovrth of the Organization had been very rapid and
there were now 129 Member States.
This meant that more cotmtries
wished to participate in the activities of the Organization and \'lere paying increasing attention to the health of the people in all cotmtries. There was no doubt that healthy people were Although in
required if economic development was to be achieved.
the last twenty years the health situation in many cotmtries had improved, there still remained many problems "lhich it had not been possible to solve. A major need was the training of health
personnel and to this NHO and the l1estern Pacific Region had given much attention as the ayailability of trained staff w·as the best way of helping cotmtries reach the highest level of health. The
regional committees played a very important role in the work of \VHO. They dis cuss ed the health problems and progress made and
gave guidance to the regional directors and advice to the DirectorGeneraL He "tished the Committee success in its future activities.
2
CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT RESOLUTIONS The Committee considered the follo~ting
draft resolutions
presented by Mr LYE (Singapore) and Dr THOR PENG THONG (Cambodia), Rapporteurs. 2.1 Annual Report of the Regional Director Decision: The draft resolution 11as adopted (see resolution '.-lPR,fflC19.Rl). 2.2 The establishment of a WHO medical school in the \'!estem Pacific Region Dr ~fiLANDS (Australia) suggested the deletion of the word
"tmanimous" in the second line of operative paragraph one.
218
REGIONAL COMMITl'EE: NINEl'EENTH SESSION
Decision: The draft resolution, as amended, was adopted (see resolution WPRjRC19.R2). 2.3 2.4 2.5 Integrated planning in health Cost of Regional Committees Technical discussions Decision: The draft resolutions were adopted (see resolutions 1:lPRjRC19.R3, WPRjRC19.R4 and WPRjRC19.R5). 2.6 Long-term planning and evaluation (Proposed by the Representative of the United States or' America)
Dr LEE (United States of America) stated that when he had introduced this resolution on behalf of the United States delegation, he had not seen the draft resolution on biennial programming. He noted that in the resolution submitted by the Rapporteurs most of the views of his delegation had been included and he wished, therefore, to l'Ii thdra\, his draft resolution. The Committee then considered the draft resolution proposed by the Rapporteurs. t1r WATANABE (Japan), referring to operative paragraph tt'IO, asl~ed
whether the field of mental health was covered under health promotion. In the last line of the same paragraph, the phrase "with particular attention to child health" was used and he wondered why "maternal" health was not included. The REGIONAL DIREC'roR stated that mental health and maternal health both came under health promotion. Decision: There being no further diSCUSSiOns, the draft resolution was adopted (see resolution WPRjRC19.R6).
.. SUMMARY RECORD OF THE SIXTH MEETING 219
2.7
Biennial programming The draft resolution presented by the Rapporteurs for the con-
sideration of the Committee read as follows: The Regional Committee, Bearing in mind resolution v1HA21.49 of the Twentyfirst World Health Assembly which recommended all regional committees to give particular attention, at their 1968 sessions, to long-term health planning; 1
/
-
Recalling that during the discussions at the fortysecond session of the Executive Board it 1'ms suggested that regional committees should consider the desirability of including in future annual programme and budget estimates a proposed programme for the year thereafter; Having considered the information on this subject submitted by the Regional Director, 1. BELIEVES that the inclusion in the annual programme and budget estimates of the Director-General of a programme projection for a further year ahead would be advantageous to both Member governments and the Organization in developing longer-term plans for health programmes;
2. RECOMMENDS that the Director-General, in accordance with operative paragraph 4 of resolution l'1HA21.49, include in his report to the forty-third session of the Executive Board the recommendation and the views expressed in this Committee. In discussing this draft resolution, Dr LEE (United States of America) stated that it would be useful if the budgetary data for the current year, Le., the year in which the programme and budget proposals were prepared, could be included. better picture of the activities. This 1'lould provide a He, therefore, recommended that
the following additional text should be included:
1
Off. Rec. HId Hlth Org., 168, 24
220
Endorsing the concept of a proposed plan of biennial programming drawn up on a base that is as fully costed as possible, 1.
2. BELIEVES also that year, i.e., the year in proposals are prepared, four-year cycle will be
budgetary data for the current which the programme and budget should be retained so that a presented.
Dr THOR PENG THONG (Cambodia) asked if the inclusion of the additional information requested by the Representative of the United States of America had any financial implications. The REGIONAL DIRECTOR pointed out that this particular matter had not yet been discussed by the Executive Board. Committees had been asked to submit their views. The Regional These would now
be discussed by the Executive Board which "Tould review the matter and make some kind of recommendation to the i'lorld Health Assembly. The vforld Health Assembly ''1ould make the final decision. Apart from the increased costs, as the proposal •.,ould result in a larger document, each column represented a budget year and this would certainly require more "Tork. He hoped that if the proposal were endorsed by the Executive Board and the World Health Assembly, he would not have to request the Director-General for an additional budget officer. Dr LEE (United States of America) said that the additional information would provide the representatives with a better understanding of the budget. It would certainly cost the Secretariat However, this must be more money, more paper and more time.
balanced against the responsibilities of the Regional Committee to revie"l the budget carefully. This could not be done unless full
basic information were submitted.
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE SIXTH MEETING
221
Dr THOR PENG THONG (Cambodia) stated that as long as these
expenses were not too high he would agree ,to the proposal of the Representative of the United States of America. Decision: The draft resolution, as amended, was adopted (see resolution WPRjRc19.R7). 2.8 Health aspects of population dynamics The Committee considered a draft resolution proposed by the Representative of the United States of America reading as follows: The Regional Committee, Having noted that the Regional Office has programmed a course in health aspects of population dynamics for 1970, 1. EXPRESSES its satisfaction that the Regional Office has taken some initiative in this important health field; 1
2. RECALLS that the last Regional Committee in Taipei resolved that family planning should be closely integrated into maternal and child health programmes;
3.
INVITES the Regional Director (a) to further expand the regional office activities in the field of family planning; (b) to promote integration of these activities into maternal and child health programmes; (c) to report to the t''Ientieth session of the Regional Committee on vlHO's fUrther activities and plans to assist the family planning programmes in the Region.
Dr CHANG (China) supported the draft resolution but suggested
that the text should be rewritten to stress the importance of the integration of maternal and child health and family planning into the general health services. This point had been stressed during the technical discussions held in connexion with the eighteenth session of the Regional Committee.
'"
222
REGIONAL COMMITI'EE: NINETEENTH SESSION
Dr THOR PENG THONG (Cambodia) stated that the policy regarding
family planning varied from country to country.
If a
re~olution
were
adopted inviting the Regional Director to promote the integration of this activity into the maternal and child health activities and if a Member country refused to take this action, he asked what the consequence would be. The REGIONAL DIRECTOR said that it was the responsibility of each country to decide its policy in this field. No resolution had been adopted during the last session of the Regional Committee on the integration of maternal and child health and family planning into the general health services of the country. This statement had appeared in the report of the technical discussions which were an unofficial part of the Regional Committee proceedings. Dr TENG (United Kingdom) favoured a merger of paragraphs three(a) and three(b) because this meant that family planning was now part of the regional office activities. Medecin-General RONDET (France) stated that the integration of family planning into maternal and child health programmes appeared to have the support of a large number of representatives but the Committee had adopted no resolution on this aspect during its last meeting. He did not think that a reference to the meeting in Taipei should appear in the resolution. The REGIONAL DIRECTOR suggested that paragraph two should be deleted. It ~~s
so agreed.
The Regional Director then suggested that the phrase "maternal and child health programmes" should be replaced by "general basic health programmes".
,--
Dr LEE (United States of America) and Dr :rnANKIANDS (Australia)
supported this amendment. Dr THOR PENG THONG (Cambodia) felt that the text was still not very clear and to avoid any misunderstanding it would be preferable to redraft paragraph three(a), as follows: to further expand the regional office activities in the field of family planning and to promote integration of these activities into maternal and child health programmes in the regional office. The REGIONAL DIRECTOR pointed out that these activities were already integrated into maternal and child health programmes in the Regional Office as the maternal and child health adviser was responsible for work in this field.
L
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Dr LEE (United States of America) stated that the proposal of the Representative of Cambodia changed the meaning of the paragraph considerably and it was not, therefore, acceptable to his delegation. Dr THOR PENG THONG (Cambodia) considered that the Regional
Director should only be invited to promote the integration of family planning activities into maternal and child health programmes when requested to do so by governments. The REGIONAL DIRECTOR proposed that the paragraph should be re\,loroed as follows:
3.
INVITES the Regional Director: (a) to expand further the regional office activities in this field and to promote the integration of these activities into general basic health programmes when requested by governments •
•
224
REGIONAL COMMITI'EE: NINETEEN'IH SESSION
Dr TAYLOR (Ne1'f Zealand)
drew attention to the use of the term
"population dynamics" in the second line of the draft resolution. He believed that this were more acceptable than the words "family planning" and suggested that the text should be amended accordingly. It was so agreed. Dr CHONG (r.talaysia) believed that the words "family planning" were more acceptable and suggested that these be retained. Medecin-General RONDET (France) said that as far as the French text of the resolution was concerned, his delegation was content with the wording. The REGIONAL DIRECTOR asked whether the Representatives would agree to change the title of the resolution in accordance 11'11 th the text given in a resolution of the World Health Assembly to "health aspects of population dynamics".
Dr SHAFER (United States of America) agreed to the Regional Director's proposal.
Dr CHONG (Malaysia) said that if the Committee so decided, he had no strong feelings against the term "population dynamics". Dr BALBIN (Philippines) suggested that operative paragraph one should be amended to read as follows: 1. EXPRESSES its appreciation that the Regional Office has taken initiative in this important health field.
Dr SHAFER (United States of America) had no objection to this change. Dr CHOW (China) agreed with the proposed change of title from "family planning" to "health aspects of population dynamics", as
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE SIXTH MEErING
225
this would cover a much broader field. words II
He further suggested that the
ma terna1 and child health" in the third line of operative
paragraph two (a) should be replaced by the words "general basic health services programmes". Dr SHAFER (United States of America) said that this change was
acceptable to his delegation. Decision: The draft resolution, as amended, was adopted (see resolution VlPR/RC19.R8) • 3 REPORT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF TIm TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS: of the Agenda (Document WPR/RC19/13) Item 19
Dr TENG (United Kingdom) presented the report of the technical
discussions, on behalf of Dr Din, Chairman of the Technical Discussions who had already left Manila. The CHAIRMAN thanked Dr Din for his leadership, the Group Chairmen and Rapporteurs for their very fine work, and the participants who had made valuable contributions to the discussions.
4
TIME, PrACE AND DURATION OF 'mE TWENTIE'IH AND 'lWENTY-FIRST SESSIONS OF THE REGIONAL COMMI'ITEE: Item 20 of the Agenda The CHAIRMAN informed the Committee that so far no invitation
had been received for the t"lentieth and tl'Tenty-first sessions of the Regional Committee. He suggested that trle Regional Director should be authorized to accept on behalf of the Committee any such invitation which might be extended and to inform all Member governments at the earliest possible date. The REGIONAL DIRECTOR stated that if the Committee supported this proposal, he would like to suggest that any invitation should be received by the end of January 1969 as several months were required to negotiate with the host government.
226
REGIONAL COMMITI'EE: NINETEENTH SESSION
The CHAIRMAN stated that if no invitation was received for the t~lentieth
and twenty-first sessions, these should be held at regional
headquarters. It was so agreed (see resolution vlPR/RC19.R9).
5
CONSIDERATION OF THE REPORT PF.ESENTED BY THE SUB-COMMITI'EE ON PROGRAMME AND BUOOET: Item 9.2 of the Agenda (Document HPR/RC19/l2) AND DRAFT RESOLUTIONS
5.1 Report of the Sub-Committee on Programme and Budget The CHAIRMAN, in presenting the report to the Committee, stated that the Sub-Committee had spent a considerable amount of time discussing the proposed programme and budget estimates. There had been some dissenting opinions and these were expressed in the report. The REGIONAL DIRECTOR referred to the last sentence in the second paragraph on page 19 and stated that follo\'ling the meeting, the Representative of the United States of America had agreed to delete the examples he had quoted as there were no projects in the field of chronic and degenerative diseases in the 1970 proposals, while those under the heading: "Biology, Pharmacology and Toxicology" (vii th the exception of a felloNship requested by the Philippine Government) had been proposed for financing under the Technical Assistance component of the United Nations Development Programme. There being no further comments, it was agreed that the examples quoted should be deleted. 5.2 Draft resolution vlPR/RC19/P&B,lV1P11 The Committee reviewed the draft resolution on inter-country and inter-regional projects proposed for implementation under the Technical Assistance component of the United Nations Development Programme. agreed that these proposals deserved support. It
--
SUMMARY RECORD OF '!HE SIXTH MEEI'ING
Decision: The draft resolution was adopted (see resolution WPR/RC19.R10)
5.3 Draft resolution HPRiRC19/P&B/VlP/2 The Committee then reviewed the draft resolution proposed by the Sub-Committee in connexion with the proposed programme and budget estimates for 1970. Mr ivATANABE (Japan) expressed his appreciation of having been given an opportunity to participate in the discussions of the Sub:-
.-'
Committee on Programme and Budget.
He t'1as particularly grateful
for the accurate and detailed answers given by the Regional Director to the various questions raised in connexion with the expenditures on certain inter-country programmes. Having studied the proposed programme and budget estimates for 1970 and the draft
..... ,.
resolution of the Sub-Committee, he noted that the percentage increase proposed for the vlestern Pacific Region was almost equal to
the order of magnitude approved by the Twenty-first World Health His delegation supported the proposed programme and
Assembly.
budget estimates for the Western Pacific Region in 1970, which was intended to cover many health problems to be solved in countries in the Region, and in that sense it was in favour of the draft resolution. However, he wished to express, on behalf of his Government, its deep concern over the yearly increase in the vlliO budget which would entail an increase in its yearly contribution
to WHO.
This concern was due to the fact that his Government was
suffering financial difficulties in order to meet increasing commitments arising from its socio-economic development programme. The CHAIRMAN drew attention to the fact that during the meeting of the Sub-Committee, the Representatives of Australia and of the United States of America had stated that they would vote against
228
the draft resolution. document vTPR;RC19!12).
The reasons for this were clearly indicated
in the report of the Sub-Committee on Programme and Budget (see
Decision: The draft resolution was adopted (see resolution WPR;RC19.Rll).
*
*
*
Dr DIZON (Philippines) stated that, upon the instructions of his Government, the Philippine delegation represent North Borneo or Sabah. The CHAIRMAN enquired from the Regional Director whether the subject was an i tern on the agenda. The ruroIONAL DIRECTOR stated that the i tern was not on the agenda. He then read Rule 9 of the Rules of Procedure to the Committee. The CHAIRMAN informed the Representative of the Philippines that he could not conSider the item for discussion, but would have his statement put on record. ~dshed
to enter on record
a reservation against the authority or competence of Malaysia to
The meeting rose at 5.10 p.m. and resumed at 7.10 p.m.
Dr CHONG (Malaysia) regretted to have to request the indulgence of the Committee and the Chairman to refer to the statement of the distinguished delegate from the Philippines questioning the legality of the Malaysian Government to represent Sabah. It was very wise and
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE SIXTH MEETING
229
proper of the Chairman to have ruled this comment out of order. brought into WHO which was a strictly non-political organization. He regretted that the statement of the esteemed delegate of the Philippines was to be written into the summary records. delegation should also be placed on similar record. This being the case, he requested that the objection by the Malaysian He further requested that there should be no debate on this item.
It
would have been most unfortunate if this political issue ''lere to be
The CHAIRMAN agreed to the two requests of the Representative of r1alaysia.
* 6
*
* Item 21 of
ADOPI'ION OF THE DRAFT REPORT OF THE COMMITI'EE: the Agenda (Document WPR/RC19/l4)
The CHAIRMAN invited Dr THOR PENG THONG (Cambodia), Rapporteur, to present the draft report of the Committee. Decision: There being no further comments, the report was adopted (see resolution WFR/RC19.Rl2).
7
RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION Dr CHANG (China) presented a draft resolution of appreciation.
This was supported by the Representatives of Australia, Cambodia, France, Laos, New Zealand, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Viet-Nam and l'lestern Samoa. Dr DIZON (Philippines) thanked the Committee, on behalf of the
delegation of the Philippines, for its kind words. Decision: The draft resolution v,as adopted (see resolution WPR/RC19.R13).
~ __________~RE~G=I~ONA~L~OO~~~~~~=iEE~:~NI=~~;;~~S=ES~SI~O~N~___________
8
ADJOURNMENT:
Item 22 of the Agenda
The CHAIRMAN thanked the Director-General, Dr Candau, the Assistant Director-General, Dr Izmerov, and the Regional Director, Dr Dy, for their valuable assistance. He also expressed his appreciation of the co-operation received from the Representatives, the Vice-Chairman and Rapporteurs and his gratitude to the members of the Secretariat for their contribution to a successful session.
The meeting adjourned at 7.30 p.m.
.I