(WPRjnC 2 5/SR/5 )
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE FIFTH MEETING
Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur Thursday, 5 September 1974 at 9.00 a.m. CHAIRMAN: , '-
Tan Sri Dato (Dr) Abdul Majid bin Ismail (Malaysia) CONTENTS
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Acknowledgement by the Chairman of brief reports received from governments on the progress of their health activities (continued) •••••••••••••••••••••• Consideration of draft resolutions ••••••••••••••••• Statements of representatives of the United Nations, the Specialized Agencies, of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in official relations wi th WHO (continued) ,..,............................................
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Technical cooperation among developing countries Selection of topic for the Technical Discussions during the twenty-sixth session of the Regional Committee and duration of the Regional Committee
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Meeting ....................................................................................
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Time and place of the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh sessions of the Regional Committee ••••••••••••••••• Announcement.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. • .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. • • • •
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REnIONAL COMMITl'EE:
TWENTY-FIFl'H SESSION
Fifth Meeting Thursday, 5 September 1974 at 9.00 a.m.
PRESENT
I.
Representati veil of Member states AUS'mALIA Dr G. Howells Dr R. W. Cumming
CHINA
Dr Chen Hai-feng Dr Sung Kan Mr L1 Ching HSiu Dr Peni Vuiyale Dr J. Laigret Dr T. Tak1zawa Dr R. Okamoto Mr M. Seaaki Dr Nhonh Bun Yay Dr Phouy Phoutthasak Dr Ritthikay V11aihongS
FIJI
FRANCE JAPAN
KHMER REPUBLIC
LAOS
MALAYSIA
Tan sri Dato (Dr) Abdul Majid bin Ismail Datuk Paduka (Dr) Abdul Wahab bin ~1ohd. Ariff Dr Raja Ahmad Noordin Mr Onn bin Kayat Dr Fang Ung Seng Dr Abdul Majid bin Tun Abdul Aziz Dr Tal Yen Hooi Datuk (Dr) Abdul Khalid bin Sahan Dr G. V. Denis
NEW ZEALAND PHILIPPINES
Dr R. Dickie Dr
.r. Dizon Dr D. Rivera
PORTUGAL
Dr Longuinhos Monteiro Xavier
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE FIFTH MEEI'ING
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REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Dr Seung Hahm Park
Mr Chong Sang Park Mr Byung Hoon Chun Mr Han I l Ree Mr Hang Sirb Song
REPUBLIC OF VIET-NAM , ,
Dr Tran Quy Nhu Dr Pharo Quang Tuan Dr A. G. K. Chew Dr Ng Kwok Choy Dr J. A.
SINGAPORE UNITED KINJDOM UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WESTERN SAMOA II.
B. Nicholson
Dr J. C. King Dr M. Kumangai Dr J. C. Thieme
Representative of Associate Member PAPUA NEW GUINEA Dr A. Tarutia
III.
Representative of the other Inter-governmental Organizations INTERNATIONAL COMlITTl'EE OF MILITARY MEDICINE AND ffiARMACY
Colonel Dr D. A. Lopes, KMN
IV.
Representatives of Non-governmental Organizations INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR ACCIDENT AND TRAFFIC MEDICINE INTERNATIONAL DENTAL FEDERATION INTERNATIONAL COMMITl'EE OF CATHOLIC NURSES INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF NURSES INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PAREN'IHOOD FEDERATION
Dr W. K. Ng
Dr Lim Chee Shin
Mrs M. A. La1
Miss Chong Ah Foo Dr W. K. Ng
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INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATIONS
Mr Koh Choon Hui
LEAGUE OF RED CROSS SOCIETIES INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF SPORTS MEDICINE INTERNATIONAL FErERATION
Y. B. Tan Sri Abdul Jamll Rus
Dr M. Jegatheson
OF SURGICAL COLLBOES
Professor M. Balasegar8ll\, FRCS. Ed.
v.
WHO Secretariat SECRETARY
Dr Franoisoo J. Dy
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE FIFTH MEETING
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1
ACKNOWIEOOMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF BRIEF REPORTS RECEIVED FROM GOVERNMENTS ON '!HE PROORESS OF THEIR HEAL'IH ACTIVITIES: Item 8 of the Agenda (oontinued from the seoond meeting, seotion 1)
The CHAIRMAN acknowledged reports on the progress of health activities reoeived from Frenoh Polynesia and from Timor. Copies had been distributed.
2
CONSIlERATION OF IRAFT RESOWTIONS The Committee considered the following resolutions:
2.1
Disinsection of aircraft (Dooument WPR,fflC25}NP/2 Rev.l) (oontinued from the fourth meeting, seotion 1.2.)
Dr DICKIE (New Zealand) suggested that the last line of paragraph one should be amended to read "if deemed neoessary" instead of "if and when necessary".
The CHAIRMAN said this would affect only the English version. Dr ABOOL WAHAB MIFF (Malayl!lia) asked i f national or international flights were referred to.
The REJIONAL DIRECTOR said it was presumed to concern international flights. Decision: The draft resolution, as amended, was adopted (see resolution WPR,fflC25.R6). 2.2 at its tift -
Deoision: The draft resolution was adopted (see resolution WPR,fflC25.R7) • Dr OKAMOTO (Japan) said he wished to comment on the two Twentyseventh World Health Assembly resolutions on health eduoation: Health Eduoation (resolution WHA27.27) and. Health Education of Children and Young People (resolution WHA27 .28). Strengthening of the public health services was not an automatic oonsequence of economic growth. The health servioes beoame more complicated because of new technology for disease control and the emergence of new health hazards. Health eduoation would play a more important role as the key activity in many spheres and should be expanded to meet new needs.
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RmIONAL COMMITl'EE:
'lw.EN'lY-FIFrH SESSION
2.3
Development of the antimalaria programme (Document WPR/RC25/WP/B)
Dr RIVERA (Philippines) suggested that the word "malarious" in paragraph (a) be replaced by "concerned". Decision: The draft resolution, as amended, was adopted (see resolution WPR/RC25.R8). 2.4 Intensification of research on tropical parasitic diseases (Doownent WPR/RC25!WP/9) Deoision: The draft resolution was adopted (see resolution WPR/RC25.R9) •
3
STATEMENTS OF REPRESENTATIVES OF '!HE UNITED NATIONS, '!HE SPECIALIZED AGENCIES, OF INTEffiOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL CllGANIZATIONS IN OFFICIAL REIATIONS WITH WHO: Item 17 of the Agenda (continued from the fourth meeting, section 4)
3.1 Representative of the International Committee of Catholio NUrses Mrs IAI said that the International Committee of Catholio Nurses was established in 1928 and came into official relationship with WHO in 1954. The lOth World Congress held in Rome in May 1974 had emphasized the need for nurses to work closely with other health professions for total health oare.
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TECHNICAL COOPERATION AMONG DEVEIDPINJ COUNTRIES: Agenda (Docwnent WPR/RC25/13)
Item 18 of the
The REGIONAL DIRECTOR said that docwnent WPRjRC25/13 briefly outlined the background to, and the outcome of, the deliberations of the UNDP Working Group on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries. The report of the Working Group, on which WHO had been represented, reoommended that a special unit be established to deal with the question wi thin the UNDP Secretariat and that an information system be set up. Specialized Agencies of the United Nations had been asked to establish focal points for the promotion of teohnioal oooperation among developing countries. rHO hlid always given strong emphasiS and support to the concept of cooperation in technical fields among developing countries. In the Western Pacific Region cooperation had been principally in the area of heal th manpower planning and the prevention and control of communicable diseases through the exohange of technical advisers and research workers, fellowships, conferences, seminars and training courses.
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Dr THIEME (Western Samoa) said his Government supported this concept and was already implementing it. He c1 ted the assistance being provided by the Government of Western Samoa to the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, another developing country. There being no further comments, the CHAIRMAN asked the Rapporteurs to prepare an appropriate resolution. (For consideration of the draft resolution, see the sixth meeting, section 1.2.) 5 SELECTION OF TOPIC FOR THE TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS DURING THE TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION OF THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE: Item 19 of the Agenda (Documents WPR/RC25/11 and Add.l) AND DURATION OF THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING Dr KING (United States of America) said that in their own countries,
Representatives were persons of importance who had many responsibilities. They could not afford to be absent for long periods of time. He requested the Committee to re-examine the length of the Regional Committee meeting itself. Regarding the Technical Discussions per!!, the purpose of the Committee was to make decisions and not to discuss technical matters whiCh were primarily the purview of experts. If the ~echnical Discussions were to be eliminated, the length of the meeting could be shortened to one full week. The difficulty that this might entail to the Secretariat was recognized. However, with no Technical Discussions the deliberations of the present meeting could have been concluded in one week. He had raised this topic at the twenty-fourth session of the Regional Committee. Dr HOWEL!.S (Australia) agreed that technical subjects should be discussed by experts. He felt that the meeting could have been concluded in a week with or without the Technical Discussions. Dr DICKIE (New Zealand) supported the Representatives of Australia and the United States of America. During the early meetings of the Regional Committee the Technical Discussions were very valuable but this was not the case now.
Dr ABDUL WAHAB ARIFF (Malaysia) enquired whether there was reference to the Technical Discussions in the Rules of Procedure of the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific. The REGIONAL DIRECTOR said there was nothing in the Rules of Procedure regarding holding technical discussions during Regional Committee meetings. This was covered by a resolution (WPR/RC3.Rl4) which had been adopted by the third session of the Regional Committee in September 1952. (The Regional Director read the resolution.) Provision had been made in each Regional Committee meeting to include Technical Discussions but Technical Discussions ~ ~ were not part of the Regional Committee.
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RmIONAL COMMITl'EE:
'IWENTY-FIFlH SESSIOO
Dr ABDUL WAHAB ARIFF (Malaysia) sta1;ed that it h.:i been the traditional practioe to inolude Teohnioal Discussions dur1nc Regional Committee meetings. as in the World Health Assembly. Hi. delegation felt strongly that the practioe should be oontinued. Dr TUAN (Republ1o of Viet-Nam) said that there was a dengue haemorrhagio fever problem in his oountry and his delegation h.:i oome to the meeting expeoting to have an exohange of i4eas and experienoe on the oontrol of the disease and its surveillanoe. He ... in favour of exchanging ideas and experienoe on relevant problems. Dr HOWELIB (Australia) wished to olarify that he did not say there was no problem in dengue haemorrhagio fever •. He said that i t should be disoussed by experts. not by the Colllll1ttee. Dr LAIGRET (Franoe) suggested a oompromise: lnste.:i of Technioal Disoussions arrange tor a topio to be presented by one or two speoialists. Dr PHOUTl'HASAK (Laos) oonsidered that, although they made the meeting longer, Teohnioal Disoussions were useful to representatives from developing oountries.
Dr THIEME (Western Samoa) stated that administratoR from small countries suoh as Western Samoa had to know how to deal with difterent problems; they oould not await the advice ,of experts who mi&}lt not be available in the area. '!he opportunity to gather more information while overseas was most weloome and the time spent for this purpose was oonsidered worthwhile. He supported the inolusion of the Technioal Disoussions in the Regional Committee meetings. Dr NICHOISON (United Kingdom) felt that the business of the meeting could be oovered adequstely in one working week. He supported this. He oonsidered that there was something to be learned from the Technioal Disoussions and supported the suggestion of thaRepresentative of Franoe that they oould be oonduoted as a presentation. whioh would be open to questions, by one or two experts for the benefit of the adm1n!atrators. Dr DIZON (Phil1ppines) conourred with the Representative of Franoe. In line with this. he suggested that "Control of tuberoulosis in the Western Paclfio Region" be the subjeot of the "briefing-orientation" at the next Regional COllllli ttee meeting. Tuberculosis oontinued to be a signifioant disease problem in the Region despite the tact that,there was already much information available about the epidemiologioal and other ..peots of the disease.
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SUMMARY RECORD OF 'lEE FIF'lH MEETING
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Dr DICKIE (New Zealand) said he would support teolmioal disoussions along the line suggested by the Represen1;ati ve of Franoe if at the same time the length of the meeting oould be kept to a week. Dr LAIGRET (Franoe) envisaged a meeting oonsisting of the exposition of a subject by one or two experts, who would have previously oolleoted relevant data in the various oountries of the Region. Representatives could ask Questions or, should their experienoe warrant it, give their own views. Dr KING (United states of Amerioa) said the Representative of France's proposal was an exoellent alternative whioh would permit Representatives to listen to a discussion that was of relevanoe on a teclmioal level to the Member countries and territories of the Region. He referred to the support by some Representatives of his proposal that the length of the Regional Committee meeting be kept to one week, commenc.ing on a Monday and ending on a Saturday. He enquired whether it would not be more appropriate to change the term "teohnioal disoussions" to "technical presentation". Dr HOWELLS (Australia) reiterated that one week was adequate for the Regional Committee meeting. Although he was prepared to support the oompromise suggested by the Representative of Franoe, he had not ohanged his view that the teohnical discussions were a waste of time for senior health administrators such as himself. The Representatives of Franoe, Malaysia and the Republio of Viet-Nam supported the proposal to limit the Regional Committee meeting to one week. The REIHONAL DIRECTOR said there were two reasons for the two afternoons of free time during the present session. Firstly more disoussion had been antioipated on oertain items of the Agenda and seoondly time was needed for the Seoretariat to prepare the documentation reaul ting from discussions during the meeting. The burden fell partioularly heavily on the translators. In 1975 it would be possible to complete the meeting in one week since now that the Organization had changed to biennial budgetting it would not be necessary to discuss the Programme and Budget in detail. In 1976, that is every other year, more discussion would be needed, but, if neoessary, evening sessions could be arranged. It would be possible to arrange the type of teohnical presentation proposed by the Representative of France. Dr THIEME (Western Samoa) reoalled that discussions during the plenary sessions used to take longer. The Committee might find itself in trouble if it shortened the session to one week.
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RmIONAL COMMI'lTEE:
'NENTY-FIFTH SESSION
Dr LAIGRET (France) said that it wat(S striking to see how little discussion there had been on certain items. In his case, this was due to two factors: the documents had been late in reaching him; and laok of time and staff had made it impossible to read them as thoroughly as they deserved.
There being no further comments, the CHAIRMAN asked for suggestions on the topic for whatever type of technical disoussion would be held in 1975. Dr HOWELL9 (Australia) stated that he would withdraw the suggestion of the Government of Australia (Dooument WPR/RC25/ll Add.l) in favour of the topic suggested by the Representative of the Philippines "Control of Tuberoulosis in the Western Pacifio Region". Dr VILAIHONGS (Laos) said he would like to maintain the topio initially suggested by Australia "The oommunity health oentre - a developing oonoept". Dr LAIGRET (Franoe) said he would prefer "dental oare servioes" or "tuberoulosis". He oould make available experts on these subjeots with long experienoe in Frenoh Polynesia.
The CHAIRMAN oalled for a vote and then deolared that the topio for the technical presentation in 1975 would be "The oontrol of tuberoulosis in the Western Pacific Region". The RmIONAL DIRECTOR asked who would be the expert for the technioal presentation. what its title would now be, how would the experts be seleoted and who would pay for those from outside the Region. Dr DIZON (Philippines) suggested that an authority on the subJeot from within the Region be selected by the Regional Direetor.
Dr CHEN' (China) pointed out that teohnioal information should be accompanied by examples of how it was applied. Dr DICKIE (New Zealand) suggested that oountdes with partioular
problems in oonnexion with the topio seleoted should have them inoluded in the disoussion. The REnIONAL DIRECTOR pointed out that technical orientation was a servioe provided to Member countries on request. Dr LAIGltET (France) said that the experts should present a synthesis of the various aspeots of the question after having oolleoted information on the partioular problems in each country.
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SUMMARY REX:ORD OF THE FIFrH MEm'IID
147
Dr NOORDIN (Malaysia) said that "teohnical presentation" was preferable to the term "teohnioal orientation". The REGIONAL DIREX:TOR said that if the Regional Comm1ttee approved of the expert who was to make the teohnical presentation visiting countries and territories in the Region, as suggested by the Representative of Franoe, authority would be needed to inolude in the Programme and Budget funds to meet the additional travel and salary expenses.
Dr DIZON (Philippines) suggested that there would be no need for the expert to visit countries in the Region if each oountry could brief him. In preference to an expert, he would like to have a panel discussion. The members of the panel would be from countries where the topic to be considered either was, or had been, a problem. The RmIONAL DIREX:TOR said that this suggested a seminar and questioned the desirability of conducting one at the Regional Committee meeting. There being no further comments, the CHAIRMAN asked the Rapporteurs to prepare appropriate resolutions. (For consideration of the draft resolutions, see the sixth meeting, sections 1.3 and 1.4.) 6 TIME AND PLACE OF '.mE TWENTY-SIXTH AND TWENTY-SEVEN'lH SESSIONS OF THE REGIONAL COMMI'lTEE: Item 20 of the Agenda
•
The REGIONAL DIRECTOR reminded the Cormnittee that at its twenty-fourth session in 1973, it had deoided that its twenty-sixth session would be held at regional headquarters in Manila (resolution WPRjRC24.R10). He suggested that the dates should be 1 to 6 September 1975. These early dates were neoessary because the Chinese interpreters were seconded from the United Nations and were due baok in New York for the General Assembly whioh oommenced around mid-September • At its twenty-fourth session the Committee had also decided that it oould meet in another country if an invitation was extended by a Member State, it being understood that this would not happen in two oonseoutive years and that all other sessions would be held at the regional headquarters (WPRjRC24.R10). He brought to the attention of the Committee resolution WPRjRC22.R17 which it adopted at its twenty-second session, in whioh it oalled "on each host government to provide the looal facilities and to pay'as much as possible of the additional expenses of meetings of the Regional Committee held on its territory, partioularly that part whioh oan be met in its national currency" •
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RIDIONAL COMMITl'EE:
'lWENTY-FIFl'H SESSION
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The RIDIONAL DIRECTCR stated that as yet no Government had extended an invitation for the twenty-seventh session of the Regional Committee. The Committee might wish to authorize him to aocept, on its behalf, any such invitation whioh might be extended, provided a satisfaotory agreement could be ooncluded between the Government and WHO. If he were to aocept such an invitation, he would inform All Member governments at the earliest possible date. Dr OKAMOTO (Japan) said that the Government of Japan was considering inviting the Regional Committee to hold its twenty-seventh session in Tokyo in September 1976. Since for financial reasons he was unable to make a firm commitment, the invitation would be subject to confirmation before the end of 1975.
The CHAIRMAN, on behalf of the Committee, thanked the Representative of Japan tor his invitation. The twenty-sixth session would be held in Manila from 1 to 6 September 1975. Dr PHOUTI'HASAK (Laos) recalled the flood that had occurred at the time of the Twenty-seoond session of the Regional Committee in Manila in 1971. He wondered whether it was appropriate to meet in September.
The REDIONAL DIRECTOR said that he oould not guarantee the weather, but since 1971 improvements to the- Regional Offioe building had been made to prevent further flooding. The weather in Manila during the past few days had been fine. There being no further comments, the CHAIRMAN asked the Rapporteurs to prepare a sui table resolution. (For consideration of the draft resolution, see the sixth meeting, seotion.J,.5.)
7
ANNOUNCEMENT
The RIDIONAL DIRECTOR advised that the Sub-Committee on Progranme and Budget would meet on Saturday morning at 8.30 a.m. instead of 9.00 a.m.
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The meeting rose at 11.25 a.m.