WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTE
Resolution REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN Sixty-fourth Session Agenda item 2 EM/RC64/R.1 October 2017
Annual report of the Regional Director for 2016 The Regional Committee, Having reviewed the Annual report of the Regional Director on the work of WHO in the Eastern Mediterranean Region for 2016 and the progress reports requested by the Regional Committee1; Recalling previous resolutions on the actions required in relation to the regional strategic priorities endorsed by the Regional Committee in 2012; Acknowledging the need to address the major challenges in health workforce development in the Region in order to reach the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; Recognizing the critical role of the private health sector in advancing universal health coverage; Recognizing also the importance of research evidence in health policy-making and in translating such evidence into reliable and sustainable ethical practice towards improving community health outcomes; Further recognizing the targets of 30% relative reduction in current tobacco use in persons aged 15+ years by 2025 and of strengthening the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and concerned at the tobacco prevalence trend projections for the Region for 2025; Noting the ongoing challenge of tuberculosis in the Region and the development of a regional strategic work plan for tuberculosis for the period 2016–2020 that aligns with the targets of the global tuberculosis strategy; Having considered the consultation document on the development of a draft five-year global strategic plan to improve public health preparedness and response2; Acknowledging also the sustained effort of Member States to complete joint external evaluations for implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) within an ambitious time-frame; Concerned at the health issues facing populations affected by disasters and emergencies;
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EM/RC64/2, EM/RC64/INF.DOC.1-10 Document no. WHE/CPI/IHR
EM/RC64/R.1 Having considered also the draft concept note Towards WHO’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work 2019–2023 “Keep the World Safe, Improve Health, Serve the Vulnerable”; 1. THANKS the Regional Director for his report which reflects the breadth of work undertaken by WHO in the past year, as well as for his efforts to improve WHO’s performance in the Region; 2. ADOPTS the annual report of the Regional Director for 2016; 3. ENDORSES the framework for action on health workforce development in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to accelerate progress in addressing health workforce challenges towards the 2030 Agenda; 4. ENDORSES the regional End TB action plan 2016–2020; 5. SUPPORTS the initiative for an accelerated process leading to finalization of a draft Thirteenth General Programme of Work in time for discussion by the Seventy-first World Health Assembly in May 2018; 6. URGES Members States to: 6.1 Take necessary action towards conducting public health research that is directed towards the requirements of health services and that addresses people’s health needs; and build national capacity to use evidence from health research in national policy-making for health; 6.2 Become Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products as soon as possible; 6.3 Develop or update national plans of action in line with the regional End TB action plan 2016– 2020 in order to control and eliminate tuberculosis from the Region; 6.4 Continue to implement the WHO framework for the monitoring and evaluation of the International Health Regulations (2005) and develop national plans of action for health security, taking into consideration the outcomes of the monitoring and evaluation; 6.5 Support the development of the five-year global strategic plan to improve public health preparedness and response and its proposed guiding principles; 7. REQUESTS the Regional Director to: 7.1 Support Member States in implementation of the regional framework for action on health workforce development, including facilitating intercountry exchange and collaboration, and monitoring and evaluation of the progress; Develop a regional framework for action on advancing the role of the private health sector in the move towards universal health coverage, to be presented for endorsement to the Regional Committee at its sixty-fifth session; Establish regional mechanisms to support the bridging of gaps between relevant research institutions and policy-makers and the translation of research evidence into health policy statements, and support the establishment of national mechanisms; Engage with Member States and various parties to develop a regional strategy and action plan for tobacco control reflecting the commitments of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to be presented for endorsement by the Regional Committee at its sixtyfifth session; 2
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EM/RC64/R.1
7.5 7.6
Include a regular item on the agenda of the Regional Committee on the health issues facing populations affected by disasters and emergencies; Continue to support Member States in their efforts to implement the framework for the monitoring and evaluation of International Health Regulations (2005) and to finalize their five-year national strategic plans to improve public health preparedness and response.
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