34 REGIONAL COMMITTEE: THIRTY-SECOND SESSION (b) introduction or strengthening of the teaching of geriatrics and gerontology in schools preparing all categories of health personnel; (3) to formulate, or revise as necessary, policies and programmes on health care of the elderly as part of their overall health plans, with emphasis on community-based services which promote self-reliance and enhance dignity; 2. REQUESTS the Regional Director to support Member States in establishing programmes or strengthening existing programmes on health care of the elderly. Seventh meeting, 25 September 1981 WPR/RC32.R16 REGIONAL POLICIES ON BCG VACCINATION The Regional Committee, Having reviewed the document presented by the Regional Director on regional policies on BCG vaccination;l Noting that, although the trial of BCG vaccines in south India showed a failure to protect against bacillary pulmonary tuberculosis, there is sufficient evidence from many countries of the effectiveness of BCG vaccination; Noting also that local epidemiological and environmental factors may determine the effectiveness of BCG vaccination, and that the trial in south India was not designed to measure the effectiveness of BCG vaccination against childhood tuberculosis; 1. URGES Member States: (1) to maintain the current policy that BCG vaccination should continue, particularly in relation to infants and young children; (2) to periodically adjust their policies, particularly with respect to the target age groups, taking into account the epidemiological trends in each country as the prevalence of tuberculosis declines; (3) to establish mechanisms for collecting the information necessary for the adjustment of BCG policies, such as the incidence of tuberculosis by type of disease, age of onset, relationship of each case to previous history of BCG vaccination, occurrence among the' vaccinated of serious complications, and the estimated costs of vaccination; ,~ (4) to make every effort to maintain the coverage of BCG vaccination and the high quality of the vaccine, which involves care of the vaccine' and the technique of vaccination; and lDocument WPR/RC32/l5. ... I t ~ f -I ... .. ... 2. REPORT OF THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE (5) to promote studies on the effectiveness of BCG vaccination among infants and young children; REQUESTS the Regional Director: (1) to provide technical cooperation with respect to: (a) collection of the epidemiological data necessary for the adjustment of BCG policies in order to take into account the changing trends of tuberculosis; (b) the training of health workers in the organization and assessment of BCG vaccination, care of the vaccine, and the technique of vaccination, in order to improve and maintain the coverage and high quality; (2) to promote studies on the effectiveness of BCG vaccination among infants and young children. 35 Seventh meeting, 25 September 1981 WPR/RC32.R17 ACTION PROGRAMME ON ESSENTIAL DRUGS The Regional Committee, Having considered the Regional Director's report on the present situation and the action taken with regard to the Action Programme on Essential Drugs in the Western Pacific Region;l Recalling resolutions WHA28.66, EB61.R17, WHA3l.32 and WHA32.41; 1. NOTES the approaches which will form WHO's plan of action in implementing the Action Programme on Essential Drugs; 2. URGES Member States to make political decisions and commitments with respect to the formulation and implementation of national drug policies in order to improve the supply of essential drugs, taking into consideration national health needs and available resources; 3. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (1) to cooperate in developing and implementing the Action Programme on Essential Drugs, through such measures as the formulation of national drug policies, the revision of national lists of essential drugs and the improvement of storage and distribution facilities; (2) to cooperate in strengthening national capability for drug quality assurance, manpower development and local production; (3) to cooperate with countries or areas of the South Pacific in establishing the South Pacific Pharmaceutical Service; lDocument WPR/RC32/l6.
34 REGIONAL COMMITTEE: THIRTY-SECOND SESSION (b) introduction or strengthening of the teaching of geriatrics and gerontology in schools preparing all categories of health personnel; (3) to formulate, or revise as necessary, policies and programmes on health care of the elderly as part of their overall health plans, with emphasis on community-based services which promote self-reliance and enhance dignity; 2. REQUESTS the Regional Director to support Member States in establishing programmes or strengthening existing programmes on health care of the elderly. Seventh meeting, 25 September 1981 WPR/RC32.R16 REGIONAL POLICIES ON BCG VACCINATION The Regional Committee, Having reviewed the document presented by the Regional Director on regional policies on BCG vaccination;l Noting that, although the trial of BCG vaccines in south India showed a failure to protect against bacillary pulmonary tuberculosis, there is sufficient evidence from many countries of the effectiveness of BCG vaccination; Noting also that local epidemiological and environmental factors may determine the effectiveness of BCG vaccination, and that the trial in south India was not designed to measure the effectiveness of BCG vaccination against childhood tuberculosis; 1. URGES Member States: (1) to maintain the current policy that BCG vaccination should continue, particularly in relation to infants and young children; (2) to periodically adjust their policies, particularly with respect to the target age groups, taking into account the epidemiological trends in each country as the prevalence of tuberculosis declines; (3) to establish mechanisms for collecting the information necessary for the adjustment of BCG policies, such as the incidence of tuberculosis by type of disease, age of onset, relationship of each case to previous history of BCG vaccination, occurrence among the' vaccinated of serious complications, and the estimated costs of vaccination; ,~ (4) to make every effort to maintain the coverage of BCG vaccination and the high quality of the vaccine, which involves care of the vaccine' and the technique of vaccination; and lDocument WPR/RC32/l5. ... I t ~ f -I ... .. ... 2. REPORT OF THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE (5) to promote studies on the effectiveness of BCG vaccination among infants and young children; REQUESTS the Regional Director: (1) to provide technical cooperation with respect to: (a) collection of the epidemiological data necessary for the adjustment of BCG policies in order to take into account the changing trends of tuberculosis; (b) the training of health workers in the organization and assessment of BCG vaccination, care of the vaccine, and the technique of vaccination, in order to improve and maintain the coverage and high quality; (2) to promote studies on the effectiveness of BCG vaccination among infants and young children. 35 Seventh meeting, 25 September 1981 WPR/RC32.R17 ACTION PROGRAMME ON ESSENTIAL DRUGS The Regional Committee, Having considered the Regional Director's report on the present situation and the action taken with regard to the Action Programme on Essential Drugs in the Western Pacific Region;l Recalling resolutions WHA28.66, EB61.R17, WHA3l.32 and WHA32.41; 1. NOTES the approaches which will form WHO's plan of action in implementing the Action Programme on Essential Drugs; 2. URGES Member States to make political decisions and commitments with respect to the formulation and implementation of national drug policies in order to improve the supply of essential drugs, taking into consideration national health needs and available resources; 3. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (1) to cooperate in developing and implementing the Action Programme on Essential Drugs, through such measures as the formulation of national drug policies, the revision of national lists of essential drugs and the improvement of storage and distribution facilities; (2) to cooperate in strengthening national capability for drug quality assurance, manpower development and local production; (3) to cooperate with countries or areas of the South Pacific in establishing the South Pacific Pharmaceutical Service; lDocument WPR/RC32/l6.