(WPR/RC2l1 SRI 6) SUMMARY RECORD OF THE SIXTH MEETING WHO Conference Hall Tuesday. 8 September 1970 at 3.30 p.m. CHAI~:
Dr K. Abhay (Laos) CONTENTS
1
Consideration of draft resolutions ••••.••••••••••••••••••••• Consid4ration of the report p+esented by the Sub-Committee on Programme and Budget Message from the Regional Director
154 154 158
2 3
................... ........... , ............. .
4 5 6
ResolutiQn of appreciation ....•.•.•....•.•••...•..• , ........ Adoption of the draft report of the Committee ••••••••••••••• Mjournment
158 159 160
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-151-
152
P~GIONAL
CO}n1ITTEE:
TWENTY-FIRST SESSION
Sixth Heeting Tuesday, 8 Sep_tem.bet 1970 at 3.30 PRESENT e.:~
I.
Representatives of Member States Ali STRALIA Dr Dr Dr Mr H. E.
Fr ar.klands L. Rovin E. Thomson P.W. Cano';'l
CAl'!1lO DIA
Dr Pruech V<1-nn Dr C.K. Chang Dr K.P. Chen Medecin-General J. Rondet Dr A. Cheval Dr Hr Mr i1r T. M. K. N. Takiz.l!wa Yamasaki watanabe Haekawa , /
CHINA FRANCE JAPAN
LAOS
Dr Khamphai Abhay Dr Phouy Phoutthasak Dr Tiae J&isvasd VisouthilJhongs Va Jl
<1ALAxS:::A
(D:t) l/aj i Abdui. Maj id b in Ismail Chong Chun Hian '),: Abd.ul Khalid bin Sahan 0
j~I:;W
ZEALAND
Dr C
N.D. Taylor
'. Azurin '. "albin [jr ~~
.P... Gomez
PORTUGAL REPUllLIC OF KOR£A SINGAPORE UNI';:'ED KINGDOH
Dr'
Diego Hera Silva Ferreira
Dr C.D. :1in Dr Keh Thong Dr G.H. Choa Dr K. L. Thong S~
!'-
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE SIXTH MEETING UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Dr M. Beaubien Dr L.J. Florio Colonel R.T. Jensen Dr Nguyen Dang Que Dr Nguyen Tuan Phong
153
VIET-NAM WESTERN SAMOA II.
Honourable Fuimaono Moasope
Representatives of the United Nations and Specialized Agencies UNITED NATIONS AND UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Mr W.M. Harding
III. Representatives of other intergovernmental organizations SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION ~V.
Medecin-General J. Rondet
Representatives of non-governmental organizations INTERNATIONAL DENTAL FEDERATION INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL FEDERATION MEDICAL WOMEN'S I;NTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF CATHOLIC NURSES INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF NURSES INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION Dr F.G. Rojas Dr E. Congco Dr I.Y. Zalamea Mrs M.R. Ordonez Dr A.M. Maglacas Dr E.I. de Castro Mrs G.B. Senador
'--
LEAGUE OF RED CROSS SOCIETIES V. WHO SecretaFiat SECRETARY
Dr Francisco J. Dy Regional Director
154 1
REGIONAL COMMITTEE:
TWENTY-FIRST SESSION
CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT' RESOLUTIONS The Committee considered the following draft resolutions.
1.1
Comprehensive and co-ordinated teacher training programme for health personnel (Document WPR/RC2l/WP/9 Rev.2) Decision: The draft resolution was adopted without comment (sec,resolution WPR/RC2l.Rl3).
1.2
Twenty-second session of the Regional Committee (Document WPR/RC21 /WP/l2) Dr FRANKLANDS (Australia) observed that, since other Regions
provided for the costs incurred for meetings held away from their Headquarter.s, and furthermore did so as a routine matter, he would suggest inclusion in the next budget proposal of an item "Estimate of the costs of holding the twenty-third session away fro1Jl Manila". The matter could then be discussed in the Sub-Committee on Programme and Budget during the twenty-second session. The REGIONAL DIRECTOR said that the Regional Committee had instructed him to place such an item on the agenda of the next session. He proposed to include the respective costs of holding A working paper to a meeting in various countries of the Region.
that effect would be prepared for the next session. Decision: The draft resolution was adopted without further comment (see resolution WPR/RC2l.Rl4). 2 CONSIDERATION OF THE REPORT PRESENTED BY THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON PROGRAMME AND BUDGET: Item 8.2 of the Agenda (D'!cumen t WPR/RC2l/l4) Dr PHOUTTHASAK (Laos) asked that the duration of the fellowships under Laos on page 15 of the French text should be corrected to twentyfour months.
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE SIXTH MEETING
155
Decision: The report presented by the Sub-Committee on Programme and Budget (WPR/RC2l/l4) was adopted, subject to the necessary corrections being made to both the French and English texts.
2.1
Consideration of draft resolutions on the programme and budget estimates for 1972 The Committee considered the following draft resolutions.
2.2
Modifications made to the 1970 and 1971 programme and budget estimates (Document WPR/RC2l/WP/13)
Decision: The draft resolution was adopted without comment (see resolution WPR/RC2l.R15).
2.3
•
Proposed programme and budget estimates for 1972 (Document WPR/RC2l/WP/14) Dr BEAUBIEN (United States of America), referring to his comments
during the meeting of the Sub-Committee on Programme and Budget, said that the United States Government was unable to support a budget increase of such a magnitude for 1972; it would prefer an increase in the region of about 7 per cent. He was, of course, assuming that the wording used, His delegation
namely "to transmit the proposals", implied approval.
could not support the draft resolution in its present form.
The REGIONAL DIRECTOR observed that the views expressed by the Representative of the United States of America would be reflected in the summary record of the meeting. The Committee could also take a
vote on the draft resolution if it so desired.
Dr TAYLOR (New Zealand) asked for clarification.
Was it correct
that the amount to be spent for 1972 would be decided at the next World Health Assembly? If the Committee now decided by a majority to vote
for a lesser amount, would that mean that the Western Pacific Region would be deprived and the corresponding increase would be allotted to other regions '{
156
REGIONAL COMMITTEE:
TWENTY-FIRST SESSION
The REGIONAL DIRECTOR said that the World Health Asse,bly in its resolution WHA23.62 had recommended to the Director-General an order of magnitude of about 10 per cent. The Director-General allocated funds to the regions as he deemed appropriate; any decrease in the amount for one region did not necessarily imply that it would be declared as savings. The resultant reduction in the proposed budget The might be allocated by the Director-General to another region.
only body competent to approve the global budget of WHO as submitted by the Director-General was the Assembly; not even the Executive Board could change it. itself • In his opinion, the Regional Committee was not the proper forum to discuss any cuts in the budget. The Board could submit comments and recommendations to the Assembly, but budgetary cuts could only be made by the Assembly
• Dr BEAUBIEN (United States of America) thanked the Regional Director for his explanation. Since his Government's views had already been placed on record and since transmission of the budget proposals did not represent a commitment, he would withdraw his objection to the draft resolution. Medecin-General RONDET (France) commented that the position of his delegation was well known. the present meeting. nation, He had already made his attitude clear and he wished that reference be made to it in the summary record of He thanked the Regional Director for his explaHis understanding was that the global WHO budget was estabBearing in mind the attitude
lished on the basis of all the programmes in the regions, which implied a degree of interdependence. of his delegation. he could not support the draft resolution. Mr YAMASAKI (Japan) stated that the position of his delegation had been made clear in the Sub-Committee and, if a vote were taken, his delegation would abstain.
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE SIXTH MEETING
157
• Dr CHOA (United Kingdom) wished it to be recorded that his Government wanted the budget estimates to be as near as possible to an 8 per cent. increase.
Dr AZURIN (Philippines) considered that some misunderstanding had arisen, The Secretariat had submitted to the Committee a budget
showing a 9.2 per cent, ceiling, which was well within the 10 per cent. approved during the last Assembly. Representatives were now saying The Director-General
that they wanted that percentage to be reduced.
had allocated a certain amount to the Western Pacific Region and. if the Committee made a cuc" the money might be allocated to other regions. In any case, it was too lace now to try to decrease the regional budget as that would mean sacrificing some projects which had already been approved. Those representatives who wished to do so had stated the
position of their Governments and, in his opinion, the budget should be accepted as it had been prcposed •
• The REGIONAL DIRECTOR said that although the World Health Assembly established a general order of magnitude for an increase in the WHO overall budget, the Director-General was not bound to accept that limitation. So far, he had done so but, according to He then quoted the
the WHO Constitution, he could depart from it.
relevant passage from Article 55 of the Constitution, which clearly showed that responsibility for preparing and submitting the budget estimates devolved solely on the Director-General.
The CHAIRMAN" referring to the divergence of views which had become apparent, asked whether or not the Committee wished to vote on the draft resolution,
Medecin-General RONDET (France) stated that, in view of what had transpired during the discussion, his delegation did not consider a vote to be necessary. since the resolution would assuredly receive a majority of the voting power of the Committee, It would be
158 sufficient if the restrictive views expressed by certain were contained in the summary record. , beadqpted. The CHAIRMAN proposed that the draft resolution , ," ,:,,~.
repr~entatives
'/
Decision:. .The . .dra£.t ,ruo!utiou "as adopted without further discussion (see resolu.tion WPR/RC2LR16). 2.4 Tentative projection for 1973 (Document WPR/RC21/WP/15) The REGIONAl.. DIRECTOR regretted his failure to remind representatives during the meeting of the Sub-Committee on Progra~e
and Budget
of the need to consider a·reso1ution in connexion with the tentative projections for 1973 (document WPR/RC21/P&B/4). which were based on information received from the·governments concerned. The Regional 1
Committee might wish to take note of these projections. Decision: .The draftresol1,1tion was adopted without comment .(see resolution WPR/RC21;Rl7). 3 MESSAGE FROM THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR The REGIONAL DIRECTOR said that, before adjourning. he wished to express his deep appreciation of the patience and the meeting had been held. un~erstanding
shown by all Representatives in the difficult circumstances in which Everyone had suffered from the effects of the disastrous floods but. not only had the representatives offered sympathy, they had also given practical help by postponing the Technical Discussions; that-had given the Secretadatthe neces.,. sary breathing space to get extremely trying conditions. 4 RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION (Document WPR/RC21/WP/16) Minister FUIMAONO MOASOPE(Western Samoa) introduoed his draft resolution, on behalf of the Regional Committee as a whoie. The reQria~il.d.
He was very grateful for
the patient and sympathetic attitude of the representatives in
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE SIXTH MEETING
159
• Representatives wished also to record their appreciation of the manner in which the Regional Director had dealt with the situation and, supported by the untiring efforts of his staff, had managed to restore everything to order and bring the Committee to a successful conclusion. The Chairman, too, had played no small part in arranging that all items on the agenda had been disposed of satisfactorily, and sincere thanks
.
-
were also due to him •
A representative of each Member State spoke in support of the draft resolution. All suggested that an additional sentence should
be included expressing its appreciation of the way in which the staff had overcome the difficulties created by the floods. Medecin-General RONDET (France) suggested that the resolution l
,
should also mention the technicians responsible for maintaining the equipment. Dr FRANKLANDS (Australia) particularly wished to thank Dr Chen for the preparations he had made in connexion with the Technical Discussions which had unfortunately had to be postponed. Decision: The draft resolution, as amended, was adopted (see resolution WPR/RC2l.R18). 5 ADOPTION OF THE DRAFT REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE: of the Agenda (Document WPR/RC21/l5) Item 24
The CHAIRMAN invited Dr QUE (Viet-Nam), Rapporteur, to present the draft report of the Committee. Dr ISMAIL (Malaysia) proposed the adoption of the draft report •
• Medecin-General RONDET (France) requested that a change be made on page 7 of the French text, Part II. Proposed Programme and Budget for 1972, second line, second paragraph, after the word "observations",
160
REGIONAL COMMITTEE:
TWENTY-FIRST SESSI@N
the words "of some delegations and of the findings of , the Sub-Committee" should be added. Dr TAYLOR (New Zealand) seconded the proposal of ,the Representative of Malaysia. Dr AZURIN (Philippines) requested that a change should be made in the first paragraph on page 7 of the English text. cholera was part of the joint Philippines/Japan/WHO project being carried out in the Philippines. Decision: There being no further comments, the report was adopted (see resolution WPR/RC2l.R19). ADJOURNMENT: Item 25 of the Agenda The assessment research of various environmental sanitation measures on the incidence of c~olera
•
,
/
6
The CHAIRMAN said that despite the setbacks which the Committee had suffered owing to the typhoon, which had also necessitated the postponement of the Technical Discussions until next year, the endeavours of the Regional Committee had nevertheless been successful. He thanked the Regional Director for his valuable advice and He also expressed his appreciation of the goodHe assistance during the session and the Government of the Philippines for its hospitality. will and co-operation given by the Representatives to the Regional Committee, which had greatly facilitated his work as Chairman. thanked the Representatives of the United Nations. the 'United Nations Development Programme, and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations for honouring the Committee with their presence. He was particularly impressed by the manner in which the Secretariat had contributed to a successful meeting under the difficult atmospheric conditions which had prevailed throughout.
The meeting adjourned at 4.55 p.m.