WHO REGIONAL COMMITTEE 52ND SEASSION ON THE 4TH SEP. NEW DELHI

Item

Title
WHO REGIONAL COMMITTEE 52ND SEASSION ON THE 4TH SEP. NEW DELHI
extracted text
RF_COM_H_63_SUDHA

WORLD

HEALTH

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

ORGANIZATION

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 14

Fifty-second Session

SEA/RC52/3

25 June 1999

TIME AND PLACE OF FORTHCOMING SESSIONS OF
THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE

FIFTY-THIRD SESSION
The Regional Committee decided, at its fifty-first session in September 1998, to hold the
fifty-third session of the Regional Committee in India in 2000 (resolution SEA/RC51/R5).
Accordingly, the Regional Director proposes to make suitable arrangements to convene the
session in India in September 2000. The Government of India may wish to reconfirm its
invitation, allowing the Regional Committee to decide on the venue and time of the fifty-third
session.
The Regional Committee for South-East Asia is normally held in the second week of
September so as not to overlap with the timings of other regional committees.

FIFTY-FOURTH SESSION
The invitation of the Government of the Union of Myanmar to host the fifty-fourth session in
Myanmar in 2001 was noted by the fifty-first session of the Regional Committee (resolution
SEA/RC51/R5). The Government of the Union ofMyanmar may wish to confirm its invitation to
host the fifty-fourth session of the Regional Committee in September 2001.
The Regional Committee may also consider proposals, if any, for the fifty-fifth session in
2002.

In considering such proposals, the Committee may keep in view the resolution of the
Seventh World Health Assembly (WHA7.26) which recommended:
“....that, in deciding on the place of their meetings, Regional Committees should
consider holding them from time to time at the site of the Regional Office, taking
into account the costs involved for the Organization and the Member States
concerned.”

These decisions will enable the Regional Director to make appropriate adjustments in the
programme budget for the concerned biennium.

RESOLUTION
OF THE
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
FIFTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

WHA52.19

Agenda item 13

24 May 1999

Revised drug strategy
The Fifty-second World Health Assembly,

Recalling resolutions WHA39.27, WHA41.16, WHA43.20, WHA45.27, WHA47.12, WHA47.13,
WHA47.16, WHA47.17, and WHA49.14;
Having considered the report of the Director-General on the revised drug strategy;'

Noting the activities of WHO to further the implementation of the revised drug strategy, in particular
through support to the development and implementation of national drug policies; the strategy to review
and assess the effectiveness of the WHO Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion; the flow of
market information; guidelines for drug donations; and model drug information;
Recognizing with satisfaction the progress made, and approving WHO’s comprehensive response
to current and new challenges in the pharmaceutical sector;

Commending the strong leadership shown by WHO in promoting the essential drugs concept and
national drug policies, which are contributing to the rational use of resources in the pharmaceutical sector
and to improved health care;

Noting with satisfaction that a number of Member States have adopted guidelines fordrug donations
that are based on the interagency guidelines issued by WHO, but concerned that inappropriate drug
donations, such as donations of expired, mislabelled, inessential products, continue to be common, and
further concerned that evaluation of the impact of the guidelines has not yet been completed;

Concerned about the situation in which (a) one-third of the world’s population has no guaranteed
access to essential drugs, and (b) poor quality pharmaceutical raw materials and finished products continue
to move in international trade;

Noting that there are trade issues which require a public health perspective;
Recognizing that the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
provides scope for the protection of public health;

1 Document EB101/10, section VII and Corr.l.

WHA52.19

Taking note of concerns of many Member States about the impact of relevant international
agreements, including trade agreements, on local manufacturing capacity and on access to and prices of
pharmaceuticals in developing and least developed countries;

Concerned also that drugs continue to be irrationally used by prescribers, dispensers and the general
public, and that unethical promotion in developed and developing countries and a lack of access to
independent, scientifically validated drug information contribute to such abuse,

1.

URGES Member States:
(1)
to reaffirm their commitment to developing, implementing and monitoring national drug
policies and to taking all necessary concrete measures in order to ensure equitable access to essential
drugs;
(2)

to ensure that public health interests are paramount in pharmaceutical and health policies;

(3)
to explore and review their options under relevant international agreements, including trade
agreements, to safeguard access to essential drugs;
(4)
to establish and enforce regulations that ensure good uniform standards of quality assurance
for all pharmaceutical materials and products manufactured in, imported to, exported from, or in
transit through their countries;
(5)
to enact and enforce legislation or regulations in accordance with the principles of the WHO
Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion, to encourage the pharmaceutical industry and the
health community to establish an ethical code, and to monitor drug promotion in collaboration with
interested parties;
(6)
to develop or maintain national guidelines governing drug donations that are compatible with
the interagency guidelines issued by WHO and to work with all interested parties to promote
adherence to such guidelines;
(7)
to promote the rational use of drugs through the provision of independent, up-to-date and
comparative drug information, and to integrate the rational use of drugs and information about
commercial marketing strategies into training for health practitioners at all levels;
(8)
to promote and support education of consumers in the rational use of drugs and its inclusion
into school curricula;

(9)
to evaluate progress regularly, making use of indicators developed by WHO or of other
suitable mechanisms;
(10) to continue their funding and material support for the revised drug strategy, especially through
the provision of extrabudgetary resources to WHO;

2.

REQUESTS the Director-General:

(1)
to support Member States in their efforts to develop and implement policies and programmes
that achieve the objectives of the revised drug strategy, including the development of tools,
guidelines and methodology for evaluation and monitoring;
2

WHA52.19

(2)
to adopt a comprehensive strategy to implement the WHO Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug
Promotion and to continue to review its effectiveness with all interested parties;
(3)
to extend the guidelines incorporated in the WHO Certification Scheme on the Quality of
Pharmaceutical Products Moving in International Commerce to cover pharmaceutical starting
materials; to develop and disseminate uniform guidelines on the regulatory control, export, import
and transit conditions of pharmaceutical products; and to develop standards of practice for entities
involved in international trade in pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical starting materials;
(4)
to establish and develop a model inspection certificate for the national inspection of
pharmaceutical manufacturing sites of starting materials and finished pharmaceutical products in
order to ensure compliance with WHO Good Manufacturing Practices, and to collaborate with
Member States, at their request, in implementation;
(5)
to strengthen and expand the provision of independent information on market prices of
starting materials of assured quality for production of essential drugs;
(6)
to continue the development and dissemination, also using electronic media such as the
Internet, of independent information on safety of pharmaceutical products and instances of
counterfeit drugs or medicines, on drug selection and on rational prescribing;
(7)
to cooperate with Member States, at their request, and with international organizations in
monitoring and analysing the pharmaceutical and public health implications of relevant international
agreements, including trade agreements, so that Member States can effectively assess and
subsequently develop pharmaceutical and health policies and regulatory measures that address their
concerns and priorities, and are able to maximize the positive and mitigate the negative impact of
those agreements;

(8)
to review and update the revised drug strategy to reflect current and continued challenges in
the pharmaceutical sector and the principles articulated in the renewed health-for-all policy;
(9)
to report to the Fifty-third World Health Assembly on progress achieved and problems
encountered in the implementation and renewal of WHO’s revised drug strategy, with
recommendations for action.

Ninth plenary meeting, 24 May 1999
A52/VR/9

3

RESOLUTION
OF THE
EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE WHO
103rd Session

EB103.R1

Agenda item 3

26 January 1999

Revised drag strategy
The Executive Board

RECOMMENDS to the Fifty-second World Health Assembly the adoption of the following
resolution:
The Fifty-second World Health Assembly,

Recalling resolutions WHA39.27, WHA41.16, WHA43.20, WHA45.27, WHA47.12,
WHA47.13, WHA47.16, WHA47.17, and WHA49.14;
Having considered the report of the Director-General on the revised drug strategy;'

Noting the activities of WHO to further the implementation of the revised drug strategy, in
particular through support to the development and implementation of national drug policies; the
strategy to review and assess the effectiveness of the WHO Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug
Promotion; the flow of market information; guidelines for drug donations; and model drug
information;

Recognizing with satisfaction the progress made, and approving WFIO’s comprehensive
response to current and new challenges in the pharmaceutical sector;

Commending the strong leadership shown by WHO in promoting the essential drugs concept
and national drug policies, which are contributing to the rational use of resources in the
pharmaceutical sector and to improved health care;
Noting with satisfaction that a number of Member States have adopted guidelines for drug
donations that were based on the interagency guidelines issued by WHO, but concerned that
inappropriate drug donations, such as donations of expired, mislabelled, inessential products,
continue to be common, and further concerned that the evaluation of the impact of the guidelines has
not yet been completed;

Concerned about the situation in which (a) one third of the world’s population has no
guaranteed access to essential drugs, and (b) poor quality pharmaceutical raw materials and finished
products continue to move in international trade;

1 Document EB101/10, Chapter VII, and Corr.2.

EB103.R1

Noting that there are trade issues which require a public health perspective;
Recognizing that the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
(TRIPS) provides scope for the protection of public health;
Taking note of concerns of many Member States about the impact of relevant international
agreements, including trade agreements, on local manufacturing capacity and on access to and prices
of pharmaceuticals in developing and least developed countries;
Concerned also that drugs continue to be irrationally used by prescribers, dispensers and the
general public, and because unethical promotion in developed and developing countries and a lack
of access to independent, scientifically validated drug information contribute to such abuse,

1.

URGES Member States:

(1)
to reaffirm their commitment to developing, implementing and monitoring national
drug policies and to taking all necessary concrete measures in order to ensure equitable access
to essential drugs;
(2)
to ensure that public health interests are paramount in pharmaceutical and health
policies;
(3)
to explore and review their options under relevant international agreements, including
trade agreements, to safeguard access to essential drugs;

(4)
to establish and enforce regulations that ensure good uniform standards of quality
assurance for all pharmaceutical materials and products manufactured in, imported to,
exported from, or in transit through their countries;
(5)
to enact and enforce legislation or regulations in accordance with the principles of the
WHO Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion, to encourage the pharmaceutical
industry' and the health community to establish an ethical code, and to monitor drug promotion
in collaboration with interested parties;

(6)
to develop or maintain national guidelines governing drug donations that are
compatible with the interagency guidelines issued by WHO and to work with all interested
parties to promote adherence to such guidelines;
(7)
to promote the rational use of drugs through the provision of independent, up-to-date
and comparative drug information, and to integrate the rational use of drugs and information
about commercial marketing strategies into training for health practitioners at all levels;
(8)
to promote and support education of consumers in the rational use of drugs and its
inclusion into school curricula;

(9)
to evaluate progress regularly, making use of indicators developed by WHO or other
suitable mechanisms;

(10) to continue their funding and material support for the revised drug strategy especially
by the provision of extrabudgetary resources to WHO;

EB103.R1

2.

REQUESTS the Director-General:
(1)
to support Member States in their efforts to develop and implement policies and
programmes that achieve the objectives of the revised drug strategy, including the
development of tools, guidelines and methodology for evaluation and monitoring;
(2)
to adopt a comprehensive strategy to implement the WHO Ethical Criteria for
Medicinal Drug Promotion and to continue to review its effectiveness with all interested
parties;
(3)
to extend the guidelines incorporated in the WHO Certification Scheme on the Quality
of Pharmaceutical Products Moving in International Commerce to cover pharmaceutical
starting materials; develop and disseminate uniform guidelines on the regulatory control,
export, import and transit conditions of pharmaceutical products; and develop standards of
practice for entities involved in international trade in pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical
starting materials;
(4)
to establish and develop a model inspection certificate for the national inspection of
pharmaceutical manufacturing sites of starling materials and finished pharmaceutical products
to ensure compliance with WHO Good Manufacturing Practices, and to collaborate with
Member States, at their request, in implementation;
(5)
to strengthen and expand the provision of independent information on market prices
of starting materials of assured quality for production of essential drugs;
(6)
to continue the development and dissemination, also using electronic media such as the
Internet, of independent information on safety of pharmaceutical products and instances of
counterfeit drugs or medicines, on drug selection and on rational prescribing;
(7)
to cooperate with Member States, at their request, and with international organizations
in monitoring and analysing the pharmaceutical and public health implications of relevant
international agreements, including trade agreements, so that Member States can effectively
assess and subsequently develop pharmaceutical and health policies and regulatory measures
that address their concerns and priorities, and are able to maximize the positive and mitigate
the negative impact of those agreements;
(8)
to review and update the revised drug strategy to reflect current and continued
challenges in the pharmaceutical sector and the principles articulated in the renewed healthfor-all policy;
(9)
to report to the Fifty-third World Health Assembly on progress achieved and problems
encountered in the implementation and renewal of WHO’s revised drug strategy, with
recommendations for action.

Third meeting, 26 January 1999
EB103/SR/3

3

RESOLUTION
OF THE
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
FIFTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

WHA52.20

Agenda item 12

24 May 1999

Appropriation! resolution for the
financial period 2000-2001
The Fifty-second World Health Assembly

1.
COMMENDS the Director-General on the remarkable progress made in the integrated presentation
of the proposed programme budget for 2000-2001, including the strategic approach to result-based
budgeting;
2.
RECOGNIZES the importance of maintaining programme expenditure levels in compensation for
possible cost adjustments; the practice of appropriating casual income to reduce Member States’
contributions, in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Regulations; and the current difficulty
of some Member States to increase their assessed contributions;

3.
RESOLVES to appropriate for the financial period 2000-2001 an amount of USS 922 654 000 as
follows:

WHAS2.20

Appropriation
section

Purpose of appropriation

Amount
US$

1.

Communicable diseases

52 227 000

2.

Noncommunicable diseases

14 838 000

3.

Health systems and community health

59 634 000

4.

Sustainable development and healthy environments

48 756 000

5.

Social change and mental health

21 181000

6.

Health technology and pharmaceuticals

33 082 000

7.

Evidence and information for policy

59 077 000

8.

External relations and governing bodies

50 209 000

9

General management

144 281000

10.

Director-General, Regional Directors and independent
functions

27 586 000

II.

Country programmes

331783 000
Effective working budget

12.

Transfer to Tax Equalization Fund

842 654 000
80 000 000

Total

922 654 000

B.
Amounts not exceeding the appropriations voted under paragraph A shall be available for the
payment of obligations incurred during the financial period 1 January 2000 to 3 1 December 2001
in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Regulations. Notwithstanding the provisions of
the present paragraph, the Director-General shall limit the obligations to be incurred during the
financial period 2000-2001 to sections 1 to 11.

C.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Financial Regulation 4.5, the Director-General is authorized
to make transfers between those appropriation sections that constitute the effective working budget
up to an amount not exceeding 10% of the amount appropriated for the section from which the
transfer is made. All such transfers shall be reported in the financial report for the financial period
2000-2001. Any other transfers required shall be made and reported in accordance with the
provisions of Financial Regulation 4.5.
D.
The appropriations voted under paragraph A shall be financed by assessments on Members
after deduction of the reimbursement of programme support costs by the United Nations
Development Programme in the estimated amount of USS 1 700 000 thus resulting in assessments
on Members of USS 920 954 000. In establishing the amounts of contributions to be paid by
individual Members, their assessments shall be reduced further by (a) the amount standing to their
credit in the Tax Equalization Fund, except that the credits of those Members that require staff
members of WHO to pay taxes on their WHO emoluments shall be reduced by the estimated
amounts of such tax reimbursements to be made by the Organization and (b) the amount of interest

2

WHA52.20

earned and available for appropriation (US$ 5 555 567) credited to them in accordance with the
incentive scheme provided for under Financial Regulation 5.3.
E.
The maximum net level of the exchange rate facility provided for under Financial
Regulation 4.6 is established at USS 31 000 000 for the biennium 2000-2001.

4.
DECIDES to apply the balance of casual income available on 31 December 1998 (USS 17 765 347)
as follows:

(i)
USS 15 000 000 to high-priority programmes, including the programmes for eradication of
poliomyelitis, and for Roll Back Malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and the Tobacco Free Initiative,
appropriately and in a balanced manner; and
(ii)
to return the balance of USS 2 765 347 to Member States in accordance with Financial
Regulation 5.2;

5.
ENCOURAGES the Director-General to continue to identify additional efficiency savings in the
order of 2%-3% throughout the whole Organization, for reallocation to high-priority programmes in
particular at country level, and requests the Director-General to report to the Executive Board on the
implementation of this paragraph;
6.
REQUESTS the Director-General, in order to further improve transparency, accountability and
effectiveness of the financial system, in accordance with best management practice, to undertake a study
of the existing Financial Regulations and Financial Rules, in particular related to management of assessed
contributions of Members, including but not limited to:

• principles and criteria governing casual income

• exchange rate facility
• late payment/arrears of Members’ contributions
• Working Capital Fund, including replenishment arrangements
• internal borrowing
• financial incentive scheme
• unliquidated obligations

and to report and make recommendations to the 105th session of the Executive Board in January 2000 for
proposed follow-up action and changes to the regulatory framework of the Organization.

Ninth plenary meeting, 24 May 1999
A52/VR/9

3

RESOLUTION
OF THE
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
FIFTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

WHA52.22

Agenda item 13

25 May 1999

Poliomyelitis eradication
The Fifty-second World Health Assembly,
Reaffirming WHO’s commitment to the global eradication of poliomyelitis by the end of the year

2000;

Recognizing that substantial progress has been made towards eradication of poliomyelitis, with large
geographic areas of the world now free of the disease, and a fall of 85% in annually reported cases since
global eradication began in 1988;
Noting that, as of May 1999, poliomyelitis remains endemic in a number of countries of southern
and western Asia and the African continent, some of which are either affected by conflict or constitute
densely populated wild poliovirus “reservoirs”;
Realizing that civil strife and funding shortfalls represent the two major obstacles to achieving
poliomyelitis eradication;
Affirming that poliomyelitis eradication will have humanitarian and economic benefits for all
countries,
1.
URGES poliomyelitis-endemic Member States to accelerate eradication activities by conducting
additional immunization rounds each year, on either a national or subnational basis; to improve the quality
of national immunization days by ensuring that every child is reached; to implement house-to-house
“mopping-up” campaigns; and to enhance surveillance by ensuring that all cases of acute flaccid paralysis
are detected and promptly investigated;

2.

URGES poliomyelitis-free Member States;
(1)

to sustain high levels of immunization coverage until eradication is certified globally;

(2)
to maintain high quality surveillance for importation of wild poliovirus and establish action
plans for rapidly responding to such events;

3.

URGES all Member States:
(1)
to mobilize the human and financial resources necessary to accelerate eradication in
poliomyelitis-endemic countries;

WHA52.22

(2)
to support the peace-building process by facilitating ceasefires for national immunization days
in countries affected by conflict;
(3)
to support the work of the poliomyelitis eradication initiative in strengthening health systems
and services;
(4)
to begin, in collaboration with WHO, the process leading to the laboratory containment of
wild poliovirus in maximum containment laboratories;
4.

REQUESTS the Director-General:

(1)
to urge all partners to facilitate acceleration of the initiative to eradicate poliomyelitis during
the critical period 1999 to 2001;
(2)
to facilitate, when necessary, coordinated mass immunization activities in bordering areas of
Member States and WHO regions;
(3)
to collaborate with other organizations of the United Nations system and other international
bodies in arranging ceasefires for poliomyelitis eradication and facilitating eradication activities in
countries affected by conflict;
(4)
to help mobilize the necessary financing to implement eradication activities, including
establishment of an emergency fund to meet the needs of countries affected by conflict, countries
classified as major wild poliovirus reservoirs, and other countries in particularly difficult
circumstances, and to draw upon the strengths of the regional offices in the use of these resources;

(5)
to collaborate with Member States in the establishment of a mechanism for overseeing the
process of laboratory containment of wild poliovirus in maximum containment laboratories;
(6)
to facilitate ongoing research to define the optimum strategy for eventually stopping
immunization against poliomyelitis.

Tenth plenary meeting, 25 May 1999
A52/VR/10

2

RESOLUTION
OF THE
EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE WHO
103rd Session

EB103.R10

Agenda item 3

29 January 1999

Poliomyelitis eradication
The Executive Board,
Noting the report of the Director-General on the global eradication of poliomyelitis,1

RECOMMENDS to the Fifty-second World Health Assembly the adoption of the following
resolution:

The Fifty-second World Health Assembly,
Reaffirming WHO’s commitment to the global eradication of poliomyelitis by the end of the
year 2000;

Recognizing that substantial progress has been made towards eradication of poliomyelitis,
with large geographic areas of the world now free of poliomyelitis, and a fall of 85% in annually
reported cases since global eradication began in 1988;

Noting that as of May 1999, poliomyelitis remains endemic in a number of countries of
southern and western Asia and the African continent, some of which are either affected by conflict
or constitute densely populated wild poliovirus “reservoirs”;

Realizing that civil strife and funding shortfalls represent the two major obstacles to achieve
poliomyelitis eradication;
Affirming that poliomyelitis eradication will have humanitarian and economic benefits for all
countries,
1.
URGES poliomyelitis-endemic Member States to accelerate eradication activities by
conducting additional immunization rounds each year, on either a national or subnational basis; to
improve the quality of national immunization days by ensuring that every child is reached; to
implement house-to-house “mopping-up” campaigns; and to enhance surveillance by ensuring that
all cases of acute flaccid paralysis are detected and promptly investigated;

2.

URGES poliomyelitis-free Member States:
(1)

to sustain high levels of immunization coverage until eradication is certified globally;

1 Document EB103/7.

EBI03.RKI

(2)
to maintain high quality surveillance for wild poliovirus importations and establish
action plans for rapidly responding to such events;

3.

URGES all Members States:
(1)
to mobilize the human and financial resources necessary to accelerate eradication in
poliomyelitis-endemic countries;
(2)
to support the peace-building process by facilitating ceasefires for National
Immunization Days in countries affected by conflict;
(3)
to support the work of the poliomyelitis eradication initiative in strengthening health
systems and services;
(4)
to begin, in collaboration with WHO, the process leading to the laboratory containment
of wild poliovirus;

4.

REQUESTS the Director-General:

(1)
to urge all partners to facilitate acceleration of the initiative to eradicate poliomyelitis
during the critical period 1999 to 2001;
(2)
to facilitate, when necessary, coordinated mass immunization activities in bordering
areas of Member States and WHO regions;

(3)
to collaborate with other organizations of the United Nations system and other
international bodies in arranging ceasefires for poliomyelitis eradication, and facilitating
eradication activities, in countries affected by conflict;

(4)
to help mobilize the necessary financing to implement eradication activities, including
establishment of an emergency fund to meet the needs of countries affected by conflict,
countries classified as major wild poliovirus reservoirs, and other countries in particularly
difficult circumstances, and to draw upon the strengths of the regional offices in the use of
these resources;
(5)
to collaborate with Member States in the establishment of a mechanism for overseeing
the process of laboratory containment of wild poliovirus;
(6)
to facilitate ongoing research to define the optimum strategy for eventually stopping
immunization against poliomyelitis.

Ninth meeting, 29 January 1999
EB103/SR/9

2

RESOLUTION
OF THE
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
FIFTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

WHA52.23

Agenda item 13

25 May 1999

Strengthening health systems in
developing countries
The Fifty-second World Health Assembly,
Mindful of the principles of, and obvious need for, technical cooperation among developing
countries (TCDC) and of the interest shown by the Health Assembly by virtue of its resolutions
WHA31.41, WHA31.54, WHA32.27, WHA35.24, WHA36.34, WHA37.15, WHA37.16, WHA38.23,
WHA39.23, WHA40.17, WHA40.30, WHA50.27 and WHA51.16, in strengthening this type of
cooperation with a view to improving the health situation in developing countries;

Underlining the principles and purposes of the United Nations as set out in the United Nations
Charter, including the sovereign equality of States and the development of friendly relations among nations
based on the respect for equal rights and the self-determination of peoples, which have been consistently
reaffirmed by members of the Non-aligned Movement;
Recognizing that in order to realize aspirations and achieve the social development and well-being
of people, it is a central responsibility of governments and all sectors of society to put into place measures
which would facilitate the attainment of goals relating to the eradication of poverty and to food security,
health, education, employment, housing and social integration;

Recognizing that poverty and the lack of access to safe drinking-water are important causes of illhealth and disease;
Mindful of the fact that globalization presents opportunities and challenges for all countries and that
developing countries, especially the poorest, are vulnerable to those adverse effects of globalization which
lead to greater inequities in health and health care both within such countries and between developed and
developing countries;

Recalling that the lack of access to safe and affordable essential medicines and other health
technologies is a significant factor in perpetuating and extending such inequities;
Noting with concern the progressive decrease in funds available for development assistance and
recognizing that such funds are essential to the work of WHO;
Acknowledging the valued services that the World Health Organization provides to all its Member
States and anticipating that the delivery of these services will be enhanced by the organizational changes
and initiatives introduced by the Director-General;

WHA52.23

Welcoming WHO’s initiatives with regard to the promotion of horizontal cooperation among
developing countries,

1.
REAFFIRMS its commitment to the objectives of the health-for-all strategy, in particular the
achievement of equitable, affordable, accessible and sustainable health care systems based on primary
health care in all Member States;
2.
RECOGNIZES the sovereign right of each country to adopt national policies appropriate to the
specific needs of its people;
3.

URGES Member States:
(1)

to reaffirm the importance of health as an indispensable resource for sustainable development;

(2)

to continue to develop health systems in accordance with the principles listed above;

(3)
to adopt, as a matter of priority, measures that will serve the needs of the most vulnerable of
their populations;
(4)
to refrain from all measures and conditionalities that are contrary to international law
including international conventions and which hinder health service delivery and deny care to those
in greatest need;
4.

CALLS UPON developed countries:

(1)
to continue to facilitate the transfer of materials, equipment, and technology, including safe
medicines and resources appropriate to the health needs of developing countries;

5.

(2)

to support the application of technical cooperation with and among developing countries;

(3)

to provide WHO with the appropriate resources to address mutually agreed priority areas;

REQUESTS the international community and multilateral institutions:

(1)
to support efforts aimed at strengthening the health systems of developing countries, according
to their mandate and particular expertise and with special emphasis on the promotion of technical
cooperation among developing countries;
(2)
to maintain a people-centred focus in their deliberations, particularly where such deliberations
could impact negatively on the health status of the most vulnerable;
(3)
to implement the conclusions of the United Nations summits and conferences that address
health problems and to make further recommendations in this regard;
6.

REQUESTS the Director-General:

(1)
to continue to support Member States in their efforts io meet the health needs of their people,
especially those who are most vulnerable;

2

WHA52.23

(2)
to assist Member States in achieving access to safe and affordable essential medicines and
other appropriate health technologies;
(3)
to strengthen the capacity of the health sector to participate effectively in multisectoral efforts
which seek to address the root causes of ill-health such as poverty and the lack of access to safe
drinking-water;
(4)
to continue support for the work being undertaken to consolidate and develop a network of
institutions in developing countries in the area of health sector reform, and to validate and collate
the work of these and other institutions, in order to ensure that future policies and advice are founded
on the best available evidence;
(5)
to expand on the opportunities for interaction with members of the Non-aligned Movement
and other developing countries, aimed at facilitating and enhancing the work of WHO;

(6)
to report to the Fifty-third World Health Assembly on the steps taken and progress made in
implementing this resolution.

Tenth plenary meeting, 25 May 1999
A52/VR/10

3

RESOLUTION
OF THE
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
FIFTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

WHA52.24

Agenda item 13

25 May 1999

Prevention and control of iodine
deficiency disorders
The Fifty-second World Health Assembly,

Having considered the report on progress achieved in preventing and controlling iodine deficiency
disorders;
Recalling resolutions WHA39.31, WHA43.2 and WHA49.13 on the prevention and control of iodine
deficiency disorders;
Concerned that iodine deficiency remains a major threat to the health and development of
populations worldwide and that it may result in goitre, stillbirth and miscarriage, neonatal and juvenile
thyroid deficiency, dwarfism, brain damage and intellectual impairment, deaf mutism, spastic weakness
and paralysis, as well as lesser degrees of loss of physical and mental function;
Recognizing that the elimination of iodine deficiency will therefore represent a major public health
triumph of truly global proportions and an important contribution to national economic development,

1.

COMMENDS:
(1)
governments, international organizations, bilateral agencies and nongovernmental
organizations, in particular the International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders, on
their support in the struggle to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders throughout the world, and on
the progress to which they have contributed over the last decade to prevent and control iodine
deficiency at global, regional and national levels;

(2)
the salt industry for its collaboration and key role in making iodized salt available to
populations at risk of iodine deficiency, and for its initiative in highlighting iodization of salt at the
8th International Salt Symposium at The Hague in May 2000;

2.
REAFFIRMS the goal of eliminating iodine deficiency disorders as a major public health problem,
while recognizing that some countries still face considerable obstacles in meeting this goal and
consequently require additional intensive support;

WHA52.24

3.

URGES Member States:
(1)
to assess the extent and severity of iodine deficiency disorders, where they have not already
done so;

(2)
to redouble their efforts to promote universal salt iodization, including the adoption of relevant
legislation, and to implement alternative strategies for iodine supplementation in areas where iodized
salt is not yet available;
(3)
to monitor the iodine status of their populations and the quality of iodized salt in all areas,
including those where current iodine intakes are thought to be adequate, in order to gauge progress
towards achieving the goal of sustainable elimination of iodine deficiency disorders as a public
health problem;
(4)
to collaborate in the process of verification that the goal of sustainable elimination of iodine
deficiency disorders as a public health problem has been achieved;

4.

REQUESTS the Director-General:
(1)
to provide, on request, technical support to Member States in formulating and implementing
programmes for the control of iodine deficiency, including the development of appropriate
communication strategies, and the promotion of effective programme implementation;

(2)
to mobilize, and collaborate with, international and bilateral development agencies,
nongovernmental organizations and the private sector in support of the efficient and effective
iodization of salt by both large- and small-scale salt producers being cognizant of their particular
characteristics;
(3)
to consider the elimination of iodine deficiency disorders as a priority programme for WHO
and to provide technical support to Member States in establishing and strengthening systems for
monitoring the iodine status of their populations and the quality of iodized salt, to identify the
required financial and technical resources for this purpose, and to support Member States in
developing links with the salt industry;

(4)
to facilitate intercountry cooperation and collaboration for sustainable elimination of iodine
deficiency disorders, in particular by developing and supporting subregional networks of laboratories
to ensure adequate surveillance and monitoring of these disorders;
(5)
to maintain and update the WHO global database on the prevalence of iodine deficiency
disorders as a means of monitoring the status of control programmes, assessing progress towards
eliminating iodine deficiency disorders, and increasing awareness of their public health implications;
(6)
to report to the Health Assembly by 2005 on progress achieved in eliminating iodine
deficiency disorders.

Tenth plenary meeting, 25 May 1999
A52/VR/10

2

RESOLUTION
OF THE
EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE WHO
103rd Session

EB103.R3

Agenda item 7

26 January 1999

Appointment of the Regional Director
for Sooth-East Asia
The Executive Board,
Considering the provisions of Article 52 of the Constitution;

Considering the nomination and recommendation made by the Regional Committee for South-East
Asia at its fifty-first session,
1.
REAPPOINTS Dr Uton Muchtar Rafei as Regional Director for South-East Asia as from 1 March
1999;

2.
AUTHORIZES the Director-General to issue to Dr Uton Muchtar Rafei a contract for a period of
five years from 1 March 1999, subject to the provisions of the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules.

Fourth meeting, 26 January 1999
EB103/SR/4

RESOLUTION
OF THE
EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE WHO
103rd Session

EB103.R6

Agenda item 5

28 January 1999

Budget presentation and process
The Executive Board,

Recalling resolutions WHA46.35, WHA48.25, EB99.R13 and EB101.R1 on continued development
of a strategic approach to budget development, presentation and evaluation;
Endorsing the joint report of the Administration, Budget and Finance Committee and the Programme
Development Committee on their discussion of the Proposed budget 2000-2001;

Welcoming the efforts of the Director-General to revitalize WHO through a process of restructuring
and streamlining;
Commending the Director-General on the substantive progress made in the presentation of the
Proposed budget 2000-2001 in the very short time available since taking office;
Welcoming the clarity of the programme descriptions for clusters, outlining issues, objectives and
expected results;

Welcoming the integrated presentation of regular and extrabudgetary funds indicating total resources
associated with cluster programmes, but registering concern over basing of programme achievements on
the full realization of the ambitious 19% targeted increase in extrabudgetary resources;
Welcoming the correspondence between the budget and management structures and expecting a
uniform presentation by cluster of headquarters and regional programmes;
Reiterating that a strategic approach to results-based budgeting is based on a clear statement of
cluster and departmental objectives in terms of measurable results for a specific period, and a process for
continuous monitoring of progress and reporting of results to governing bodies;

Noting the need to deliver programme objectives and results in the most efficient manner;

Encouraging greater transparency in identifying actual programme allocations and expenditures,
including the basis on which cost increases are calculated, from all external and internal sources;
Noting the need of governing bodies to have timely progress reports to provide judgements on
progress, required adjustments on programme activities, value for money, and achievement of results, as
requested in resolution EB101.R1;

EB103.R6

Acknowledging the increased emphasis now being given within WHO to evaluation plans and
methodologies, including targets for expected results, cluster by cluster;

Recognizing the complexities of the transitional period now under way in WHO,

1.
COMMENDS the Director-General on progress made in advancing the concept of a strategic
approach to programme preparation and presentation;
2.

REQUESTS the Director-General to consider;
A.

prior to the Fifty-second World Health Assembly:
(1)

providing information on the administrative costs of each cluster;

(2)
further defining in measurable terms the specific targets and results for the Proposed
budget 2000-2001;
(3)
presenting a preliminary outline of key indicators for measuring achievements of results
against the stated cluster and departmental programmes;
(4)
clarifying, to the extent possible, expected sources of extrabudgetary resources and
actions planned to raise such resources, and the impact on programme activities if targets are
not reached by prioritizing statements of results;

(5)
providing an overview of two or three key evaluation findings and lessons learned for
each cluster during the current biennium, indicating any consequent adjustments made to
programme activities or delivery strategies;
(6)
presenting the budget in a formal that includes regional programme activities in the
cluster structure in order to permit judgements on relative priorities across the entirety of
WHO’s regular budget;
(7)
providing a budget table tracking programme allocations from the 1998-1999 biennium
into the cluster structure for the 2000-2001 biennium;
(8)
presenting an interim report on actual expenditures for the 1998-1999 programme
budget, with indications of any further reallocations to priority programmes;

(9)
providing indicative resource allocations within the related cluster for Cabinet and any
other major projects based on intercluster cooperation;
(10) presenting actual staffing tables (as opposed to posts), with budget and actual
expenditures, showing trend lines for the past decade on numbers, grades and costs of senior
salaried personnel (P.6 and above), and contracted personnel at all grades, including the
specific number on 11-month contracts;
(11) providing budgetary and actual expenditures for the last decade (1988 to 1998),
including transfers to the regular budget from internal sources;

2

EBI03.R6

B.

for future programme budgets:
(1)
developing, for consideration by the Executive Board at its 105th session in January
2000, an integrated plan for monitoring, evaluating and reporting results to the governing
bodies, including any programme adjustments derived from evaluation results and lessons
learned, and any programme reorientation requiring Executive Board guidance;

(2)
drawing up an efficiency savings plan in non-programme costs to ensure that maximum
resources are made available for programme activities;
(3)
defining more precisely WHO’s role in working with specific partners to mobilize
global support for WHO’s health agenda, with indicators of success;

(4)
providing an evaluation of the new management support units, comparing their
performance with that of the previous system.

Seventh meeting, 28 January 1999
EB103/SR/7

3

RESOLUTION
OF THE
EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE WHO
103rd Session

EB103.R17

Agenda item 7

29 January 1999

WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA Coordinating Committee
on Health
Terms of reference

The Executive Board,

Noting the report of the Director-General on the terms of reference of the WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA
Coordinating Committee on Health (CCH),1
1.
APPROVES the terms of reference for CCH as proposed by the Director-General in consultation
with the Executive Director of UNICEF, the Executive Director of UNFPA and as recommended by the
First Meeting of CCH at WHO headquarters, 3 and 4 July 1998, and annexed to this resolution;

2.
REQUESTS the Director-General to transmit this resolution to the Executive Boards of UNICEF
and UNFPA.

Tenth meeting, 29 January 1999
EB103/SR/10

1 Document EB103/22.

EB103.RI7

ANNEX
WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
TERMS OF REFERENCE

1.
The WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA Coordinating Committee on Health (CCH) shall meet biennially, or
in special session if required, normally in Geneva. The Committee shall be chaired in rotation by a member
of the Executive Board of each organization; WHO, as the lead agency in international health, will chair
the first session.

2.

The role of the Committee will be:
- to facilitate the coordination of health policies and programmes of the three organizations;

- to review the overall needs for strategic, operational and technical coordination in the fields of
maternal, child, adolescent and women’s health, with a prioritized focus on disease and health
ramifications based on WHO mortality and morbidity statistics, and reproductive health, including
family planning and sexual health, to ensure regular exchange of information in these areas and
to make recommendations to the respective Executive Boards for follow-up action by the
secretariats, as appropriate, with due regard for the respective mandates of the organizations
involved;
- to promote consistency in implementation strategies and activities among the three organizations
and with other partners, for the maximum benefit of Member States, especially at the country level
within the context of the Resident Coordinator system and, in this context, to ensure that these are
guided by the overall policy framework for health development as defined by the World Health
Assembly;
- to receive and review progress and assessment reports presented by the Director-General of WHO,
the Executive Director of UNICEF or the Executive Director of UNFPA, on activities pertaining
to the health of children, young people and women, with a prioritized focus on disease and health
ramifications based on WHO mortality and morbidity statistics, including reproductive health, and
to review any orientation of strategy that may be necessary to meet agreed objectives, with due
regard for the respective mandates of the agencies involved;
- to consider matters of common concern to WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA which the Executive
Boards or the secretariats of the respective organizations may refer to this Committee;
- to report to the WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA Executive Boards on the foregoing matters.
3.
The WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA Coordinating Committee on Health shall be composed of 16 members
of the Executive Boards of the three organizations, such members being selected by their respective Boards
on the basis of one from each region of the organization concerned.

2

Annex

EB103.R17

4.
WHO shall provide the Secretariat for the Committee and, in consultation with UNICEF and
UNFPA, jointly convene intersecretariat meetings to prepare the agenda and supporting documentation for
the sessions of the Committee.

5.
Further intersecretariat meetings may be convened in alternate years, where appropriate with other
organizations active in health, to ensure a coordinated approach at country level.

3

SEA/RC52/10

PART 2
REVIEW OF THE DRAFT PROVISIONAL AGENDAS OF
THE 105th SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AND
THE FIFTY-THIRD WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
In order to foster greater correlation of the work of the Regional Committee with that of
the Executive Board and of the World Health Assembly, the Regional Committee has
adopted the practice, since, 1980, of reviewing the draft provisional agendas of the
Executive Board and the World Health Assembly so that it could note important matters
of regional and global interest.

Regional Committees are urged to take an active part in the work of the
Organization and to submit to the Executive Board their recommendations and concrete
proposals on matters of regional and global interest. In its turn, the Executive Board
routinely reviews the policy proposals of the Regional Committees concerning matters of
worldwide interest, particularly for the ensuing sessions of the Executive Board and the
World Health Assembly.
The draft provisional agendas of the 105th session of the Executive Board
(January 2000) and the Fifty-third World Health Assembly (May 2000) are awaited from
WHO/HQ and will be submitted to the Regional Committee for its review.

WORLD

HEALTH

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

ORGANIZATION

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 9

Fifty-second session

SEA/RC52/10
15 July 1999

REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE DECISIONS AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE
FIFTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY AND THE 103rd AND 104™
SESSIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
AND

REVIEW OF THE DRAFT PROVISIONAL AGENDAS OF
THE 105™ SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AND
THE FIFTY-THIRD WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

The twenty-eighth meeting of the Consultative Committee for Programme
Development and Management (CCPDM) recommended that the working papers
relating to resolutions of regional interest adopted by the previous sessions of the
Executive Board and the World Health Assembly, and review of the draft provisional
agendas of the future sessions of the Executive Board and the World Health Assembly
be combined and brought out as one document. This recommendation was endorsed
by the forty-eighth session of the Regional Committee. In accordance with this
decision, a combined working paper on the two items has been prepared and is
submitted for the consideration of the Regional Committee.
Part 1 of the document relates to resolutions of regional interest while Part 2 relates to
review of the draft provisional agendas of the governing bodies.

SEA/RC52/10

CONTENTS

Part 1

Regional implications of the decisions and resolutions of the Fifty-second World
Health Assembly and the 103rd and 104th Sessions of the Executive Board

1.

Active ageing (WHA52.7)

2.

Reimbursement of travel expenses for attendance at Regional
Committees (WHA52.9 and EB103.R7)

3.

Smallpox eradication: Destruction of variola virus stocks (WHA52.10)

4.

Roll Back Malaria (WHA52.11 and EB103.R9)

5.

Unaudited interim financial report on the accounts of WHO for 1998;
report of the External Auditor; report of the Internal Auditor (WHA52.14)

6.

Scale of assessment for the financial period 2000-2001 (WHA52.17)

7.

Towards a WHO framework convention on tobacco control (WHA52.18
and EB103.R11)

8.

Revised drug strategy (WHA52.19 and EB103.R1)

9.

Appropriation resolution for the financial period 2000-2001 (WHA52.20)

10.

Poliomyelitis eradication (WHA52.22 and EB103.R10)

11.

Strengthening health systems in developing countries (WHA52.23)

12.

Prevention and Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (WHA52.24)

13.

Appointment of the Regional Director for South-East Asia (EB103.R3)

14.

Budget presentation and process (EB103.R6)

15.

WHO/UNICEF Committee on Health (EB103.R17)

Part 2
Review of the draft provisional agendas of the 105th session of the Executive Board
and the Fifty-third World Health Assembly

SEA/RC52/10

PART 1
REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE DECISIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
OF THE FIFTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY AND THE
103rd AND 104th SESSIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
The working paper includes 15 resolutions of the governing bodies which are considered
significant in the context of the regional perspective. These resolutions were selected out
of 24 resolutions of the Fifty-second World Health Assembly and 33
resolutions/decisions of the 103rd and 104th sessions of the Executive Board. Salient
information from the operative paragraphs of the resolutions, particularly that related to
Member States, as well as actions proposed to date, are briefly presented in this paper.
Copies of the resolutions referred to in this paper are placed at the end of Part 1. (A
complete set of the resolutions of the Fifty-second World Health Assembly is available
for reference).

1.

Active ageing (WHA52.7)

The Assembly called upon all Member States to take appropriate steps to carry out
measures to ensure the highest attainable standard of health and well-being for the
growing numbers of their older citizens. It also called for support for WHO’s advocacy
efforts for active and healthy ageing through multisectoral partnerships with
intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, voluntary organizations and the
establishment of a global network for active ageing.

2.

Reimbursement of travel expenses for attendance
at Regional Committees (WHA52.9 and EB103.R7)

Taking into consideration the criteria for reimbursement of travel expenses provided for
the representatives attending the World Health Assembly and Regional Committee
sessions, the Assembly decided that actual travel expenses of one representative
attending Regional Committee sessions may be financed by the Organization upon the
request of those Members and Associate Members classified as least developed
countries. The maximum reimbursement would be restricted to the equivalent of one
economy or tourist return air ticket from the capital city of the Member to the place of the
session.

3.

Smallpox eradication: Destruction of variola virus stocks (WHA52.10)

The Forty-ninth World Health Assembly had recommended that the only known
remaining stocks of variola virus (which causes smallpox) located in two centres, one
each in the USA and Russia, be destroyed by 30 June 1999, after a final decision by the
Assembly.

SEA/RC52/10
Page 2

While reviewing this recommendation, the Forty-second World Health Assembly
considered the report of the WHO secretariat on destruction of the variola virus, and also
on implications in research for public health purposes including development of antiviral
agents and safer vaccines. Reaffirming the goal of WHO to finally eliminate all variola
virus, the Assembly authorized temporary retention of existing stocks of variola virus up
to not later than 2002 for further international research and to permit high priority
investigations of the genetic structure and pathogenesis of smallpox.

The Assembly also requested the Director-General to appoint a new group of
experts to establish what research was needed to reach global consensus on the timing
for destruction of existing variola virus stocks. The new group will comprise a limited
number of scientists and public health experts from Member States of each of the WHO
regions. They would submit their initial recommendations to the Executive Board at its
106th session in May 2000.

4.

Roll Back Malaria (WHA52.11 and EB103.R9)

Malaria contributes significantly to the global disease burden. Primarily, malaria affects
impoverished and disadvantaged communities, with the highest association of any
disease category with poverty.
Resolutions on Roll Back Malaria (RBM) call for reducing malaria-related suffering
and promoting national development in a sustained way. RBM stresses the importance
of improvement of malaria control activities as part of health sector development,
effective utilization of relevant technical expertise within the countries and the Region
and establishment of sustainable country-level partnerships.

Member States are advised to enhance commitment to support national malaria
control programmes as part of health sector development and development of
sustainable broad-based partnerships with civil society, the private sector and other
development partners. Member States are also encouraged to make strategic
investments that are evidence-based and closely linked with partnership initiatives to
ensure concerted and sustainable efforts for RBM. Member States are also urged to
strengthen intercountry collaboration and inter-regional initiatives to solve common
problems of border malaria.

5.

Unaudited interim financial report on the accounts of WHO
for 1998; report of the External Auditor; report of the
Internal Auditor (WHA52.14)

The reports of the External Auditor and the Internal Auditor had indicated the need to
improve programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation. As a matter of priority,
standardized business rules and procedures were needed for a unified evaluation
system which would include linking of statements of intent in the strategic programme
budget to annual plans of action. Institutionalization of external as well as independent
internal evaluations of both regular and extrabudgetary programme activities were
needed. Improved accountability for local expenditure and follow-through on consultancy
recommendations, fellowships and other training results were also needed.

SEA/RC52/10
Page 3

6.

Scale of assessment for the financial period 2000-2001 (WHA52.17)

The Assembly adopted a new scale of assessment for the years 2000 and 2001. While
the scale of assessment for seven of the ten SEAR countries is maintained with no
change from 1999, changes have been noted in respect of three countries. The
assessments for Indonesia and Thailand will increase by 0.004% and 0.003%
respectively, while for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the assessment will
decrease by 0.004% compared to 1999. The scale of assessment for the ten SEAR
countries are shown below (extracted from resolutions WHA51.21 and WHA52).
1999
(Percentage)

2000-2001
(Percentage)

Change
(Percentage)

Bangladesh

0.010

0.010

Nil

Bhutan

0.001

0.001

Nil

DPR Korea

0.019

0.015

(-) 0.004

India

0.294

0.294

Nil

Indonesia

0.181

0.185

(+) 0.004

Maldives

0.001

0.001

Nil

Myanmar

0.008

0.008

Nil

Nepal

0.004

0.004

Nil

Sri Lanka

0.012

0.012

Nil

Thailand

0.164

0.167

(+) 0.003

Country

7.

Towards a WHO framework Convention on Tobacco Control
(WHA52.18 and EB103.R11)

The use of tobacco is a major public health threat all over the world. It is estimated that
deaths due to tobacco-related diseases will rise from the current 3.5 million to 10 million
by 2030 of which 70% will be in developing countries. Being concerned, the DirectorGeneral has launched the Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI) with a long-term mission to
reduce the prevalence of global use of tobacco. She proposed to the Executive Board to
accelerate tobacco control initiatives through a fast track approach for the development
and negotiation of a Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). FCTC would
be an international legal instrument to be developed by WHO’s 191 Member States for
limiting the global spread of tobacco and tobacco projects.
The Executive Board, at its 103rd session, recommended to the World Health
Assembly a resolution for consideration. The Assembly adopted the resolution. It
decided:

(a)

to establish an intergovernmental negotiating body open to all Member States
to draft and negotiate the proposed WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control and possible related protocols;

SEA/RC52/10
Page 4

(b)

to establish a working group on the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control open to all Member States in order to prepare the work of the
negotiating body. This group will prepare the proposed draft elements of the
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The working group will
report on the progress to the Executive Board at its 105th session.

(c)

that the regional economic integration organizations may actively participate in
the drafting and negotiations of the intergovernmental negotiating body.

The Assembly urged the Member States, inter alia, to give high priority to
accelerating work on development of the WHO Framework Convention, to promote
intergovernmental consultations to address specific issues of public health and other
technical matters relating to negotiation of the proposed Framework Convention, to
establish national commissions for the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
and mechanisms to examine the implications of a framework convention within the
context of health and economic issues, especially its effects on the economy of
agriculturally-dependent States, to facilitate and support the participation of
nongovernmental organizations and to consider further development and strengthening
of national and regional tobacco policies.

8.

Revised drug strategy (WHA52.19 and EB103.R1)

The Executive Board, at its 103rd session in January 1999, reformulated the resolution
on the Revised Drug Strategy proposed by the ad hoc working group and
recommended it to the Fifty-second World Health Assembly for consideration. In
revising the resolution, commercial and trade issues have been toned down in favour
of public health issues.
The Assembly endorsed the revised resolution after reviewing all its aspects. It
urged Member States, inter alia, to reaffirm their commitment for the development,
implementation and monitoring of national drug policies to ensure global access to
essential drugs and to ensure public health interests in pharmaceutical and health
policies. Member States were also urged to establish and enforce regulations on good
uniform quality assurance standards, to develop or maintain national guidelines
governing drug donations and promotion of rational use of drugs.

9.

Appropriation resolution for the financial period 2000-2001
(WHA52.20)

The World Health Assembly passed a zero real growth effective working budget of
US$842,654,000 representing the same dollar amount as for 1998-1999. In addition,
the Assembly decided that:


US$ 15 million casual income be applied to Polio eradication, Roll Back
Malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and the Tobacco Free Initiative.



2-3% (around US$ 25.3 million) efficiency savings be identified and reallocated
to high priority programmes at country level; and

SEA/RC52/10
Page 5



the Director-General undertake a study of the Financial Rules and Regulations
concerning:









casual income
exchange rate facility
late payment/arrears of Members’ contribution
Working Capital Fund
Internal borrowing
Financial incentive scheme
Unliqudiated obligations

Further implications from this resolution may be found in the Regional Committee
document under agenda item 7: Programme Budget.

10. Poliomyelitis eradication (WHA52.22 and EB103.R10)
Noting that poliomyelitis remains endemic in a number of countries and realizing that
eradication of this disease will have humanitarian and economic benefits for all
poliomyelitic endemic countries, the Assembly urged Member States, among others, to
accelerate eradication activities by conducting additional immunization rounds each year
and enhance surveillance to detect acute flaccid paralysis cases promptly. The
Assembly also urged mobilization of human and financial resources to achieve
eradication.

11. Strengthening health systems in developing countries (WHA52.23)
The World Health Assembly, mindful of the principles of technical cooperation among
developing countries (TCDC), and its previous resolutions in strengthening such
cooperation to improve the health situation in developing countries, recognized the
central responsibility of governments and all sectors of society in attaining the goals
relating to eradication of poverty and to food security, health, education, employment,
housing and social integration. It considered the fact that globalization presents
opportunities and challenges for all countries and that developing countries, especially
the poorest, are vulnerable to those adverse effects of globalization which lead to
greater inequalities in health and health care. It acknowledged the valued services that
WHO provides to all its Member States and anticipated that the services will be
enhanced by the new organizational changes initiated by the Director-General.
The Assembly, while welcoming WHO’s initiative, reaffirmed its commitment to the
objectives of the health-for-all strategy, particularly the achievement of equitable,
affordable, accessible and sustainable health care systems based on primary health
care in all Member States.

The Assembly urged Member States, among others, to reaffirm the importance of
health as an indispensable resource for sustainable development and adopt measures
as a matter of priority to serve the needs of the most vulnerable population. It also called
upon developed countries to continue to facilitate transfer of materials, equipment and
technology, including safe medicines and resources appropriate to the health needs of
developing countries.

SEA/RC52/10
Page 6

12. Prevention and Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (WHA52.24)
The World Health Assembly was concerned that iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) are a
major threat to the health and development of populations worldwide and many result in
goitre, stillbirth, miscarriage, dwarfism, brain damage, intellectual impairment, etc. It
recognized that elimination of iodine deficiency will truly be a public health triumph and
commended the governments, international organizations, bilateral agencies and
nongovernmental organizations, particularly the International Council for Control of
Iodine Deficiency Disorders, on their support to eliminate IDDs throughout the world. The
Assembly also commended the salt industry for its collaboration and key role in salt
iodization.
Reviewing the existing situation and status of salt iodization, the Assembly urged
Member States to assess the extent of IDDs in their countries and to redouble their
efforts to promote salt iodization, including adoption of relevant legislation and to monitor
the quality the of iodized salt used.

13. Appointment of the Regional Director for South-East Asia (EB103.R3)
Article 52 of the WHO Constitution provides that the head of the Regional Office shall be
the Regional Director appointed by the Board in agreement with the Regional
Committee. Accordingly, the Regional Committee for South-East Asia, at its fifty-first
session held in New Delhi in September 1998, nominated Dr Uton Muchtar Rafei for the
post of Regional Director for the WHO South-East Asia Region and requested the
Director-General to propose to the Executive Board his reappointment.

The Executive Board reappointed Dr Uton Muchtar Rafei as Regional Director for
South-East Asia for a period of five years from 1 March 1999.

14. Budget Presentation and Process (EB103.R6)
The Executive Board welcomed the efforts of the Director-General to revitalize WHO
through a process of restructuring and streamlining and reiterated that a strategic
approach to results-based budgeting is based on a clear statement of cluster and
departmental objectives in terms of measurable results for a specific period, and on a
process for continuous monitoring of progress and reporting of results to governing
bodies.
The Board requested the Director-General to consider for future programme
budgets the following:
(a)

Development of an integrated plan for monitoring, evaluating and reporting
results to the governing bodies, for consideration by the Executive Board at its
105lh session;

(b)

Drawing up an efficiency savings plan to maximize resources for programme
activities, and

(c)

Providing an evaluation of the new management support units comparing and
performances with that of the previous system.

SEA/RC52/10
Page 7

15. WHO/UNICEF Committee on Health (EB103.R17)
The Executive Board, at its twenty-fifty session in January 1960, established the
UNICEF/WHO Joint Committee on Health Policy (JCHP) to foster health development in
a spirit of coordination and collaboration within the UN system. The Board, at its 31s*
session, expanded the JCHP through inclusion of UNFPA and named it the
WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA Coordinating Committee on Health (CCH).
Through resolution EB103.R17, the Board endorsed the composition and roles of
the Committee. The Committee will consist of 16 Members of the Executive Boards of
the three organizations, such members being selected by their respective Boards on the
basis of one from each Region of the organization concerned. The role of the
Committee, among others, will be:

o

to facilitate the coordination of health policies and programmes of the three
organizations;

o

to review the overall needs for strategic, operational and technical coordination
in the fields of maternal, child, adolescent and women’s health, to ensure
regular exchange of information in these areas and to make recommendations
to the respective Executive Boards for follow-up action by the secretariats;

o

to promote consistency in implementation strategies and activities among the
three organizations and with other partners, for the maximum benefit of
Member States, especially at the country level, within the context of the
Resident Coordinator system and, in this context, to ensure that these are
guided by the overall policy framework for health development as defined by
the World Health Assembly.

The CCH shall meet biennially or, in special session, normally in Geneva.
Chairmanship will be rotational by a member of the Executive Board of each
organization. WHO shall provide the secretariat for the Committee and, in consultation
with UNICEF and UNFPA, jointly convene intersecretariat meetings to prepare the
agenda and supporting documentation for the sessions.

RESOLUTION
OF THE
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
FIFTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

WHA52.7
24 May 1999

Agenda item 18

Active ageing
The Fifty-second World Health Assembly,
Recalling United Nations General Assembly resolution 53/109 which encourages all States, the
United Nations system and all other actors, in reaching out for a future society for all ages, to take
advantage of the International Year of Older Persons (1999) so as to increase awareness of the challenge
of the demographic ageing of societies, the individual and social needs of older persons, the contributions
of older persons to society and the need for a change in attitudes towards older persons;

Mindful of the important role of WHO in implementing the objectives of the International Year of
Older Persons, including the promotion of investments in human development over the entire life span;

Stressing the central role of health in ensuring the future contributions and well-being of all older
persons in both developing and developed countries;

Aware of the fact that the vast majority of older persons will be living in developing countries in the
twenty-first century, which has fundamental implications for their health and social care systems;
Recognizing the important role of public health policies and programmes in ensuring that the rapidly
growing numbers of older people in both developed and developing countries will remain in good health
and able to maintain their many vital contributions to the well-being of their families, communities, and
societies;

Underlining the need for incorporating a gender perspective into all policies and programmes relating
to healthy ageing;
Noting with appreciation the successful 1999 World Health Day campaign which focused global
attention on the benefits of healthy lifestyles throughout the life span in order to remain healthy and active
for as long as possible in later life,

1.

CALLS UPON all Member States:

(1)
to show greater concern and to take appropriate steps to carry out measures that ensure the
highest attainable standard of health and well-being for the growing numbers of their older citizens;
(2)
to support WHO’s advocacy for active and healthy ageing through new, multisectoral
partnerships with intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, voluntary organizations
and the establishment of a global network for active ageing;

W!IA 52.7

2.

URGES the Director-General:
(1)
in cooperation with other organizations of the United Nations system, to ensure intersectoral
action towards active and healthy ageing and relevant research;

(2)
to strengthen WHO action to foster healthy lifestyles for active ageing at international,
regional and country' levels by promoting community-based approaches;
(3)
to implement cross-cutting activities on ageing from a health promotion and life span
perspective;
(4)
to address the needs of ageing populations with regard to disease prevention and service
delivery by building up capacity within primary health care;
(5)
to ensure that the different needs of men and women are taken into account with respect to
healthy ageing and health care provision;
(6)
to consolidate WHO’s current efforts in research and policy development in order to identify
and disseminate information on the determinants of healthy ageing.

Ninth plenary meeting, 24 May 1999
A52/VR/9

2

RESOLUTION
OF THE
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
FIFTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

Agenda item 12

WHA52.9

24 May 1999

Reimbursement of travel expenses for attendance
at regional committees
The Fifty-second World Health Assembly,

Recalling resolution WHA50.1 on reimbursement of travel expenses for attendance at the Health
Assembly and resolution WHA34.4 on reimbursement of travel costs of representatives to regional
committees;

Noting the inconsistency in the criteria for reimbursement of travel expenses contained in these two
resolutions and desiring to harmonize policies on reimbursement,
DECIDES that the actual travel expenses of one representative to sessions of regional committees
may be financed by the Organization upon the request of those Members and Associate Members that are
classified as least developed countries, the maximum reimbursement being restricted to the equivalent of
one economy or tourist return air ticket from the capital city of the Member to the place of the session.

Ninth plenary meeting, 24 May 1999
A52/VR/9

103rd Session

EB103.R7

Agenda item 5

28 January 1999

Reimbursement of travel expenses for attendance
at regional committees
The Executive Board

RECOMMENDS to the Fifty-second World Health Assembly that it should adopt the following
resolution:
The Fifty-second World Health Assembly,
Recalling resolution WHA50.1 on reimbursement of travel expenses for attendance at the
Health Assembly and resolution WHA34.4 on reimbursement of travel costs of representatives to
regional committees;

Noting the inconsistency in the criteria for reimbursement of travel expenses contained in
these two resolutions and in an effort to harmonize policies on reimbursement,
DECIDES that the actual travel expenses of one representative to sessions of regional
committees may be financed by the Organization upon request of those Members and Associate
Members that are classified as least developed countries, the maximum reimbursement being
restricted to the equivalent of one economy/tourist return air ticket from the capital city of the
Member to the place of the session.

Seventh meeting, 28 January 1999
EB103/SR/7

FIFTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

WHA52.10

Agenda item 13

24 May 1999

Smallpox eradication: destruction of
variola virus stocks
The Fifty-second World Health Assembly,
Recalling that resolution WHA49.10 recommended that the remaining stocks of variola virus should
be destroyed on 30 June 1999 after a final decision had been taken by the Health Assembly;
Having considered the report of the Secretariat on destruction of the variola virus stocks, as well as
the report of the January 1999 meeting of the WHO ad hoc Committee on Orthopox Virus Infections;
Affirming that the final elimination of all variola virus remains the goal of the World Health
Organization and all Member States;
Noting that recent scientific reviews of the smallpox issue have presented arguments that retention
of the variola virus stocks for the present would permit research for public health purposes, including the
development of antiviral agents as well as an improved and safer vaccine;

Having noted a lack of consensus among Member States as to whether the Assembly should proceed
to authorize destruction of the variola virus stocks on 30 June 1999, as proposed by the Assembly in 1996,
1.
STRONGLY REAFFIRMS the decision of previous Assemblies that the remaining stocks of variola
virus should be destroyed;

2.
DECIDES to authorize temporary retention up to not later than 2002 and subject to annual review
by the World Health Assembly of the existing stocks of variola virus at the current locations - the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America, and the Russian State
Centre for Research on Virology and Biotechnology, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russian Federation for the purpose of further international research into antiviral agents and improved vaccines, and to permit
high-priority investigations of the genetic structure and pathogenesis of smallpox;
3.
FURTHER DECIDES that any such research shall be funded by Member States or by other national
or international bodies and shall be conducted in an open and transparent manner only with the agreement
and under the control of WHO;

HHA52.I0

4.

REQUESTS the Director-General:
(1)
to appoint a new group of experts which will establish what research, if any, must be carried
out in order to reach global consensus on the timing for the destruction of existing variola virus
stocks, and will:

(a)

advise WHO on all actions to be taken with respect to variola;

(b)

develop a research plan for priority work on the variola virus;

(c)

devise a mechanism for reporting of research results to the world health community;

(d)
outline an inspection schedule to confirm the strict containment of existing stocks and
to assure a safe and secure research environment for work on the variola virus, and make
recommendations on these points;

(2)
to facilitate the full participation in the work of the new group of experts of a limited number
of scientists and public health experts from Member States of each of the WHO regions;
(3)
to report the initial recommendations and plans of the group of experts, including relevant
costs for WHO, to the Executive Board at its 106th session in May 2000, providing that external
funding has been made available for this purpose;
(4)
to present a detailed report, including progress of the research programme on the smallpox
virus, to the Executive Board and Health Assembly as soon as possible, but in any event not later
than 2002, and to make recommendations to the Executive Board and Health Assembly regarding
their proposals for the date of final destruction of the remaining stocks of variola virus.

Ninth plenary meeting, 24 May 1999
A52/VR/9

2

A.,

RESOLUTION
0F THE

WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
WHA52.11

FIFTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
Agenda item 13

24 May 1999
O. i> l

' 1 ■

, '■ •

Roll Back Malaria
A

'

- -

The Fifty-second World Health Assembly,
Having considered the report of the Director-General on Roll Back Malaria;

Concerned that the global burden of malaria is a challenge to human development and a significant
cause of poverty and human suffering, particularly in the poorest nations of the world;
Mindful of the efficacious tools currently available to reduce this burden, and the potential for their
more effective use within malaria-affected communities;

Welcoming the decision by the Director-General to establish a Cabinet project to support rolling back
malaria which works across the Organization;
Noting that Roll Back Malaria represents a new approach promoted by WHO, in which all concerned
parties are encouraged to work in a coordinated partnership, united by common goals, consistent strategies
and agreed methods of working, and that Roll Back Malaria is serving as a pathfinder in bringing these
concepts into operation in relation to other international health issues;

Commending the key features of the new approach, namely, increased focus on the needs of people
at risk, better response to those needs with evidence-based action, greater use of existing tools, their full
integration into the health sector as a horizontal programme, and innovative public-private partnerships to
develop cost-effective products and tools in view of the emergence of drug and insecticide resistance;

Appreciating the strong commitment to Roll Back Malaria from several heads of State, the
Administrator of UNDP, the President of the World Bank, the Executive Director of UNICEF, and
directors of other development banks, foundations and bilateral assistance agencies, expressed when the
global partnership was established in December 1998,
1.
ENCOURAGES Member States to reduce malaria-related suffering and promote national
development in a sustained way by rolling back malaria and preventing its resurgence or reintroduction,

by:
(1)
engaging a wide range of personnel and institutions involved in health systems, disease
control, and research, with representatives of civil society, the private sector, development agencies
and other sectors;

and, where relevant, by:

WHA52.ll

(2)

ensuring that sufficient resources are available to meet the challenge of rolling back malaria;

(3)
establishing and sustaining country-level partnerships to roll back malaria within the context
of health sector and human development;
(4)
utilizing relevant technical expertise that exists within countries and regions in an effective
manner;

2.
by:

REQUESTS the Director-General to draw on the whole Organization in supporting Member States

(1)
promoting harmonized strategies and encouraging consistent technical guidance for efforts
to roll back malaria;
(2)
working with them as they establish criteria for success in rolling back malaria, and
monitoring progress of country and global efforts within the context of health sector and human
development;

(3)
promoting international investment in cost-effective new approaches and products through
focused support for research and for strategic public and private initiatives;
(4)

3.

brokering the technical and financial support that is required for success;

REQUESTS the Director-General:

(1)
to report regularly on progress of the global Roll Back Malaria partnership to the Executive
Board and the Health Assembly, stressing the contribution that Roll Back Malaria makes to the
reduction of poverty, and reviewing the extent to which the partnership serves as a pathfinder for
effective joint action on other international health issues;

(2)
to promote the aims and outcomes of the Roll Back Malaria partnership in relevant
intergovernmental bodies, organizations of the United Nations system, and - when appropriate - other
bodies committed to equitable human development.

Ninth plenary meeting, 24 May 1999
A52/VR/9

2

103rd Session

EB103.R9

Agenda item 3

29 January 1999

Roll Baek Malaria
The Executive Board,
Reaffirming the impact of malaria in constraining human development, and appreciating the
innovative concepts and operational mechanisms in the Director-General’s report on Roll Back Malaria,'

RECOMMENDS to the Fifty-second World Health Assembly the adoption of the following
resolution:
The Fifty-second World Health Assembly,
Having considered the report of the Director-General on Roll Back Malaria;

Concerned that the global burden of malaria is a challenge to human development and a
significant cause of poverty and human suffering, particularly in the poorest nations of the world;
Mindful of the efficacious tools currently available to reduce this burden, and the potential
fortheir more effective use within malaria-affected communities;

Welcoming the decision by the Director-General to establish a Cabinet project to support
rolling back malaria which works across the Organization;
Noting that Roll Back Malaria represents a new approach promoted by WHO, in which all
concerned parties are encouraged to work in a coordinated partnership, united by common goals,
consistent strategies and agreed methods of working, and that Roll Back Malaria is serving as a
pathfinder in bringing these concepts into operation in relation to other international health issues;

Commending the key features of the new approach, namely, increased focus on the needs of
people at risk, better response to those needs with evidence-based action, greater use of existing
tools, their full integration into the health sector as a horizontal programme, and innovative public­
private partnerships to develop cost-effective products and tools in view of the emergence of drug
and insecticide resistance;

Appreciating the strong commitment to Roll Back Malaria from several heads of State, the
Administrator of UNDP, the President of the World Bank, the Executive Director of UNICEF, and

1 Document EB103/6.

EB103.R9

directors of other development banks, foundations and bilateral assistance agencies, expressed when
the global partnership was established in December 1998,
1.
ENCOURAGES Member States to reduce malaria-related suffering and promote national
development in a sustained way, by rolling back malaria and preventing its resurgence or
reintroduction, by:

(1)
engaging a wide range of personnel and institutions involved in health systems, disease
control, and research, with representatives of civil society, the private sector, development
agencies and other sectors;
and, where relevant, by:

(2)
ensuring that sufficient resources are available to meet the challenge of rolling back
malaria;
(3)
establishing and sustaining country-level partnerships to roll back malaria within the
context of health sector and human development;
(4)
utilizing relevant technical expertise that exists within countries and regions in an
effective manner;

2.
REQUESTS the Director-General to draw on the whole Organization in supporting Member
States by:
(1)
promoting harmonized strategies and encouraging consistent technical guidance for
efforts to roll back malaria;

(2)
working with them as they establish criteria for success in rolling back malaria, and
monitoring progress of country and global efforts within the context of health sector and
human development;
(3)
promoting international investment in cost-effective new approaches and products
through focused support for research and for strategic public and private initiatives;

(4)
3.

brokering the technical and financial assistance that is required for success;

REQUESTS the Director-General:
(1)
to report regularly on progress of the global Roll Back Malaria partnership to the
Executive Board and the Health Assembly, stressing the contribution that Roll Back Malaria
makes to the reduction of poverty, and reviewing the extent to which the partnership serves
as a pathfinder for effective joint action on other international health issues;

(2)
to promote the aims and outcomes of the Roll Back Malaria partnership in relevant
intergovernmental bodies, organizations of the United Nations system, and - when
appropriate - other bodies committed to equitable human development.

Ninth meeting, 29 January 1999
EB103/SR/9

2

FIFTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

WHA52.14

Agenda item 15

24 May 1999

Unaudited interim financial report on the accounts
of WHO for 1998; report of the External Auditor;
report of the Internal Auditor
The Fifty-second World Health Assembly,
Having examined the unaudited interim financial report for the year 1998 of the financial period
1998-1999;'

Having noted the report of the Administration, Budget and Finance Committee of the Executive
Board,
ACCEPTS the Director-General’s unaudited interim financial report for the year 1998.

Ninth plenary meeting, 24 May 1999
A52/VR/9

' Documents A52/13 and Add.l (see also documents A52/14 and A52/15).

RESOLUTION
OF THE
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
FIFTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

WHA52.17

Agenda item 15

24 May 1999

Scale of assessments for the
financial period 2000-2001
The Fifty-second World Health Assembly
DECIDES that the scale of assessments for the years 2000 and 2001 shall be as follows:
(1)

(2)

Members and Associate Members

WHO scales
2000-2001

%

Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil

0.003
0.003
0.085
0.004
0.010
0.002
1.085
0.006
1.459
0.927
0.011
0.015
0.017
0.010
0.008
0.056
1.086
0.001
0.002
0.001
0.007
0.005
0.010
1.447

WHA52A7

(1)

(2)

Members and Associate Members

WHO scales
2000-2001

%

Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands3
Costa Rica
Cote d’Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia

• Not a Member of the United Nations.

2

0.020
0.011
0.002
0.001
0.001
0.013
2.688
0.002
0.001
0.001
0.134
0.979
0.107
0.001
0.003
0.001
0.016
0.009
0.029
0.024
0.033
0.105
0.015
0.007
0.681
0.001
0.001
0.015
0.020
0.064
0.012
0.001
0.001
0.012
0.006
0.004
0.534
6.440
0.015
0.001
0.007

WHA52.17

(1)

(2)

Members and Associate Members

WHO scales
2000-2001

%

Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati3
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta

9.699
0.007
0.345
0.001
0.018
0.003
0.001
0.001
0.002
0.003
0.118
0.031
0.294
0.185
0.158
0.031
0.220
0.344
5.350
0.006
20.244
0.006
0.047
0.007
0.001
0.126
0.006
0.001
0.017
0.016
0.002
0.002
0.122
0.015
0.067
0.003
0.002
0.180
0.001
0.002
0.014

■ Not a Member of the United Nations.

3

WHA52.I7

(1)

(2)

Members and Associate Members

WHO scales
2000-2001

%

Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia (Federated States of)
Monaco
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru’
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue’
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Ricoa’b
Qatar
Republic of Korea
Republic of Moldova
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

‘ Not a Member of the United Nations.

b Associate Member of WHO.
4

0.001
0.001
0.009
0.979
0.001
0.004
0.002
0.040
0.001
0.008
0.007
0.001
0.004
1.606
0.217
0.001
0.002
0.031
0.001
0.600
0.050
0.058
0.001
0.013
0.007
0.014
0.097
0.080
0.193
0.424
0.001
0.032
0.990
0.010
0.055
1.060
0.001
0.001
0.001
0.001

WHA52.17

(1)

(2)

Members and Associate Members

WHO scales
2000-2001

%

Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland"
Syrian Arab Republic
Tajikistan
Thailand
The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia
Togo
Tokelau"-1’
Tonga’
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu"
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland
United Republic of Tanzania
United States of America

0.001
0.002
0.001
0.553
0.006
0.002
0.001
0.176
0.034
0.060
0.001
0.001
0.360
2.550
0.012
0.007
0.004
0.002
1.062
1.196
0.063
0.004
0.167
0.004
0.001
0.001
0.001
0.016
0.027
0.433
0.006
0.001
0.004
0.187
0.175
5.011
0.003
25.000

1 Not a Member of the United Nations.
b Associate Member of WHO.

5

WHAS2.17

(1)

(2)

Members and Associate Members

WHO scales
2000-2001

%

Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Viet Nam
Yemen
Yugoslavia
Zambia
Zimbabwe

0.047
0.025
0.001
0.157
0.007
0.010
0.026
0.002
0.009

Ninth plenary meeting, 24 May 1999
A52/VR/9

6

WORLD

HEALTH

ORGANIZATION

R
E
G

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 13.2

Fifty-second Session

SEA/RC52/5
16 July 1999

O
N
A
L
C
o
M
M

T
E
E

D
O
C
U
M
E
N
T

SPECIAL PROGRAMME FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND
RESEARCH TRAINING IN HUMAN REPRODUCTION - REPORT
ON THE POLICY AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE (PCC)
SESSION AND NOMINATION OF A MEMBER TO PCC IN
PLACE OF THAILAND WHOSE TERM EXPIRES ON
31 DECEMBER 1999

SEA/RC/52/5

1.

BACKGROUND

The Policy and Coordination Committee (PCC) of the Special Programme for Research,
Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction acts as a governing body of
the Special Programme and is responsible for its overall policy and strategy. For the purpose
of coordinating the. interests and responsibilities of the parties cooperating in the Special
Programme, it:

2.

«

reviews and decides upon the planning and execution of the Special Programme;

o

reviews and approves the plan of action and budget for the coming financial period
prepared by the Executing Agency and reviewed by the Scientific and Technical
Advisory Group (STAG) and the Standing Committee;

°

reviews the proposals of the Standing Committee and approves arrangements for
the financing of the Special Programme;

o

reviews proposed longer-term plans of action and their financial implications;

o

reviews the annual financial statements submitted by the Executing Agency, and the
audit report thereon, submitted by the External Auditor of the Executing Agency;

o

reviews periodic reports that will evaluate the progress of the Special Programme
towards the achievement of its objectives;

o

reviews and endorses the selection of members of STAG by the Executing Agency
in consultation with the Standing Committee, and

°

considers such other matters relating to the Special Programme as may be referred
to it by any Cooperating Party.

COMPOSITION

PCC consists of 32 members from among the Cooperating Parties (see Annex) as follows:

(1) Largest financial contributors: Eleven government representatives from the
countries which were the largest financial contributors to the Special Programme in
the previous biennium.
(2) Countries elected by WHO Regional Committees: Fourteen Member Countries
elected by the WHO Regional Committees for three-year terms according to
population distribution and regionaLrieeds. Three countries represent South-East
Asia under this category.
In their election, due account is taken of a c^un.tryis_fjrianfii^.and/_ocJechnical
support to the Special Programnie as well as its interest in the fields of family
planning, research and development in human reproduction and fertility regulation
as demonstrated by national policies and programmes.

(3) Other interested Cooperating Parties: Two members elected by PCC for threeyear terms from the remaining Cooperating Parties.

SEA/RC/52/5
Page 2

(4) Permanent members: The co-sponsors of the Special Programme viz., UNDP,
UNFPA, WHO, the World Bank and the International Planned Parenthood
Federation (IPPF).

Members of PCC in categories (2) and (3) may be re-elected.
(5) Observers: Other Cooperating Parties may be represented as observers upon
approval of the Executing Agency, which is the World Health Organization, after
consultation with the Standing Committee. Observers may attend sessions of PCC
at their own expense.

3.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE

3.1 Noting of the Report on PCC Session
The Regional Committee, at its previous session, recommended that the PCC members
elected by it should report to the Consultative Committee for Programme Development and
Management (CCPDM), giving a summary of the deliberations of the last PCC session
attended by them.
The delegates from lndia.-Lodonesia and Thailand attended the 12h meeting of PCC, held
in Geneva from 17-18 June 1999, and a report on their participation was presented at the 36h
meeting of CCPDM, held at Dhaka from 30 August to 4 September 1999. The Regional
Committee may note this presentation, contained in the report of the CCPDM.

3.2 Nomination of Members from the South-East Asia Region under Category 2
The current membership of PCC from the South-East Asia Region is as follows:
Period

Elected by

Paragraph of the Memorandum
on the administrative structure
under which elected

Bangladesh

1987-1989
1990-1992

Regional Committee
Regional Committee

2.2.2
2.2.2

India

1988-1989
1990-1991
1993-1995
1996-1998
1999-2001

PCC
PCC
Regional Committee
Regional Committee
Regional Committee

2.2.1
2.2.1
2.2.2
2.2.2
2.2.2

Indonesia

1992-1994
1995-1997
1998-2000

Regional Committee
Regional Committee
Regional Committee

2.2.2
2.2.2
2.2.2

Nepal

1989-1991

Regional Committee

2.2.2

Sri Lanka

1988-1990
1994-1996

Regional Committee
Regional Committee

2.2.2
2.2.2

Thailand

1988-1990
1991-1993
1997-1999

PCC
Regional Committee
Regional Committee

2.2.3
2.2.2
2.2.2

Country

SEA/RC/52/5
Page 3

At present, the three Member Countries from the South-East Asia Region that are
members of PCC are India, Indonesia and Thailand. Since the term of office of Thailand ends
on 31 December 1999, the Regional Committee may consider electing, in this session, one of
its Member States to serve on PCC for a three-year term of office from 1 January 2000. In this
connection, it may be noted that India and Indonesia have already been elected under category
(2) to serve until December 2001 and December 2000 respectively. Another SEAR Member
State, Nepal, has been elected under category (3). Nepal's term of office will start from
1 January 2000 and last until December 2002. With the exception, therefore, of India, Indonesia
and Nepal, all other countries in the Region may be considered for election.

In selecting a Member Country, the Regional Committee may keep in view that due
account has to be taken of a country’s financial and/or technical support to the Special
Programme as well as its interest in the field of family planning, research and development in
human reproduction and fertility regulation as demonstrated by the national policies and
programmes.

SEA/RC/52/5
Page 4

Annex

COMPOSITION OF THE POLICY AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE (PCC)

(1)

LARGEST FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTORS IN THE PREVIOUS BIENNIUM - CATEGORY (1)

Australia
Canada
Finland
Germany
Japan
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States of America
(2)

COUNTRIES ELECTED BY THE WHO REGIONAL COMMITTEES - CATEGORY (2)

Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Costa Rica
India
Indonesia
Jamaica
Malaysia
Pakistan
Republic of Korea
Singapore
Thailand
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
14 government representatives from Member States are distributed as follows:
Africa
4
Americas
2
South-East Asia
3
Europe
1

Eastern Mediterranean
Western Pacific

1
3

SEA/RC/52/5
Page 5

(3)

OTHER INTERESTED COOPERATING PARTIES - CATEGORY (3)

China

Egypt
(4)

PERMANENT MEMBERS - CATEGORY (4)

UNDP
UNFPA

WHO

The World Bank

IPPF

>

Co-sponsors

WORLD

HEALTH

ORGANIZATION

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR
SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 13.2

Fifty-second session

SEA/RC52/5 Add.1

5 September 1999

WHO SPECIAL PROGRAMME FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT
AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN HUMAN REPRODUCTION:
POLICY AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE (PCC) ATTENDANCE AT 1999 PCC

This document contains highlights of the report
to the Thirty-sixth Meeting of the Consultative
Committee for Programme Development and
Management
(CCPDM)
made
by
the
representative of Thailand on the subject item.

SEA/RC52/5 Add.1
Page 1

WHO SPECIAL PROGRAMME FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND
RESEARCH TRAINING IN HUMAN REPRODUCTION:
POLICY AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE (PCC) ATTENDANCE AT 1999 PCC

The member from Thailand presented the report on behalf of the representatives
from Indonesia and Thailand on the participation of these countries in the 12th
meeting of the Policy and Coordination Committee (PCC) of the WHO Special
Programme for Research, Development and Research Training in Human
Reproduction. It was noted that the WHO Headquarters had decided to establish
a small working group to look into the interaction between the new structure and
work of clusters and the structure and work of the co-sponsored programmes
such as TDR and HRP. A consultant would review the HRP programme and
propose possible future restructuring. The HRP’s objectives drawn up at the time
of its establishment were still valid. The Programme had made useful contribution
in the area of technical information and technology transfer and strengthening
capacity building for health sen/ices research at national levels. The need for a
multisectoral and multi-disciplinary approach was emphasized.
The PCC also discussed matters relating to the Meeting of the Scientific
and Ethical Review Group. It endorsed the mechanisms adopted by the
Programme to ensure that the views of the developing countries contributed to
priority setting in the Programme’s activities and recommended that WHO address
ethical responsibilities of researchers at country level. Reports of the STAG and
Gender Advisory Panel were noted. The PCC also discussed the 1998-1999
interim financial report and the current funding situation and noted with some
concern the financiai constraints that existed. The PCC re-elected Egypt and Nepal under category - 3 (Other Interested Cooperating Parties) for the period
2000-2002 and agreed on the dates for its future meetings.

The CCPDM noted the report presented by the member from Thailand.

WORLD

HEALTH

ORGANIZATION

R
E
G
I
O
N
A
L

C
o
M
M
I
T
T
E
E
D
O
C
U
M
E
N
T

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 13.3

Fifty-second session

SEA/RC52/lnf.3

2 July 1999

WHO ACTION PROGRAMME ON ESSENTIAL DRUGS INFORMATION PAPER ON THE SESSION OF THE MANAGEMENT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MAC)

SEA/RC52/lnf.3
Page 2

1.

BACKGROUND

The concept of Health for All by the Year 2000 (HFA/2000) was adopted by the World Health
Assembly in 1977. The importance of primary health care (PHC) as a key approach was
highlighted by the Declaration of Alma-Ata in 1978, which identified eight components of

PHC, of which one is the provision of essential drugs.
The HFA/2000 strategy, the Conference of Experts on the Rational Use of Drugs, held in
Nairobi in 1985, WHO’s Revised Drugs Strategy, adopted by the World Health Assembly in
1986, and the report of the WHO Expert Committee on National Drug Policies, published in
1995, have all contributed to the development of the Action Programme on Essential Drugs
of WHO.
The Action Programme on Essential Drugs, also known as the Drug Action Programme
(DAP), is, inter alia promoting the availability of essential drugs of proven efficacy and safety
at a low cost without sacrificing the quality of the product. The supply of essential drugs for
PHC requires development and implementation of national drug policies based on the
essential drugs concept. Hence DAP is involved in providing direct technical input,
managerial expertise and financial support for the implementation of country programmes on
essential drugs. Consequently, guidelines forteaching and training materials have also been
developed in the areas of drug quantification and rational use of drugs. Regular evaluation
and review of project activities are planned and carried out at global, regional and country
levels by WHO.

2.

MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Management Advisory Committee (MAC) acts as an advisory body to the DirectorGeneral of WHO, making recommendations on matters related to the policy, strategy,
finance, management, monitoring and evaluation of WHO’s Action Programme on Essential
Drugs. The Committee represents the interest and responsibility of WHO’s external partners
collaborating with WHO in its Action Programme on Essential Drugs. The eleventh meeting
of the Action Programme on Essential Drugs Management Advisory Committee took place in
Geneva on 16 and 17 March 1999.
The functions of the Committee are to:


review, analyse and guide the programme of activities and related budget of
Essential Drugs and Other Medicines (EDM) Department and make appropriate
recommendations to the Director-General;

.

review the arrangements envisaged by the Director-General of WHO for financing
and managing EDM;
a



review proposed longer-term plans of action and their financial implications'



review financial statements of EDM;

SEA/RC52/lnf.3
Page 3

review periodic reports evaluating the progress of EDM towards the achievement of
i s o jectives and submit its findings and recommendations to the Director-General;
*

WayS
’mProving. as appropriate, coordination between the activities of
and of other relevant programmes and organizations; and
consider any other matters relating to EDM referred to it by the Director-General of
WHO, EDM Department or any member of the Committee.

In carrying out its functions, MAC is informed of all policy decisions and
recommendations concerning EDM or WHO's Revised Strategy on Drugs made by the
World Health Assembly and the Executive Board.

3.

COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE

The Committee is formed as follows:
Members

o

The government representatives of those countries which contributed funding in
support of EDM’s budget in the previous two years;

o

Two Member States undertaking drug policy and programme development from
each of WHO’s six regions selected by the respective Regional Committees for
three-year terms. Regional Committees, responsible for choosing representatives,
should be asked to select from countries undertaking drug policy and programme
development;

»

Major international organizations collaborating in the implementation of WHO’s
Revised Drug Strategy, such as UNDP, UNICEF, UNIDO and the World Bank.

Observers

Other concerned parties invited by the Director-General to attend as observers.


4.

Members selected from the six regions of WHO may be reappointed. The
Chairperson of MAC shall, in principle, be a government representative and shall be
elected from and by members of MAC for a period of two years, but, while eligible for
re-election, may not serve consecutive terms. The Chairperson shall preside over
meetings of MAC and undertake whatever additional duties may be assigned by
MAC, in agreement with the Director-General of WHO. Observers are encouraged to
take part in the deliberations of MAC.

OPERATION

MAC shall meet once a year. It concentrates on reviewing EDM’s programme in light of the
financial support that will have been pledged and the past, present and future coordination of
external support for EDM’s principal areas of activity (country support, development work,
operational research, and management). The meeting also reviews and guides the following
year’s programme and related budget. MAC may also meet more often upon the proposal of

SEA/RC52/lnf.3
Page 4

either its Chairperson or the Director-General of WHO, and with the latter’s agreement. MAC
decides its method of work, which may include the establishment of a number of functional
sub-committees. All such sub-committees shall have an advisory role of MAC. Each MAC
meeting elects a rapporteur from among its members who assists in ensuring that the
decisions reached by the meeting are adopted and recorded before its closure. MAC,
whenever possible, adopts its conclusions by consensus. Director, EDM is the Secretary of
MAC.

For these purposes, MAC is assisted in its endeavours by WHO of whatever secretariat
and other support services which are considered to be necessary and reasonable.

5.

REPRESENTATION OF SEAR IN MAC

The two countries selected to represent the South-East Asia Region are Bangladesh (whose
present mandate extends from 1999 to 2001 and is in the first year of the mandate) and
Myanmar (whose present mandate extends from 1998 to 2000 and is in the second year of
the mandate). The tenure of each country is three years.

6.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE

The Regional Committee is requested to note that a delegate each from Bangladesh and
Myanmar attended the Eleventh MAC meeting, held in Geneva on 16 and 17 March 1999.
The report on the MAC meeting was presented at the 36lh meeting of CCPDM, which was
held from 30 August to 4 September 1999.
A table of countries from South-East Asia that have been a member of MAC since its
first meeting in 1989 is given below.

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

MAC 13
2001

XXX

MAC 10
1998

XXX

MAC 7
1995

MAC 6
1994

XXX

MAC 12
2000

Bangladesh

XXX

MAC 11
1999

Myanmar

XXX

MAC 9
1997

Thailand

XXX

MAC 8
1996

Sri Lanka

XXX

XXX

MAC 5
1993

Bhutan

XXX

MAC 4
1992

Indonesia

1991

Bhutan

MAC 3

MAC 2
1990

Country

MAC 1
1989

Representation of Member Countries of SEAR at MAC Meetings

XXX
XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

WORLD

HEALTH

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

ORGANIZATION

R
E
G
I
O
N

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 13.3

Fifty-second session

SEA/RC52/lnf.3 Add.1
5 September 1999

>A
L
C
O
M
M
I
T
T
E

D
O
C
U
M
E
N
T

WHO ACTION PROGRAMME ON ESSENTIAL DRUGS
MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MAC) ATTENDANCE AT 1999 MAC

This document contains the highlights
of the report to the Thirty-sixth Meeting
of the Consultative Committee for
Programme
Development
and
Management (CCPDM) made by the
representative of Bangladesh on the
subject item.

SEA/RC52/lnf,3 Add.1
Page 1

WHO ACTION PROGRAMME ON ESSENTIAL DRUGS
MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MAC) ATTENDANCE AT 1999 MAC
The member from Bangladesh presented the report on behalf of representatives
from Bangladesh and Myanmar on the participation of these countries in the 11th
meeting of the Management Advisory Committee (MAC), held in March 1999.
MAC discussed a theme paper on effective regulation of drugs. The MAC noted
that there was a need to develop capacity in developing drugs regulation in some
countries. Surveillance for safety and efficacy of drugs was necessary. Effective
enforcement of drugs law was important in order to achieve effective drug
regulation. Establishment of national quality control laboratory would facilitate
carrying out quality assessment of the drug before and after procurement. Apart
from WHO regular budget, enhanced extrabudgetary funds and increased
financial contribution from the Government would go a long way in implementing
activities under Essential Drugs and other Medicines (EDM) within the countries.
Additionally, alternative health care financing mechanisms such as user fees, fees
for drugs, community donation, health insurance scheme etc. could also bring in
additional funds. A review of the activities of the EDM for 1998-1999 was
presented. It was essential to give high priority to drug regulation and quality of
drugs and assist countries in determining needs within the context of their overall
health strategies and their regulatory and resource capacity.

He also briefly described
recommendations of the MAC.

the action

taken

in

his

country on the

The FOLLOWING ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CCPDM DISCUSSIONS:
»

The recommended ways of improving Essential Drugs and Medicines
assistance to Member Countries in SEAR should be considered for support
under the ICP II mechanism. However, the emphasis should be more on the
National Drug Policy/Nationai Essential Drugs List and rational use of drugs.



It is important to ensure continuous availability of essential drugs to
developing countries.



There was concern at the growing tendency to utilize representatives of ’
multinational pharmaceutical companies at policy making levels in WHOHeadquarters as this could influence decisions to the detriment of developing
countries. Thus, developing countries should closely monitor the structural
and leadership reform in WHO Headquarters.

The CCPDM
Bangladesh.

noted

the

report

presented

by

the

member

from

WORLD

HEALTH

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

ORGANIZATION

R
E
G

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 5

Fifty-second Session

SEA/RC52/lnf.1

8 July 1999

I
O
N
A
L

PLANS OF ACTION IN OPERATION IN
MEMBER COUNTRIES

C

o

In the list of plans of action, the following abbreviations are used under "Funds”:

M
M
I
T
T
E
E

AS
DP
FB
FT
RB
ST
VB
VC
VD
VI

Special Account for Servicing Costs
United Nations Development Programme
Associate Professional Officers
Trust Funds
Regular Budget
Sasakawa Health Trust Fund
Voluntary Fund for Prevention of Blindness
Voluntary Fund for Diarrhoeal Diseases and Acute Respiratory Infections
Voluntary Fund for Others
Voluntary Fund for Expanded Programme on Immunization

VM
VN
VP
VT

Voluntary Fund for Malaria
Voluntary Fund for Disasters and Natural Catastrophes
Voluntary Fund for Mental Health Programme
Voluntary Fund for Tuberculosis

D
O
C
U
M
E
N
T

SEA/RC52/lnf.1
Plan of Action
Number

Funds

Title

BANGLADESH

BAN COR 003

AS

Resource mobilization and aid management and coordination

BAN HSD 031

RB

Women, health and development

BAN RPS 001

VD

Strengthening of Bangladesh Medical Research Council

BAN TCC 020

RB

WHO Country Office

BAN ICO 011

RB

Health development strategies and plans

BAN EHA 011

RB

Emergency preparedness programme

BAN HST 001

VD

Further development of TB and leprosy control services

BAN HST 060

VD

Management information system for health

BAN HST 061

VD

Strengthening of management information system/family planning unit

BAN HST 062

RB

Strengthening country health information to support national health
futures, planning, monitoring and evaluation

BAN PLL 061

RB

Library and health literature services

BAN HSR 011

RB

Promotion, coordination and information exchange in the practice of
health systems research: Strengthening of Bangladesh Medical Research
Council

BAN DHS 001

RB

Support of PHC development in Bangladesh through district health
system

BAN DHS 020

VD

Health care quality assurance

BAN HRH 001

VD

Training of all categories of health personnel in operational management
of different clinical specialities

BAN HRH 010

VD

Master Plan for human resources for health development (TAPP)

BAN HRH 020

VD

Expansion and development of National Institute of Preventive and Social
Medicine (NIPSOM)

BAN HRH 021

RB

Educational development for health care providers: Strengthening of
medical education in Bangladesh

BAN HRH 022

RB

Strengthening of para-medical education (health technology)

BAN HRH 031

RB

Strengthening nursing and midwifery

BAN HRH 040

VD

Further development of medical colleges

BAN HRH 041

RB

Direct support to training institutions: Strengthening of Bangladesh
College of Physicians and Surgeons

BAN HRH 042

RB

Direct support to training institute: Strengthening of postgraduate medical
education

BAN DAP 021

RB

National drug policy and essential drugs programme

BAN THC 021

RB

Health laboratory technology and related services

BAN THC 041

RB

Repair and maintenance of electro-medical equipment

BAN DSE 021

RB

Quality assurance of pharmaceuticals and biologicals

BAN DSE 022

RB

Quality assurance of essential drugs to public health delivery

BAN TRM011

RB

Integration of traditional medicine into national health care system

RB

Alliance for women’s health and safe motherhood

BAN RPH 001

SEA/RC52/ lnf.1
Page 2
Plan of Action
Numbar

Funds

BAN RPH 001

VD

Pilot project for development of maternal and neonatal health care

BAN RPH 040

VD

Sterilization surveillance team

BAN AHE011

RB

Community based care for ageing and health

BAN OCH 001

RB

Promotion of occupational health in Bangladesh

BAN MNH 011

RB

Prevention, treatment and management of neuropsychiatric disorders

BAN ADT 001

RB

Prevention of substance abuse including alcohol and tobacco

BAN HEP 002

VD

Strengthening of school health services

BAN HEP 021

RB

Development of health promotion and education by strengthening
communication, media and new information technology

Title

BAN INF 001

RB

Establishment of mechanism for information dissemination

BAN RHB011

RB

Community based rehabilitation

BAN NUT 001

RB

Strengthening nutrition education, acceptable nutritional practices and
research in nutrition at all levels

BAN FOS 001

RB

Awareness raising on food safety

BAN CWS 001

RB

Strengthening water supply and sanitation programme

BAN EUD 001

RB

Healthy environments

BAN EHH 001

RB

Assessment of environmental health hazards

BAN GEE 020

ST

Leprosy elimination and control

BAN GEE 021

RB

Elimination of leprosy by the year 2000 AD

BAN GEE 030

VI

Eradication of poliomyelitis

BAN GEE 032

VI

Strengthening of acute flaccid paralysis surveillance

Immunization

BAN VID 011

RB

BAN CDR 001

RB

BAN CDR 010

VD/VC

BAN CDR 011

VD

Control of diarrhoeal diseases

BAN TUB 001

RB

Control of tuberculosis

BAN EMC 011

RB

Epidemiological surveillance and control

BAN OCD011

RB

Control of rabies

BAN OCD 040

VD

Prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases

BAN OCD 041

RB

Prevention and control of HIV/AIDS/STDs

BAN CTD 001

RB

Vector borne disease control

BAN CTD 090

VD

Integrated control of vector borne diseases

Diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections
ARI control programme

BAN PBD 001

VD

Primary eye care

BAN PBD 011

RB

Prevention of blindness

BAN PBD 021

RB

Prevention of deafness

BAN NCD 031

RB

Cancer and palliative care

BAN NCD 041

RB

Control of cardiovascular diseases

BAN NCD 061

RB

Prevention and control of diabetes

BAN NCD 081

RB

Oral health

SEA/RC52/lnf,1
Page 3
Plan of Action
Number

Funds

Title

BHUTAN

BHU RPS 001

RB

Research policy and strategy coordination

BHU TCC 020

RB

WHO Country Office

BHU ICO 011

RB

Health development strategies and plans

BHU HST 061

RB

Strengthening country health information

BHU DHS 001

RB

District health systems

BHU HRH 001

RB

Human resources for health

BHU DAP 001

RB

National essential drugs programme

BHU DAP 010

VD

National essential drugs programme

BHU THC 001

RB

Quality assurance in health care technology

BHU TRM 001

RB

Traditional medicine

BHU RPH 001

RB

Reproductive health

BHU MNH 001

RB

Community-based mental health

BHU HEP 001

RB

Health promotion

BHU RHB 001

RB

Community-based rehabilitation

BHU NUT 001

RB

Nutrition

BHU CWS 001

RB

Water supply and sanitation

BHU GEE 001

RB

Polio eradication and leprosy elimination

BHU CDR 001

RB

Diarrhoeal and acute respiratory disease control

BHU TUB 001

RB

Tuberculosis prevention and control

BHU OCD 001

RB

Other communicable diseases prevention and control

BHU CTD011

RB

Malaria control

BHU NCD001

RB

Noncommunicable diseases control

KRD RPS 001

RB

Biomedical and health systems research

KRD TCC 001

RB

Strengthening national capabilities in programme development and
management

KRD EHA 001

VN

Emergency programme for water and sanitation

KRD EHA 020

VN

Emergency assistance for disease surveillance system

KRD EHA 021

VN

Emergency assistance for tuberculosis control

KRD EHA 022

VN

Strengthening of early warning system and control of epidemics

KRD DHS 001

RB

Strengthening of district health systems

KRD HRH 001

RB

Human resources for health

KRD DAP 001

RB

Essential drugs and biologicals

KRD THC 001

RB

Technology for health care

KRD TRM 001

RB

Traditional medicine

KRD RPH 011

RB

Strengthening maternity care

1 DPR KOREA Q

SEA/RC52/ lnf.1
Page 4
Plan of Action
Number

Funds

KRD CHD 001

RB

Child health

KRD AHE 001

RB

Health care of elderly

KRD GEE 031

RB

Eradication of poliomyelitis

KRD OCD 001

RB

Prevention and control of other communicable diseases

KRD NOD 001

RB

Control of cancer and other noncommunicable diseases

KRD NCD 041

RB

Prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases

KRD NUT 001

RB

Strengthening community-based nutritional activities

INDGPD011

RB

Supporting the new health for all strategy

IND HSD051

RB

Health legislation and medical ethics

IND RPS 001

RB

Research promotion and strategy coordination

IND TGC 001

RB

Technical cooperation with countries

IND TCC 020

RB/AS

IND HSR 001

RB

Health systems research and development

IND DHS 001

RB

Strengthening of primary health care infrastructure

IND DHS 011

RB

Health education for empowerment of poor

Title

WHO Country Office

IND DHS 012

RB

Strengthening primary health care for tribal people

IND HRH 001

RB

Development of human resources for health

IND HRH 002

RB

Training in primary health care and reproductive child health

IND HRH 031

RB

Strengthening nursing and midwifery

IND DAP 001

RB

Action programme on essential drugs

IND DAP 010

VD

Essential drugs programme

IND TRM 001

RB

Traditional medicine

IND TRM 011

RB

Integration of indigenous systems of medicine for primary health care in
tribal areas

IND RPH 041

RB

Family planning services and quality assurance

IND AHD 011

RB

Promotion of health education for adolescents

IND AHE 001

RB

Health care of the elderly

IND OCH 031

RB

Occupational health

IND MNH 001

RB

Mental health

IND ADT 001

RB

Prevention and control of substance abuse

IND RHB011

RB

Community-based rehabilitation

IND NUT 001

RB

Nutrition

IND FOS 001

RB

National food safety programme

IND CWS 001

RB

IND EUD011

RB

Urban community water supply and sanitation
Healthy cities

IND EHH 001

RB

Support to hospital waste management

SEA/RC52/lnf.1
Page 5
Plan of Action
Number

Funds

IND PCS 001

RB

IND GEE 021

RB

Leprosy elimination

IND GEE 022

ST

Leprosy elimination campaign

IND GEE 030

VI

Eradication of poliomyelitis

IND GEE 031

VI

Eradication of poliomyelitis (Laboratory: New Delhi)

Title

Strengthening national capabilities and capacities in environmental
epidemiological surveillance and chemical risk assessment

IND GEE 032

VI

Eradication of poliomyelitis (Laboratory: Bombay)

IND REE 001

RB

Guineaworm eradication

IND REE 002

RB

Yaws eradication

IND VID 001

RB

Vaccine-preventable diseases control

IND VID 032

VI

Vaccine-preventable diseases

IND TUB 001

RB

Tuberculosis control

IND EMC 000

FT

Strengthening HIV/AIDS surveillance within an integrated national
surveillance system

IND OCD 001

RB

Control of other communicable diseases

IND OCD 041

RB

Prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases

IND CTD 001

RB

Visceral leishmaniasis, filariasis and Japanese Encephalitis control

IND CTD 011

RB

Malaria control

IND TDR 001

RB

Research on tropical diseases

IND PBD 021

RB

Prevention and control of deafness

INDNCD031

RB

Cancer control and palliative care

INO TCC 011

RB

Health planning and management

INO TCC 012

RB

Small scale technical support

INO TCC 020

RB

WHO Country Office

INO TCC 031

RB

International meetings and comparative studies

INO NHP 021

RB

Health financing

M INDONESIA I

INO DHS 001

RB

Strengthening the district referral system

INO DHS 021

RB

Quality of health care services

INO HRH 001

RB

Human resources for health

INO DAP 010

VD

National essential drugs programme

INO DAP 011

RB

National drug policy and rational drug use

INO DAP 011

VD

Support to the national drugs programme

INO RPH 001

RB

Reproductive health

RB

Occupational health

INO OCH 001
INO FOS 001

RB

Food safety

INO CWS 001

RB

Water sanitation and environmental health

SEA/RC52/ Inf.1
Page 6



Plan of Action
Number

Funds

INO PCS 001

RB

Promotion of chemical safety

INOGEE 021

RB

INO GEE 030

VI

Elimination of leprosy
Support to eradication of poliomyelitis: Laboratory

INO GEE 031

RB

Poliomyelitis eradication

INO GEE 031

VI

Acute flaccid paralysis surveillance

INO GEE 032

VI

Poliomyelitis eradication — Acute flaccid paralysis surveillance

INO VID 001

RB

Other vaccine-preventable diseases

INQCDR010

VC

Acute respiratory infection and diarrhoea

INQCDR011

RB

Control of acute respiratory infections and diarrhoeal diseases

INOCDR 021

RB

Integrated management of childhood illness

INO TUB 001

RB

Prevention and control of tuberculosis

INO TUB 030

VT

Tuberculosis control

INO EMC 011

RB

Epidemiological surveillance

INO OCD 041

RB

STD/AIDS prevention and control

INOCTD011

RB

Malaria control

INO PBD010

VD

Primary eye care

INO NCD 001

RB

Noncommunicable diseases control

MAV TCC 020

RB

WHO Country Office

MAVTCC 031

RB

Technical cooperation among countries

MAV ICO 021

RB

Health planning, management and resource mobilization

MAV HST 061

RB

Strengthening country health information systems

MAV DHS 021

RB

Hospitals and health centres, performance and quality assurance

MAV HRH 001

RB

Development of human resources for health

MAV DAP 010

VD

National essential drugs programme

MAV DAP 011

RB

Action programme on essential drugs

MAVTHC011

RB

Quality assurance in public health laboratories

MAV RPH 001

RB

Strengthening of reproductive health programme

MAV HEP 001

RB

Health promotion

MAV NUT 001

RB

Nutrition

MAV FOS 001

RB

Food safety

MAV CWS 001

RB

Safe drinking water and sanitation

MAV HCE 001

RB

Environmental health management plan

MAV GEE 021

RB

Elimination of leprosy

MAV VID 001

RB

Vaccine-preventable diseases control

MAV TUB 001

RB

Prevention and control of tuberculosis

Title

MALDIVES M

SEA/RC52/lnf.1
Page 7
Plan of Action
Number

Funds

MAV EMC 001

RB

Strengthening epidemiological surveillance and administration of
international health regulations

MAV OCD 041

RB

AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases control

MAV CTD 001

RB

Prevention and control of vector-borne diseases

MAV NCD 001

RB

Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases

MAV NCD 071

RB

Prevention and control of thalassaemia

MMRHSD 001

RB

Health in socioeconomic development

MMR HSD 031

RB

Women, health and development

MMR RPS 001

RB

Research policy and strategy coordination

MMR TCC 020

RB

WHO Country Office

MMR ICO 021

RB

Resource mobilization and aid management coordination

MMR EHA 011

RB

Emergency and humanitarian action

MMR HST 001

RB

Epidemiology, statistics, trend assessment and country health information

MMR HSR 001

RB

Health systems research

MMR DHS 001

RB

District health systems

MMR DHS 002

DP

Improving rural community access to PHC

MMR DHS 021

RB

Quality of care at hospitals

MMR HRH 001

RB

Human resources for health

MMR DAP 001

RB

Action programme on essential drugs

MMR DAP 010

VD

National essential drugs programme

MMR THC 021

RB

Health laboratory technology and related services

MMR DSE 021

RB

Quality assurance of biologicals and pharmaceuticals

MMR DSE 041

RB

Technical assistance to national drug regulatory administration

MMR TRM 001

RB

Traditional medicine

MMR RPH 001

RB

Reproductive health

MMR ADH 001

RB

Adolescent health

MMR AHE 001

RB

Health of the elderly

MMR OCH 001

RB

Occupational health

MMR MNH 001

RB

Mental health

MMR ADT 001

RB

Prevention and control of substance abuse

MMR HEP 011

RB

Health education and information for the public

MMR HEP 031

RB

MMR RHB 001

RB

School health
Rehabilitation and accident prevention

MMR NUT 001

RB

Nutrition

MMR FOS 001

RB

Food safety

MMR CWS 001

RB

Water supply and sanitation

Title

■ MYANMAR ■



SEA/RC52/ lnf.1
Page 8
Plan of Action
Number

f-unds

MMR EUD011

RB

MMR EHH 001

RB

Healthy cities (Mandalay)
Assessment of environmental health hazards

MMR GEE 020

VI

Leprosy control programme

MMR GEE 021

RB

MMR GEE 030

VI

Leprosy elimination
Poliomyelitis eradication — Strengthening of acute flaccid paralysis
surveillance

MMR GEE 031

RB

Eradication of poliomyelitis

MMR GEE 032

VI

Global eradication of poliomyelitis: Strengthening of acute flaccid
paralysis surveillance

MMR VID 001

RB

Vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization

MMR VID 002

VI

Polio eradication initiative

MMR CDR 001

RB

Diarrhoeal and acute respiratory diseases control

MMR TUB 001

RB

Tuberculosis control

MMR OCD011

RB

Epidemiological surveillance

MMR OCD 041

RB

HIV/STD prevention and control

MMR OCD 042

DP

Enhancing capacity for HIV/STD prevention and care

Title

MMR CTD 001

RB

Control of tropical diseases

MMR CTD 090

VD

Control of tropical diseases

MMR PBD 001

RB

Prevention of blindness and deafness

MMR NCD 001

RB

Control of other noncommunicable diseases

MMR NCD 081

RB

Oral health care

WHO Country Office

NEPAL

NEP TCC 020

RB

NEP ICO 021

RB

Resource mobilization, aid management and coordination

NEP ICO 002

ST

Country health planning programming and health information system and
development of informatics facilities in support of health system

NEP EHA 022

VN

Earthquake preparedness and mitigation project

NEP HSR 001

RB

Health systems research

NEP NHP011

RB

Policy reform and restructuring of health systems

NEP DHS 011

RB

District, local and community health action for strengthening district health
systems

NEP HRH 001

RB

Human resources for health

NEP DAP 001

RB

Rational use of essential drugs

NEPTHC 001

RB

Health laboratory technology

NEPTRM 001

RB

Traditional medicine

NEP RPH 010

DP

Strengthening national capacity to reduce maternal deaths and disabilities

NEP RPH 011

RB

Safe motherhood

NEP MNH 011

RB

Prevention, treatment and management of neuropsychiatric disorders

SEA/RC52/lnf.1
Page 9

r

r

Plan of Action
Number

Funds

Title

NEP HEP 011

RB

Promotion of healthy lifestyles

NEP RHB011

RB

Community-based rehabilitation

NEP NUT 031

RB

Infant, young child and maternal nutrition

NEP CWS 001

RB

Water supply and sanitation

NEP EUD 011

RB

Healthy cities

NEP EHH 001

RB

Environmental health

NEP GEE 001

RB

Eradication and elimination of polio, neonatal tetanus and measles

NEP GEE 021

RB

Leprosy elimination

NEP GEE 030

VI

Poliomyelitis eradication

NEP GEE 040

VI

Elimination of neonatal tetanus

NEP VID 011

RB

Immunization

NEP VID 011

VI

National immunization days

NEP CDR 001

RB

Diarrhoea and ARI control

NEP CDR 001

FB

Diarrhoea and ARI control

NEP TUB 002

VT

Planning and management - Control of tuberculosis

NEP TUB 021

RB

Coordination and resource mobilization for prevention and control of
tuberculosis

NEP TUB 030

VT

Tuberculosis - National programme support - Medical Officer

NEP TUB 030/M

VT

Tuberculosis - National programme support - Medical Officer

NEP EMC 011

RB

Surveillance and control of emerging diseases

NEP OCD 041

RB

Prevention and control of STD and HIV/AIDS

NEP CTD 001

RB

Prevention and control of malaria and other vector-borne diseases

NEP PBD001

RB

Prevention of blindness and deafness

NEP PBD010

VB

Prevention of blindness programme

NEP PBD010

VD

Primary eye care

NEP NCD 081

RB

Oral health

SRL TCC 011

RB

Country needs analysis and WHO support to countries

SRL TCC 020

RB

WHO Country Office

SRL HST 061

RB

Strengthening health information to support national health planning,
monitoring and evaluation

SRL PLL 061

RB

Library and health literature services

SRL HSR 011

RB

Promotion of health systems research

SRL DHS011

RB

Primary health care through district health system and community
participation

SRL DHS 021

RB

Management and performance of hospitals and health centres

SRL DHS 031

RB

Health systems response to rapid urbanization

SRI LANKA

SEA/RC52/ lnf.1
Page 10
Plan of Action
Number

Funds

SRLHRH021

RB

Educational development for health care providers

SRL HRH 031

RB

Strengthening nursing and midwifery services

SRL HRH 041

RB

Direct support to training institutions

SRL DAP 021

RB

Rational use of essential drugs and quality assurance of pharmaceuticals
and biologicals

SRLTHC001

RB

Health laboratory technology and related services

SRLTRM011

RB

Integration of traditional medicine into the national health care system

SRL RPH 001

RB

Reproductive health

SRL OCH 001

RB

Promotion of occupational health

SRL MNH 001

RB

Promotion of mental health

SRL MNH 002

VP

Nations for mental health initiative - Sri Lanka

SRL HEP 021

RB

IEC activities for health promotion

SRL RHB 011

RB

Community-based rehabilitation

SRL NUT 001

RB

Nutrition and food safety

SRL CWS 001

RB

Water supply and sanitation

SRL EUD 001

RB

Environmental health assessment

SRL GEE 021

RB

Elimination of leprosy

SRL REE 041

RB

Elimination of urban rabies

SRL VID 011

RB

Immunization

SRLCDR 001

RB

Strengthening diarrhoea and ARI control measures

SRL TUB 001

RB

Prevention and control of tuberculosis

SRL OCD 001

VD

Accelerated rabies control campaign

SRL OCD 041

RB

Prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and STD

SRL CTD 001

RB

Control of malaria and other vector-borne diseases

SRL PBD010

VD

Primary eye care

SRL PBD011

RB

Development and integration of primary eye care services with primary
health care

SRL NCD 001

RB

Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases

SRL NCD 050

VD

Prevention of rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease

THA RPS 021

RB

Research policy and strategy coordination

TH A TCC 001

RB

Development of WHO support to countries

THA TCC 020

RB

WHO Country Office

THA HST011

RB

Quality of health data/information

THA NHP 011

RB

Health care reform

THA DAP 001

RB

Quality use of medicine

THA DAP 010

VD

National programme on essential drugs programme

Title

<

SEA/RC52/lnf.1
Page 11

THA HEP 001

RB

Health promotion

THA TUB 031

RB

Technical assistance for TB control

THA TUB 031

VT

Technical assistance to Member States for tuberculosis control

THA OCD 001

RB

Control of emerging and other communicable diseases

THA OCD 041

RB

Technical assistance for AIDS and STDs

THA PBD010

VD

Primary eye care

THA GEE 030

VI

Eradication of poliomyelitis: Laboratory

ICP DGP 020

RB

Regional Director’s Development Fund

ICP COR 001/901

RB

External and interagency coordination and resource mobilization

ICP COR 001

AS

Coordination with other organizations

ICP HSD 001/901

RB

Health in socioeconomic development

ICP HSD 031/931

RB

Women, health and development

ICP RPS 001/901

RB

Regional promotion and strategy coordination

ICP RPS 001

FB

Research policy and strategy coordination

ICP RPS 002/902

RB

Research capability strengthening

ICP TCC 011/911

RB

WHO technical cooperation with countries

ICP ICO 001

FB

Collaboration with countries and peoples in greatest need

ICP ICO 004

ST

Strengthening of the capacity of WR's office and joint Government/WHO
coordination mechanisms

ICP SUP 901

RB

Procurement services

ICP EHA 001/901

RB

Emergency preparedness and humanitarian action

ICP EHA 001

FB

Emergency and humanitarian action, relief and rehabilitation operation
and emergency preparedness programme

ICP EHA 002

VN

Health as a bridge for peace

ICP EHA 020

VN

Information system programme

ICP HST 001/901

RB

Health situation, trends and strengthening of national health information
systems and methodologies

ICP PLL 061/961

EB

Library and health literature services

ICP PLL 920

RB

Publications and documentation

ICP HSR 001

RB

Regional health systems research promotion

ICP NHP 001/901

RB

Strengthening national health systems and policies

ICP DHS 001/901

RB

Strengthening the organization, planning and management of district
health systems

ICP DHS 002/902

RB

Strengthening local health care and district health systems

ICP HRH 001/901

RB

Development of human resources for health

ICP HRH 020

VD

Support for management of health learning materials programme

ICP MFP901

RB

Management of fellowships

I INTERCOUNTRY ■

SEA/RC52/ lnf.1
Page 12
Plan of Action
Number

Title

Funds

ICP DAP 001/901

RB

Regional action progamme on essential drugs

ICP DAP 010

VD

Support to countries

ICP DAP 011

VD

Country progamme development

ICP DAP 012

VD

Technical cooperation in drug control among ASEAN countries

ICP DAP 013

VD

Technical cooperation among countries

ICP DAP 020

VD

Drug financing working group

ICPTHC 001/901

RB

Technology for health care

ICP DSE 001

RB

Drug quality and safety

ICPTRM 001

RB

Promotion of traditional medicine

ICP RPH 001/901

RB

Promotion of reproductive health

ICP AHE 001

RB

Health of elderly

ICP MNH 001/901

RB

Mental health

ICP HEP 001/901

RB

Health promotion and education

ICP INF 001

RB

Strengthening media and public relations

ICP RHB 001

RB

Rehabilitation

ICP RHB 001

VD

Development of community-based rehabilitation programmes for disabled
people in slum areas

ICP NUT 001/901

RB

Nutrition and food safety

ICP CWS 001/901

RB

Support for water supply and sanitation services

ICP PCS 001

RB

Promotion of chemical safety

ICP HCE 011/911

RB

Support for national planning for sustainable development

ICP GEE 020

ST

Leprosy control

ICP GEE 030

VI

Eradication of poliomyelitis

ICP GEE 032

VI

Global eradication of poliomyelitis: Supplies and equipment

ICP GEE 033

VI

Global programme for vaccine and immunization: Global eradication poliomyelitis

ICP GEE 035

VI

Poliomyelitis eradication - Strengthening of acute flaccid paralysis
surveillance

ICP GEE 932

VI

Disease control: Poliomyelitis eradication

ICP VID 001/901

RB

Expanded programme on immunization

ICP VID 001

VI

Vaccine-preventable diseases

ICP VID 002

VI

Training: National level training activities

ICP VID 010

VI

Immunization activities

ICP VID 901

VI

Vaccine-preventable diseases

ICP CDR 001

RB

Prevention and control of diarrhoeal diseases and ARI

ICP CDR 010

VC

Acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea

ICP TUB 001

RB

Prevention and control of tuberculosis

ICP TUB 001

VT

Operational research on tuberculosis

SEA/RC52/lnf.1
Page 13
Plan of Action
Number

Funds

ICP TUB 030

VT

Support to national programme activities

ICP TUB 040

VT

Operational research on tuberculosis

ICP EMC 001/901

RB

Epidemiological surveillance and control

ICP OCD 001/901

RB

Control of other communicable diseases

ICP OCD 041/941

RB

Prevention and control of STD and AIDS

ICP OCD 041

FT

HIV/AIDS prevention and care

ICPCTD 001/901

RB

Control of tropical diseases

1CPCTD010

VM

Malaria control and coordination

ICP PBD 001

RB

Prevention of blindness and deafness

ICP PBD 010

ST

Prevention of blindness

ICP PBD 020

VD

Prevention and control of deafness in six ASEAN countries

ICP NCD 001/901

RB

Integrated control of noncommunicable diseases

000 RCO 001

RB

Regional Committee and other policy and advisory bodies

000 EXM 001/901

RB

Executive management

000 GPD 001/901

RB

WHO management process

000 GPD 041

RB

Staff development and training

000 ISM 011/911

RB

Informatics support

000 SUP 001/901

RB

Procurement services

000 PLL 021/921

RB

Editing and production of WHO books and periodicals

000 MFP 001/901

RB

Management of fellowships

000 INF 001/901

RB

Strengthening media and public relations for health

000 PER 001/901

RB

Personnel services and administration

000 GAD 001/901

RB

Administrative support to technical programmes

000 GAD 002

RB

Hospitality - Administrative support

000 BFI 001/901

RB

Budget and Finance

Title

■ REGIONAL OFFICE

WORLD

HEALTH

ORGANIZATION

R
E
G

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR
SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 5

Fifty-second Session

SEA/RC52/lnf.2
16 July 1999

O
N
A
L

c
o
M
M
I
T
T
E
E
D
O
C
U
M
E
N
T

LIST OF TECHNICAL REPORTS ISSUED AND
MEETINGS AND COURSES ORGANIZED
DURING 1 JULY 1998 - 30 JUNE 1999

SEA/RC52/lnf.2

1. List of Technical Reports Issued
Author

Title

Document

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
SEA/AIDS/105

Strengthening of HIV/AIDS and STD surveillance system,
Maldives (MAV OCD 041), 8-17 December 1997

Dr S.R. Salunke

SEA/AIDS/106

Planning and implementing HIV/AIDS care programmes:
A step-by-step approach (ICP OCD 041), December 1998

Dr Jai P. Narain,
Dr Clement Chela and
Dr Eric van Praag

SEA/AIDS/107

Evaluation of the Regional STD/AIDS
(ICP OCD 041), 6-28 August 1998

Programme

Regional Office

SEA/AIDS/108

Combating HIV/AIDS in the South-East Asia Region Report on the meeting of National AIDS Programme
Managers, Yangon, Myanmar (ICP OCD 041), 15-17
December 1998

Regional Office

Advisory Committee on Health Research
SEA/ACHR/24

Twenty-fourth session of the WHO South-East Asia
Advisory Committee on Health Research - Report to the
Regional Director, Yangon (ICP RPS 001), 20-23 April 1999

Regional Office

Communicable Diseases

SEA/CD/121

Third SEARA/VPR Bi-regional Meeting on Control of
Communicable
Diseases,
Chiang
Mai,
Thailand
(ICP OCD 001),

Regional Office

SEA/CD/122

Strategies for control of measles in SEAR countries Report of an inter-agency consultation, WHO/SEARO,
New Delhi (ICP GEE 030), 24-25 February 1999

Regional Office

Diarrrhoeal Diseases
Control of diarrhoeal and respiratory diseases (ICP CDR
010), 15 July - 15 December 1998

Dr Neena Raina

SEA/Drugs/127

Medical drugs programme in Thailand (ICP EDV 001), 1997

Dr B.B. Gaitonde

SEA/Drugs/128

Drugs programme in Sri Lanka (ICP EDV 001), 1997

Dr B.B. Gaitonde

SEA/Drugs/129

Drugs programme in Nepal (ICP EDV 001), 1997

Dr B.B. Gaitonde

SEA/DD/46

Drugs

SEA/RC52/lnf.2
Page 2

Document

Title

SEA/Drugs/130

Drug policies in Mongolia (up to June 1995) (ICP EDV
001), 1997

Dr B.B Gaitonde

SEA/Drugs/131

Essential drugs programme in Myanmar (ICP EDV 001),
1997

Dr B.B Gaitonde

SEA/Drugs/132

Drug policy and development in the Republic of Myanmar
(ICP EDV 001), 1997

Dr B.B. Gaitonde

SEA/Drugs/133

Indonesian experiences in drug policy and management
(ICP EDV 001), 1997

Dr B.B. Gaitonde

SEA/Drugs/134

Medical drugs situation in DPR Korea (ICP EDV 001), 1997

Dr B.B. Gaitonde

SEA/Drugs/135

Essential drugs programme in Bhutan (ICP EDV 001), 1997

Dr B.B. Gaitonde

SEA/Drugs/136

Drug programme in Bangladesh (ICP EDV 001), 1997

Dr B B. Gaitonde

SEA/Drugs/137

Pharmaceuticals: Indian scenario (ICP EDV 001), 1997

Dr B.B Gaitonde

SEA/Drugs/138

Medical drugs programme in the WHO South-East Asia
Region (ICP EDV 001), 1997-1996

Dr B.B. Gaitonde

SEA/Drugs/139

ASEAN TCAC in pharmaceuticals - A success story
(ICP EDV 001)

Dr B.B. Gaitonde

SEA/Drugs/140

Financing drugs in South-East Asia (Health Economics
and Drugs: DAP series)

SEARO/HQ

SEA/Drugs/141

Management of drugs regulators from SE Asia and WP
Regions

SEA/Drugs/142
SEA/HLM/315

Quality assurance of pharmaceuticals in DPR Korea
(ICP DAP 010), 6-26 October 1998)

Dr Mrinal Kanti
Majumdar

SEA/Drugs/143

Meeting of drug regulators from South-East Asia and
Western Pacific Regions (ICP DAP 001), Tokyo, Japan,
4 September 1998

Regional Office

SEA/Drugs/144
SEA/HLM/318

Standardization and validation of potency testing of oral
polio vaccine and measles vaccine at the National Quality
Control Laboratory of Drugs and Food, Indonesia
(INO DAP 011), 9-27 November 1998

Fred W. van
Nimwegen

SEA/Drugs/145

Production of essential drugs in Myanmar (MMR DAP
001), 14-23 December 1998

Dr B.B. Gaitonde

SEA/Drugs/146

Bi-regional technical cooperation among countries in
essential drugs, Bangkok (ICP DAP 001), 22-23 March 1999

Regional Office

SEA/Drugs/147

Good manufacturing practices of pharmaceuticals in DPR
Korea (KRD DAP 001), 13-27 March 1999

Rudy F.B. Mantik

Author

SEA/RC52/lnf.2
Page 3

Author

Document

Economics
SEA/Econ./17

Parliamentarians' Call for Action, adopted at the Regional
Meeting of Parliamentarians on Economic Crisis and its
Impact on Health, Jakarta, Indonesia (INO TCC 012),
7-9 December 1998

Regional Office

SEA/Econ./18

Health planning and management (ICP NHP 001),
9 December 1998 - 8 January 1999

Dr Malinga
Fernando

SEA/Econ./19

Regional meeting of Parliamentarians on Economic Crisis
and its Impact on Health, Jakarta, Indonesia (INO TCC
012), 7-9 December 1998)

Regional Office

Environmental Health

SEA/EH/519

Health impacts from forest fires disaster in Indonesia (air
quality activities) (INO CWS 001), 29 April - 28 May 1998

Dr Keith Bentley

SEA/EH/520

Bhutan water supply and sanitation sector master plan
(ICP CWS 001), 23 December 1997-23 February 1998

M L. Gupta

SEA/EH/521

Outline for a corrective programme intended to reduce
the levels of hydrogen sulphide in the Male sewerage
collection system and pump sumps (MAV CWS 001),
17 July-2 August 1998

Lloyd H. Belz

SEA/EH/522

Framework for action for the development of new
approach to sanitation: An outcome of the Regional
Consultation on New Approach to Sanitation: Pokhara,
Nepal (ICP CWS 001), 17-19 November 1998

Regional Office

SEA/EH/523

New approach to sanitation - Proceedings of the regional
consultation,
Pokhara, Nepal (ICP CWS 001),
17-19 November 1998

Regional Office

SEA/EH/524

Pourashava water supply and sanitation, Bangladesh
(BAN CWS 001)

Alex Redekopp

SEA/EH/525

Rural drinking water supply surveillance (BHU CWS 001),
Bhutan, 7 April - 4 May 1999

A.P. Hirano

SEA/EH/526

Development of environmental programmes (BAN TCC
001), 19 May-3 June 1999-

Alex Redekopp

SEA/EH/527

Regional Consultation on Healthy Cities (ICP RPS 001),
20-22 April 1999

Regional Office

SEA/EH/528

Pesticides poisoning database in SEAR countries Report of a regional workshop, New Delhi (ICP PCS 001),
5-7 May 1999

Regional Office

SEA/RC52/lnf.2
Page 4

Document

Author

Emergency and Humanitarian Action
SEA/EHA/2

Interregional
Workshop
on
Project
Development, Monitoring and Reporting,
(ICP EHA 001), 29 June - 1 July 1998

Proposal
Bangkok,

Regional Office

Epidemiological surveillance and international health
regulations - Report of an intercountry meeting, Colombo
(ICP EMC 001), 15-18 December 1998

Regional Office

Epidemiology
SEA/Epid./126

Expanded Programme on Immunization
SEA/EPI/136

Fifth meeting of the WHO/SEAR EPI Technical
Consultative Group on Vaccine-preventable Diseases Conclusions and Recommendations (ICP VID 010),
2-4 April 1998

Regional Office

SEA/EPI/137

EPI vaccine supply and quality: Laboratory quality system
- Report of the fourth workshop, Himachal Pradesh, India
(ICP VID 001), 14-18 September 1998

Dr Cato B. de
Savigny

SEA/EPI/138

Sixth meeting of the WHO/SEAR EPI Technical
Consultative Group on Vaccine-preventable Diseases:
Conclusions and recommendations, Dhaka (ICP GEE 030),
3-6 May 1999

Regional Office

Intercountry Workshop on Control of Lymphatic Filariasis
in the SEA, Pondicherry, India (ICP CTD 001),
26-28 November 1997

Regional Office

Development of a strategic plan for food safety in SEAR Report of a regional consultation, New Delhi
(ICP NUT 001), 27-30 October 1998

Regional Office

Filariasis
SEA/FiL/26

Food Hygiene

SEA/Food Hyg./18

Haemorrhagic Fever
SEA/Haem.Fev./67
SEA/VBC/64

Dengue/dengue haemorrhagic fever
(INO CTD 001), 28 June - 17 July 98

in

Indonesia

Dr D.J. Gubler

SEA/RC52/lnf.2
Page 5

Document

Title

SEA/Haem.Fev/68

Dengue/dengue haemorrhagic fever prevention and control
programme in Thailand - Report of an external review,
Bangkok (ICP CTD 001), 25 March - 10 April 1999

Regional Office

SEA/HE/179

Improving rural community access to primary health care
(MMR DHS 002), 8 March - 7 June 1998

K.R.Bimal
Chapagain

SEA/HE/180

WHO mega country iinitiative on health promotion Report of an intercountry consultation, New Delhi
(ICP HSD 021), 4-6 February 1999

Regional Office

Hepatitis B in south-East Asia Region (GLO VID 012),
8 March - 5 June 1998

Dr Rusdi Aliudin

Author

Health Education

Hepatitis

SEA/Hepat/3

Health Laboratory Methods
SEA/HLM/311

Strategies for safe blood transfusion - Outcome of a
consultation held in July 1997 (ICP OCD 041)

Dr Z.S. Bharucha/
Regional Office

SEA/HLM/312

Quality assurance in health care (ICP NHP 001), 23 April
1997-2 July 1998

Dr Nuha Adel
Ikhdair

SEA/HLM/313

Improving rural community access to PHC quality control
of laboratories, Myanmar (MMR DHS 002), 30 March 1 June 1998

Dr K.B. Sharma

SEA/HLM/314

Monitoring of good laboratory practices (Calcutta Polio
Laboratory, Institute of Serology, Calcutta, India)
(IND GEE 030), 6 January - 5 March 1998

Dr Ana Maria Bispo
de Fillippis

SEA/HLM/315
SEA/Drugs/142

Quality assurance of pharmaceuticals in DPR Korea
(ICP DAP 010), 6-26 October 1998

Dr Mrinal Kanti
Majumdar

SEA/HLM/316

Strengthening of public health laboratories, including
national reference laboratories in DPR Korea (KRD EHA
020), 5-30 November 1998

Dr K.B. Sharma

SEA/HLM/317

Quality assurance in blood transfusion services in SEAR
countries - Report of an intercountry training workshop,
Bangkok (ICP THC 001), 24-28 August 1998

Regional Office

SEA/HLM/318
SEA/Drugs/144

Standardization and validation of potency testing of oral
polio vaccine and measles vaccine at the National Quality
Control Laboratory of Drug and Food, Indonesia
(INO DAP 011), 9-27 November 1998

Fred W. van
Nimwegen

SEA/RC52/lnf.2
Page 6

Title

Document

Author

Health Secretaries’ Meeting
SEA/HS Meet/4

Fourth meeting of Health Secretaries of SEAR, New Delhi
(ICP HSD 001), 15-17 February 1999

Regional Office

Health Services Development
SEA/HSD/214

Health planning and management (ICP THC 001),
16 March - 29 April 1998

Dr Zakir Husain

SEA/HSD/215

Development of health futures projects in Thailand
(ICP THC 001), 19-13 January 1998

Dr Martha J. Garrett

SEA/HSD/216

Development of health futures projects in Thailand
(THA HST 061), 24 April - 3 May 1998

Dr Martha J. Garrett

SEA/HSD/217

Hormone analyses in diagnosis and therapy control of
endocrine and related diseases, DPR Korea (KDR THC
001), 27 September to 24 October 1998

Dr Christian
Bieglmayer

SEA/HSD/218

Meeting of the Working Group on Regional Allocation
(ICP RPS 001), 29-31 July 1998

Regional Office

SEA/HSD/219

Review of WHO collaborative programme, DPR Korea
(ICP RPS 001), 21 September-20 October 1998

Dr M. Thangavelu

SEA/HSD/220

Number not used.

SEA/HSD/221

Intercountry meeting on hospital accreditation, Bangkok
(ICP DHS 001), 7-11 December 1998

Dr Humberto M.
Novaes

SEA/HSD/222

Evaluation of PHC intensification in 12 districts in
Bangladesh (BAN DHS 001), 1 September - 14 October
1998

Dr Mya Tu

SEA/HSD/223

GATS and international trade in health services in SouthEast Asia Region (ICP COR 001), March-September 1998

Ms Usha Vohra

SEA/HSD/224

Improving rural community access to PHC (MMR DHS
002), 31 October 1997 - 30 January 1998

Dr Atul Shah

SEA/HSD/225

Health Ethics in South-East Asia - Vol. 1

Dr N. Kasturiaratchi
Reidar Lie and
Dr Jens Seeberg

Intercountry Training Course on Medical Records and
Health Information Management, Yangon, Myanmar
(ICP HST 001), 16 November - 11 December 1998

Ms Susan Mary
Walker
Ms Jennifer Ann Nicol
Ms Joy Patricia
Smith

Health Statistics

SEA/HS/208

SEA/RC52/lnf.2
Page 7
Document

Author

SEA/HS/209

Health situation in the South-East Asia Region (ICP HST
001), 1994-1997

Regional Office

SEA/HS/210

Vital registration system in Maldives (MAV HST 001),
17 August - 25 September 1998

S.S. Srivastava

SEA/HS/211

Review of morbidity data, medical records, and use of
ICD-10 in Nepal, (ICP HST 001), 22-26 March 1999

Dr R.L. de Sylva

SEA/HS/212

Review of morbidity data, medical records, and use of
ICD-10 in Bangladesh, (ICP HST 001), 5-8 April 1999

Dr R.L. de Sylva

SEA/HS/213

Review of morbidity data, medical records, and use of
ICD-10 in Bhutan (ICP HST 001) 12-19 April 1999

Dr R.L. de Sylva

SEA/MAL/202

Review of the Asian Collaborative Training Network for
Malaria (ACTMalaria) (ICP HSD 021), 7-27 May 1998

Dr Rossi Sanusi

SEA/MAL/203

Multi-drug resistance and possible measures aimed at
retardation of its evaluation and spread, Myanmar
(ICP CTD 010), 4 December 1997-3 May 1998

Dr Mikhail N. Ejov

SEA/MAL/204

Evaluation of the regional collaborative programme on
monitoring the therapeutic efficacy of antimalarial drugs
for treatment of uncomplicated Falciparum malaria
(ICP CTD 010 and GLO CTD 010), 23 June - 29 August
1998 and 7 September-25 December 1998

Dr Mikhail N. Ejov

SEA/MAL/205

Training Course for Trainers in Management of Severe
and Complicated Malaria, India (ICP CTD 001),
14 October - 24 November 1998

Dr Polrat
Wilairatana

SEA/MAL/206

Modifications of the malaria treatment regimen employed
in high-risk areas of Bhutan (ICP CTD 001), 14-20
February 1999

Dr Warther H.
Wernsdorfer

SEA/MAL/207

National malaria control programme managers meeting,
Pattaya, Thailand (ICP CTD 001), 22-27 February 1999

Regional Office

Malaria

Maternal and Child Health
SEA/MCH/212

Strategies for adolescent health and development in
South-East Asia Region - Report of an intercountry
consultation (ICP RPH 001), 26-29 May 1998

Regional Office

SEA/MCH/213

Development of reproductive health services
Bangladesh (BAN RPH 001), 1 April - 30 June 1998

Dr G.B. Nainani

SEA/RC52/lnf,2
Page 8

Document

Author

Mental Health

SEA/Ment./111

Street and working children - Report of a consultation,
New Delhi (ICP MNH 001), 1-3 April 1998

Regional Office

SEA/Ment./112
SEA/N CD/41

Regional Consultation on a Policy Framework and Plan of
Action for Tobacco and Alcohol Control, Bangkok
(ICP HEP 001), 12-16 October 1998

Regional Office

SEA/Ment./113

Street and working children - Report of a consultation,
Kathmandu (ICP MNH), 8-11 December 1998

Regional Office

Noncommunicable Diseases
SEA/NCD/39

Development and strengthening of national programme
for diabetes mellitus prevention and control in South-East
Asia (ICP RPS 002), 5 November - 10 December 1997
and 23 February - 30 May 1998

Dr J. Leowski Jr.

SEA/NCD/40

Prevention and control of diabetes mellitus - Report of an
intercountry workshop, Dhaka (ICP HSD 021), 27-30 April
1998

Regional Office

SEA/NCD/41
SEA/Ment./112

Regional Consultation on a Policy Framework and Plan of
Action for Tobacco and Alcohol Control, Bangkok (ICP
HEP 001), 12-16 October

Regional Office

SEA/NCD/42

Noncommunicable disease control in South-East Asia
(ICP NCD 001), 4 January - 3 March 1999

Dr Vijay Chandra

SEA/Nurs./418

Development of a national strategic plan of action for
nursing and midwifery workforce development in
Indonesia (INO HRH 001), 8 December 1997 to 8 June
1998

Dr Farinaz Parsay

SEA/Nurs./419

Strengthening of Nursing Council in Nepal (NEP HRH
011), 1 March - 3 June 1998

Ms Rosemary
Bryant

SEA/Nurs./420

Strengthening of nursing service management in Bhutan
(BHU HRH 001), 8 September - 19 December 1998

Ms Pauline Hale

SEA/Nurs./421

Implementation of standards of midwifery practice for safe
motherhood in SEAR countries — Report of an
intercountry consultation, New Delhi (ICP HRH 001),
24-26 November 1998

Regional Office

Nursing

SEA/RC52/Inf.2
Page 9

Document

Author

Title

Nutrition
SEA/NUT/142

Implementation of the research agenda of International
Conference on Nutrition - Report of an intercountry
workshop, New Delhi (ICP NUT 001), 25-27 February 1998

Regional Office

SEA/NUT/143

Development and implementation of national plans of
food safety (ICP NUT 001), 16-30 August 1998

Anthony Hazzard

SEA/NUT/144

Development of a strategic plan for food safety in SEAR
(ICP NUT 001), 25 October-4 November 1998

Anthony Hazzard

SEA/Polio/16

APS surveillance in Bangladesh
30 January - 20 February 1998

001),

Dr Ville Postilia

SEA/Polio/17

Joint national and international review of the progress of
polio
eradication
in
India
(ICP
GEE
030),
13-26 September 1998

Regional Office

SEA/Polio/18

National immunization days and AFP surveillance in DPR
Korea (GLO EHA 021), 16 September - 13 December
1997

Dr Yuping Du

SEA/Polio/19

AFP surveillance in Bangladesh
29 August - 20 November 1998

Dr Kohei Toda

SEA/Polio/20

Report on visit to Bangladesh (ICP GEE 030), 2-6 May 1999

Dr Harsh Vardhan

Regional strategy for elimination of rabies - Report of an
informal consultation, New Delhi (ICP OCD 001),
31 March-2 April 1998

Regional Office

Report of the first joint session of South-East Asia ACHR
and MRC meeting, Colombo (ICP RPS 001), 21-24 April
1998

Regional Office

Strengthening training of health workers in community­
based rehabilitation - Report of an intercountry
consultation (ICP NCD 001), 3-7 May 1999

Regional Office

Poliomyelitis
(ICP

(ICP

VID

GEE

030),

Rabies
SEA/Rabies/22

Research
SEA/Res./110

Rehabilitation

SEA/Rehab./75

SEA/RC52/lnf.2
Page 10
Author

Title

Document

Traditional Medicine
Myanmar

Dr P.N V. Kurup

SEA/TB/210

Strengthening of the National Tuberculosis Programme in
Myanmar (MMR DHS 002), 8 February - 12 May 1998

Dr S.P. Tripathy

SEA/TB/211

Combating tuberculosis: Principles for accelerating DOTS
coverage (ICP TUB) 030)

Regional Office

SEA/TB/212

Development of TB control programme in SEAR (ICP
TUB 030), 5 November 1998 - 6 January 1999

Dr Kazi Belayet Ali

SEA/TB/213

NGOs and TB control - Principles and examples for
organizations joining the fight against TB (ICP TUB 030)

Regional Office

SEA/TB/214

Accelerating TB control in SEAR - Report of the fourth
meeting of National Tuberculosis Programme Managers,
Bangkok (ICP TUB 030), 21-30 November 1998

Regional Office

SEA/TB/215

Tuberculosis and HIV - Some questions and answers
(ICP TUB 030)

Regional Office

SEA/TB/216

National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Indonesia
(INO TUB 030), August 1996 - December 1998

Dr Liisa Parkkali

SEA/TB/217
SEA/HLM/319

Laboratory methods for TB control - Report of an
intercountry training workshop, Jakarta, Indonesia
(INO TUB 001), 20-24 April 199

Regional Office

Vaccine procurement and management - Report of the
second intercountry workshop, New Delhi (ICP VID 001),
1-4 December 1998

Regional Office

SEA/Trad.Med./79

Development of traditional medicine
(ICP TRM 001), 16 March - 15 April 1999

in

Tuberculosis

Vaccine

SEA/Vaccine/130

Vector-Borne Disease Control
SEA/VBC/62

Identification and confirmation of sibling species of
malaria vectors - Report of an intercountry workshop
(ICP CTD 001), 15-27 September 1997

N.L. Kalra

SEA/VBC/63

Disease vector surveillance and control at ports/airports,
Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand - A case study (ICP
CTD 001), 3-23 June 1998

Regional Office

SEA/RC52/lnf.2
Page 11
Document

Title

SEA/VBC/64

Dengue/dengue haemorrhagic fever in Indonesia (INO
CTD 001), 28 June - 17 July 1998

Dr D.J. Gubler

Disease vector surveillance and control at ports and
airports - Report of a regional consultation, Bangkok (ICP
CTD 001), 26-29 October 1998

Regional Office

SEA/Haem.Fev./67

SEA/VBC/65

Author

Women, Health and Development
SEA/WHD/7

Partnerships for health development with focus on
women's health and development - Report and
documentation of the technical discussions held during
the 51s1 session of the WHO Regional Committee for
South-East Asia, New Delhi, 7-11 September 1998

Regional Office

SEA/RC52/lnf,2
Page 12

2. Meetings and Courses Organized in the South-East Asia Region
Title of Activity

Date

Location

1998
Semarang,
Indonesia

6-17 July

Intercountry Training Course on Intergrated Management
of Childhood Illness (IMCI) at First Level Health Facilities

13-15 July

Intercountry Meeting
Workforce in SEAR

20-24 July

Meeting on Suicide Prevention

Pattaya, Thailand

28-30 July

Task Force
India/Nepal

Patna, India

29-31 July

Meeting of the Working Group on Regional Allocation

Bangkok

21 August

Workshop of the Chairpersons of the National
Certification Committees for Polio Eradication in WHO
SEA Region

New Delhi

24-28 August

Task Force Malaria Border Meetings on BAN, IND, MMR
and THA

Pattaya, Thailand

24-28 August

Intercountry Training Workshop on Quality Assurance
Methodologies in Blood Transfusion Services

Bangkok

3-5 September

Sixteenth Meeting of Ministers of Health of the Countries
of WHO South-East Asia Region

New Delhi

5-7 September

Thirty-fourth Meeting of Consultative Committee for
Programme Development and Management

New Delhi

7-11 September

Fifty-first Session of the Regional Committee for SEA

New Delhi

14-18 September

Fourth Consultation on EPI Vaccine Supply and Quality

Kasauli, India

20 September 4 October

Intercountry Workshop on CFC Free
Technique and Photovoltaic Maintenance

Auroville, India

5-7 October

Final Meeting of Principal Investigators in Ethics

12-16 October

Regional Consultation on a
Tobacco and Alcohol Control

14-24 October

Forty-seventh Meeting of RD with WRs

New Delhi

25 October 3 November

Workshop on Epidemiological Surveillance and Epidemic
Response

Kathmandu

26 October 6 November

Intercountry Training Course on Integrated Management
of Childhood Illness

Kathmandu

on

Dynamics

of

Paramedical

Border Meeting of Bangladesh/Bhutan/

Policy

Refrigeration

Framework for

Kandy, Sri Lanka

Bangkok
Bangkok

SEA/RC52/lnf.2
Page 13

Date

Title of Activity

26-29 October

Intrercountry Consultative Meeting on Disease Vector
Surveillance and Control at Air and Sea Ports

Bangkok

27-29 October

Regional Conference on National Policy Development
and National Legislation in Emergency Preparedness and
Management

Colombo

27-30 October

Regional Consultation on Development of Strategic Plan
for Food Safety in the SEA Region

New Delhi

16-18 November

Regional Consultative Meeting on International Health
Development

Bangkok

17-19 November

Regional Consultation on New Approach to Sanitation

Pokhara, Nepal

18-20 November

Third SEAR/WPR Bi-regional Meeting on Control of
Communicable Diseases

Chiang Mai
Thailand

18 November5 December

Workshop
on
Regional
Breastfeeding Counselling

on

New Delhi

21-23 November

Fourth Annual Meeting
Programme Managers

Tuberculosis

Bangkok

23-27 November

Inequities in Health in South
Challenges and Future Strategies

Trends,

Thimphu

24-26 November

Intercountry Consultation on Implementation of Standards
of Midwifery Practice for Safe Motherhood in SEAR
Countries

New Delhi

1-4 December

Second Workshop
Management

7-9 December

Regional Meeting of Parliamentarians on Economic Crisis
and its Impact on Health

Jakarta

7-11 December

Intercounry Meeting on Hospital Accreditation

Bangkok

8-10 December

Intercountry Workshop on the Role of Media and Health
Development

New Delhi

8-11 December

Regional Consultation on Special Needs of Street and
Working Children

Kathmandu

14-16 December

Intercountry Conference on Quality of Medical Education:
Partnership for Action

Kandy, Sri Lanka

14-17 December

Intercountry Review Meeting on Integrated Management
of Childhood Illness

Yangon

14-18 December

Intercountry Workshop on Case Management of DF/DHF

Bangkok

on

Location

Capacity

of

National

Vaccine

Building

East Asia:

Procurement

and

New Delhi

SEA/RC52/lnf.2
Page 14

Title of Activity

Date

Location

15-17 December

Thirteenth
Mangers

Programme

Yangon

15-18 December

Intercountry Consultative Meeting on Epidemiological
Surveillance and International Health Regulations

Colombo

12-15 January

Regional Consultation on Violence Against Women and
the Role of the Health Sector

Yangon,

15-17 February

Fourth Meeting of Health Secretaries of the Countries of
WHO South-East Asia Region

Bangalore, India

22-27 February

Intercountry Meeting of National Malaria and other VBD
Control Programme Managers

Pattaya, Thailand

1-5 March

Workshop on
Joint Programming
Initiative
Implementation of Programme Budget 2000-2001

New Delhi

8-12 March

Training Course on Health as a Bridge for Peace

Colombo

23-26 March

Intercountry
Consultation
on
District
Health
Systems/primary Health Care: Updated Strategies and
Approaches

Vellore, India

12-16 April

Thirty-fifth Meeting of Consultative Committee
Programme Development and Management

New Delhi

20-22 April

Regional Consultation on Health Cities

New Delhi

20-23 April

Twenty-fourth Advisory Committee on Health Research

Yangon

20-24 April

Regional Training Workshop on Laboratory Methods for
TB Control

Jakarta

20-24 April

Intercountry Meeting on Medical Education and
Tuberculosis Control with Emphasis on Scientific Basis of
DOTS

Bali, Indonesia

2-6 May

Eighth Consultation of Virologists from SEAR Polio Lab
Network, Sixth Meeting of SEAR/EPI Technical
Consultative Group (TCG) on Vaccine Preventable
Diseases and the Seventh Meeting of SEA/EPI
Interagency Coordinating Committee

Dhaka

4-7 May

Intercountry Consultative Meeting
Approaches to Vector Control

5-7 May

Regional Workshop on Establishment of Pesticides
Poisoning Database in SEAR Countries

Meeting

of

National

AIDS

1999

on

for

for

Alternative

Yangon

New Delhi

SEA/RC52/lnf,2
Page 15

Date

Title of Activity

Location

1-4 June

Fifth Meeting of the South-East Asia Nutrition Researchcum-Action Network

Bangkok

1-12 June

Training Course on CFC-free Refrigeration Technique at
Centre for Scientific Research

Auroville, India

28-29 June

Meeting of the Advisory Group to Review ICP II Plans of
Action for 2000-2001

New Delhi

SEA/RC52/lnf,2
Page 16

3. Interregional Activities held outside the Region with
Participation from South-East Asia
Dates

Location

Title of activity

1998

21-26 June

XVI World
Education

13 July7 August

Training course on the microbiological analysis of foodborne disease outbreak

Zutphen,
Netherlands

13-15 July

Dynamics of Paramedical Workforce

Kandy, Sri Lanka

24-26 July

Conference on School Health

Washington, D.C.

12-21 August

Training Course on Teaching Rational Drug Therapy

Groningen,
Netherlands

4-10 October

Joint WHO/ISQUA Meeting

Budapest, Hungary

8 October - 7
December

Training
Programme
Pharmaceuticals

of

Tokyo

13-19 October

Meeting of Heads of WHO Collaborating Centres for the
Classification of Diseases

Paris

19-23 October

TFI - Media Advocacy Survey Training

Geneva

19-30 October

Training Course on Drug Evaluation Methodology

Manila

31 October3 November

Fourth International Tsukuba Bioethics Round-table

Tsukuba, Japan

4-7 November

Fourth World Congress for Bioethics

Tokyo

23-26 November

5th Asia Pacific Conference on Tobacco or Health

Philippines

2-15 December

Global Burden of Diseases Workshop

Stowe, USA

4-7 December

Global youth tobacco Survey Training

Geneva

7-8 December

Working Group on Training for Poison Control

New Delhi

11-12 December

1998 Asian Regional ENHR Meeting in Vientiane

Vientiane

14-16 December

Towards Quality of Medical Education: Partnerships for
Action

Kandy, Sri Lanka

Conference

on

in

Health

Quality

Promotion

Control

and

San Juan, Peurto,
Rico

t

''S'

SEA/RC52/lnf.2
Page 17
Dates

Title of activity

Location

1999
11-12 February

Third Informal Consultation on future Development in
WHO Activities for Prevention of Deafness and Hearing
Impairment

Geneva

15-18 February

Thirteenth Meeting of WHO Programme Advisory Group
for Prevention of Blindness

Geneva

1-5 March

Malaria Meeting of the 6 Mekong Countries (SEARA/VPR)

Ho Chimina City,
Vietnam

1-6 March

Training Course on Drug Information and Development of
Specialized Patient Counselling

Singapore

24-26 March

Global Information Management
Systems for a Tobacco Free World

Altanta, USA

25-26 March

Focal Point Meeting of the Mega Country Health
Promotion Network

8 April - 7 June

Training
Programme
Pharmaceuticals

11-13 April

LEAG Meeting for Coordination
(Partnership) for Leprosy

3 May - 2 June

Training Course in Quality Control of Pharmaceuticals

Singapore

17-28 May

Training Workshop on Maternal and Adolescent Nutrition

Salaya, Thailand

17 May - 1 June

Pharmaceutical GMP Training Workshop on Process
Validation and Analytical Validation

Kuala Lumpur

31 May - 11 June

Adverse Reactions and Adverse Reaction Monitoring
Training Course

Uppsala, Sweden

1-4 June

Fifth Meeting of the South-East Asia Nutrition-Researchcum-Action Network

Salaya, Thailand

8-10 June

Forum 3 Meeting of Global Forum for Health Research on
“Health Research and Reducing the 10-90 gap"

Geneva

14-18 June

Ethical Issues in International Health Research

Boston, USA

20-23 June

Seventh International Symposium on Neuro-behavioural
Methods and Effects in Occupational and Environmental
Health

Stockholm, Sweden

in

and

Quality

Surveillance

Control

with

of

Partners

Mexico

Japan

Geneva

WORLD

REGIONAL

HEALTH

OFFICE

SOUTH - EAST

ORGANIZATION

FOR

ASIA

DAILY SESSION JOURNAL

R
F*E
G

No. 3
REGIONAL COMMITTEE
Fifty-second Session
6-11 September 1999

7 September 1999

1.
PROGRAMME OF WORK - WEDNESDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 1999
0
Plenary
N
A
9.00 a.m. to
Strengthening Poison Control Centres in the Region
12.30 p.m.
(item 12) - continued
L
Programme Budget (item 7)
C j c,-~i
Regional implications of the decisions and resolutions of the FiftyWorld Health Assembly and the 103ra and 104th sessions
0 “1 K " second
of the Executive Board, and Review of the draft provisional
s j
agendas of the 105th session of the Executive Board and the FiftyM ,.p
third World Health Assembly (item 9)
M
Special Programmes: (item 13)
|
13.1 UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research
and Training in Tropical Diseases: Joint Coordinating Board
T
(JCB) - Attendance at 1999 JCB

E
D
0
C
U
M
E
N
T

13.2 WHO Special Programme for Research, Development and
Research Training in Human Reproduction: Policy and
Coordination Committee (PCC) - Attendance at 1999 PCC
and nomination of a member in place of Thailand whose
term expires on 31 December 1999
13.3 WHO Action Programme on Essential Drugs: Management
Advisory Committee (MAC) - Attendance at 1999 MAC

2.00 to
4.00 p.m.

-

Resolutions for consideration

-

Selection of a subject for the Technical Discussions to be held
during the 38th meeting of the Consultative Committee on
Programme Development and Management (CCPDM) (item 8.2)

-

Time and place of forthcoming sessions of the Regional
Committee (item 14)

Tea/Coffee breaks: 10.30-10.45 a.m.
3.30-3.45 p.m.
Lunch break:

12.30-2.00 p.m.

2

2.

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

A revised list of participants (document SEA/RC51/12 Rev.1) is being issued
separately. Modifications, if any, may be communicated, in writing, to the Reports and
Documents Officer, Mr V. Alexeev (Melonee Room, Tel. 8114), or at the Documents
Desk in the Plenary Hall.

3.

COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT SUMMARY REPORT

Any comments on the draft summary reports circulated to the participants may kindly
be communicated, in writing, to Mr V. Alexeev, Reports and Documents Officer, not
later than 24 hours after issue.
To facilitate reporting and preparation of the summary report, participants are
requested kindly to hand over to Mr Alexeev the text of any statement(s) made during
the plenary meetings.
4.

RETURN TRAVEL BOOKINGS

Participants who have not so far reconfirmed their return bookings are requested to
contact the representative from American Express Travel Services, in the lobby of Ball
Room, to reconfirm their return reservations as early as possible. The travel desk will
be open during coffee and lunch breaks. Passport must be presented with the airline
ticket (except BA). If necessary, they may contact Mr R.M. Wuite, Conference Officer,
for assistance.
5.

AIRPORT TAX AT DHAKA

If not already included in the cost of the ticket, an airport tax of Takas 275.- is payable
at Dhaka International Airport by every passenger departing by international flight.
6.

PAYMENT OF HOTEL BILLS

Participants are requested to settle their hotel bills directly with the hotel before departure.
Late check-outs are possible. Participants are advised to contact the Reception Desk.

7.

ASSISTANCE FOR DESPATCH OF DOCUMENTS

Delegates who wish to have their documents sent by pouch to the WHO Representative
of their respective countries, may leave their document bags (containing documents
only) with Mr V.K. Sethi in the Melonee Room (opposite Ball Room).

WORLD

HEALTH

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

ORGANIZATION

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 4

Fifty-second Session

SEA/RC52/1
20 July 1999

PROVISIONAL AGENDA
1.

Opening of the Session

2.

Sub-committee on Credentials
2.1 Appointment of the Sub-committee
2.2 Approval of the report of the Sub-committee

3.

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

4.

Adoption of Agenda and Supplementary Agenda, if any

SEA/RC52/1

5.

The Work of WHO in the South-East Asia Region Report of the Regional Director for the period 1 July 1997
- 30 June 1999

SEA/RC52/2
and
SEA/RC52/lnf. 1 & Inf. 2

6.

Address by the Director-General, WHO

7.

Programme Budget

8.

Technical Discussions:

8.1 Consideration of the recommendations arising out of
the Technical Discussions on:
(1) Tobacco or Health: Actions for the 21st Century, and
(2) Intensification of HIV/AIDS Surveillance

9.

8.2 Selection of a subject for the Technical Discussions
to be held during the 38th meeting of the
Consultative
Committee
on
Programme
Development and Management (CCPDM)

SEA/RC52/9

Regional implications of the decisions and resolutions of
the Fifty-second World Health Assembly and the 103rd
and 104th sessions of the Executive Board
and
Review of the draft provisional agendas of the 105th
session of the Executive Board and the Fifty-third World
Health Assembly

SEA/RC52/10

SEA/RC52/1
Page 2

10.

Roll Back Malaria (RBM) and mainstreaming of anti­
malaria activities in health sector development

SEA/RC52/7

11.

Intercountry cooperation in the supply of essential drugs

SEA/RC52/6

12.

Strengthening poison control centres in the Region

SEA/RC52/8

13.

Special Programmes:

SEA/RC52/4

13.1 UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for
Research and Training in Tropical Diseases: Joint
Coordination Board (JCB) - Attendance at 1999
JCB

13.2 WHO
Special
Programme
for
Research,
Development and Research Training in Human
Reproduction: Policy and Coordination Committee
(PCC) - Attendance at 1999 PCC, and nomination
of a member in place of Thailand whose term
expires on 31 December 1999

SEA/RC52/5

13.3 WHO Action Programme on Essential Drugs:
Management Advisory Committee (MAC) Attendance at 1999 MAC

SEA/RC52/lnf.

14.

Time and place of forthcoming sessions of the Regional
Committee

SEA/RC52/3

15.

Adoption of the final report of the fifty-second session of
the Regional Committee

16.

Closure of the Session

WORLD

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

HEALTH

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

ORGANIZATION

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 10

Fifty-second session

SEA/RC52/7 Corr.1
12 August 1999

ROLL BACK MALARIA AND MAINSTREAMING OF
ANTI-MALARIA ACTIVITIES IN
HEALTH SECTOR DEVELOPMENT

Corrigendum

M
M

In the document SEA/RC52/7 dated 22 July 1999, please make the following changes:
Page 8, section 6:

Item (2), for 'Piloting phase (1999-2001)’ read ‘Piloting phase (2000-2001)'
Item (3), for 'Operational phase (2001-2006)’ read 'Operational phase (2002-2006)’

E

D
O
C
U
M
E
N
T

WORLD

R
E
G

HEALTH

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

ORGANIZATION

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 10

Fifty-second session

SEA/RC52/7

22 July 1999

O
N
A
L

c
o
M
M
I
T
T
E
E
D
O
C
U
M
E
N
T

ROLL BACK MALARIA AND MAINSTREAMING OF
ANTI-MALARIA ACTIVITIES IN
HEALTH SECTOR DEVELOPMENT

SEA/RC52/7

CONTENTS
Page
iii

INTRODUCTION

1

2.

BACKGROUND

1

3.

OPERATIONALIZATION OF RBM
3.1 Enhanced Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria
3.2 Disease Transmission Control
3.3 Enhanced Surveillance
3.4 Health Sector Development
3.5 Community Mobilization
3.6 Advocacy

2

4.

REGIONAL SUPPORT NETWORKS
4.1 The Assets
4.2 Support Networks

5.

INITIATING RBM ACTION AT COUNTRY LEVEL

7

6.

ROLL BACK MALARIA ACTION PLAN

8

7.

POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION

9

<
j> a>

ra m m

w n

1.

tn

Executive Summary

SEA/RC52/7
Page iii

Executive Summary
Roll Back Malaria is a global initiative against malaria implemented through health sector
development that could foster broad-based support for effective anti-malaria intervention to
achieve sustainable reduction in malaria cases, especially among the poor who have little
access to health services.
As different from previous approaches to malaria control, RBM, as a social movement
for better health, draws its strength through improved health sector development. This would
facilitate the mainstreaming of malaria control activities into the health system, integrate its
implementation through the provision of health care to the poor in a package delivering care,
combined with other common diseases and linked with other health programmes.

Under the Ten Guiding Principles, RBM utilizes the existing infrastructure and available
resources for malaria control to implement the Six Strategies of RBM in the SEA Region:

o

Enhanced diagnosis and treatment of malaria (e.g. new diagnostic test, universal
access to treatment, combination drugs)

»

Disease transmission control (cost-effective integration of vector control tools, e.g.,
insecticide treated nets, selective vector control, bio-environmental methods)

o

Enhanced surveillance
monitoring progress)

o

Health sector development (e.g., decentralization, health equity, package delivering
care, changing role from implementers of malaria control to leadership, regulation
and coordination).

o

Community mobilization (empowerment of communities, evidence-based planning
and ownership).

o

Advocacy (forum for advocacy, strategic investments e.g., mapping, new drugs and
vaccines, regional support networks e.g. drug policy, rapid response, etc., health
impact assessment, research on reform in health system).

(rapid response,

policy making, border malaria, and

RBM Action Plan envisages political commitment at all levels starting at the highest
level of governance. RBM functions through partnerships from the central to the local level
and works in synergy based on an Action Plan developed and owned by all partners. The
action plan for Roll Back Malaria is as follows:



A preparatory phase of six months (ending 1999) for advocacy, establishment of
partnerships and resource networks, mainstreaming RBM in the health system, and
selection of endemic districts representing important malaria paradigms.

• A two-year (2000-01) period of piloting of RBM in selected districts and towns.
• Adoption of a countrywide RBM plan by all countries as a means of improving and
reducing malaria-related mortality by half by 2010 and reducing it further in
succeeding years.

SEA/RC52/7
(

A

1.

INTRODUCTION

The fact that the poor and those with little access to health care are most affected, malaria is
now seen as a developmental and poverty issue. Therefore, the RBM concept and
partnership in malaria control as a social movement for better health should be addressed as
an integral part of health sector development.

Further, the success of malaria control action will require a political commitment,
establishment of a sound legislative foundation to control malaria, optimal use of available
resources, establishment of intersectoral linkages, community empowerment, involvement of
the private sector/NGO and other health-related programme. The district health system
approach and decentralization of decision-making should form the strength of malaria
control. Border malaria, multidrug-resistant malaria, population migration, urban malaria etc.,
are important issues that need to be addressed.
The Intercountry Meeting of National Malaria Programme Managers in Pattaya,
Thailand, 22 - 27 February 1999, and the Meeting on Implementation of Collaborative
Activities on Roll Back Malaria, held in New Delhi from 4-6 May 1999, concluded that
mainstreaming of RBM into health sector development would enhance efforts in achieving
the objectives of malaria control.

2.

BACKGROUND

In the SEA Region, the overall malaria situation has remained almost static during the last
decade with around 3 million confirmed cases annually. Distribution of malaria cases has
been uneven and about 10% of the population is exposed to the risk of drug-resistant
malaria. Malaria in Asia causes high morbidity, resulting in reduced productivity, loss of
family income with impact on economy in general. Death rate is lower compared to Africa but
it affects all age groups. In this Region, India contributes 80% of the cases while more than
65% of the deaths occur in Myanmar.

Appreciating the global concern about the deteriorating malaria situation, a Ministerial
Conference on Malaria, held in Amsterdam in 1992, endorsed the WHO Global Malaria
Control Strategy (GMCS). GMCS was subsequently endorsed by the Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations in 1995, and adopted by the Member Countries.
Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General of WHO, initiated a new effort in May 1998
to Roll Back Malaria (RBM). RBM envisages better access to malaria interventions to
millions of women, children and men, who suffer from poor health equity. Further, RBM
draws its strength from past experience with emphasis on partnership, research groups,
evidence-based action, political support and civil society organizations. Mortality due to
malaria is expected to be halved by 2010 with sustained reduction in the succeeding years
and the resultant disease burden due to associated diseases. During 1999, this initiative has
been endorsed by resolutions EB103.R9 and WHA52.11.

SEA/RC52/7
Page 2

To make a difference for the prospects of poor people, the focus would be on
interventions that could achieve the greatest health gain possible. It would mean that during
the implementation process, RBM will be guided by the following principles:

Box 1: Ten Guiding Principles for RBM


RBM is a social movement supported by many partners, to reduce poverty and
promote development.



RBM is owned by all the partners



Decisions are made by consensus



Country priorities drive RBM



Partners function independently, but in concert



Partners contribute where they have a comparative advantage - or interest



Action plans are clear, evidence based, prioritized and adapted to local realities



RBM is about broadening and strengthening the capacity of health sectors to
fight all diseases



RBM is not a new agency or funding institution



Mainstreaming of RBM in the health system cannot be judged to be functioning
unless they have an impact on malaria.

In recognition of the fact that malaria is still a major public health problem, the
governments in the South East Asia Region spend large sums of money on malaria control.
Member Countries managed to shift malaria control from autonomous disease control
programme by integrating it into the general health services. There is still a need to ensure
appropriate priority and effective action to address malaria, within the context of health
sector development. With the new emphasis on health-led development, it will require new
ways of working and changes in the way resources are used. Therefore, RBM is relevant to
SEA countries.

3.

OPERATIONALIZATION OF RBM

The operationalization of RBM would be based on the following six strategies: (1) enhanced
diagnosis and treatment, (2) disease transmission control, (3) enhanced surveillance,
(4) health sector development, (5) community mobilization, and (6) advocacy. The health
sector and national partners assume the responsibility to carry out situation analysis and to
prepare RBM joint action plans at district, provincial and national levels, as appropriate.

3.1 Enhanced Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria

(1) Early Detection and Prompt Treatment (EDPT)
New techniques, such as rapid antigen diagnostic tests, should be introduced on an
operational scale in certain epidemiological settings. RBM should ensure universal access of
drugs to the populations at risk, which means appropriate and affordable first-line

SEA/RC52/7
Page 3

anti-malarial drugs and effective second-line treatment at the periphery level. Access to
health care should also mean access to other effective anti-malaria measures, particularly
reduction of transmission. Development of new drugs and drug combinations are needed to
combat resistant malaria so as to prolong the life of existing drugs.
(2)

Improving access to health care

Because of the poor quality of public sector facilities and the lack of public confidence,
private sector plays a dominant role in treatment. There is thus a need for an effective
regulatory function to protect public health interest and secure the quality of service rendered
by the private sector.
(3)

Drug resistance

The epicentre of multidrug-resistant strains in Thai-Cambodian and Thai-Myanmar areas
along the international borders are considered a threat to the world as a potential source of
multidrug-resistant malaria.
Assessment of the changing patterns of drug resistance through monitoring of
therapeutic efficacy of anti-malarial drugs by using the WHO protocol should be conducted
at regular intervals, particularly when drug failures are reported by clinicians.

3.2 Disease Transmission Control
Under RBM, countries should adopt a truly integrated vector management (IVM) approach
and apply the best practices (Box 2) for sustainable transmission reduction.

Box 2: Application of Best Practices
o

Expanding the use of GIS (geographical information system) and RS (remote
sensing) for the monitoring of critical environmental determinants of malaria
transmission risk.
■. . .■

o

Obtain government commitment for IVM as best practice in vector control,
including malaria in health sector development and intersectoral action.

o

Strengthening of local environmental health services, where applicable, to
perform essential functions in support of integrated vector management.



Give ministries of health the proper regulatory powers within an effective legal
framework, to ensure that other sectors comply with their responsibilities in risk
management.



Pursue an active partnership with the District Development Officer to achieve
intersectoral action at the district level.

The process of IVM intervention should use evidence-based decision-making criteria to
arrive at the most cost-effective mix of vector management methods. Methods should
include the use of ITN, biological control and environmental modification.

SEA/RC52/7
Page 4

3.3 Enhanced Surveillance
(1)

Malaria epidemics

Prediction of and early response to epidemics in unstable malarious areas should be a
national priority. Early recognition of epidemics is important in mobilizing resources to
prevent deaths. Box 3 gives the core indicators to assess morbidity and mortality due to
malaria on a continuing basis.
(2)

Monitoring of drug resistant malaria

Regular assessment of changing pattern of drug resistance should be the basis for drug
policy to ensure effective treatment for malaria.
(3)

Border malaria

Synchronized control strategies. Malaria along international borders is a serious problem.
Malaria control along the borders would greatly benefit from partnership under RBM through
a dialogue with neighbouring countries to act jointly in a synchronized intercountry malaria
control strategy.
(4)

Monitoring progress

Box 3: Core Standard Indicators
Impact Indicators
(1)

Morbidity attributed to malaria




Number of cases of UM (clinical/confirmed) among target groups/unit population
Number of cases of SM (clinical/confirmed) among target groups/unit population



Number of MTF/per No. of treated patients. Reported according to each drug used

(2)

Mortality attributed to malaria



Number of malaria deaths (clinical/confirmed) among target groups/unit population



Proportion of clinical/confirmed deaths due to malaria among patients with SM admitted
to a health facility

Outcome and Output Indicators/Operational Indicators

Management of antimalarial drugs (percentage of health facilities reporting no rupture
of stock of antimalarial drugs during the past three months)
(2) Reporting coverage (percentage of districts regularly reporting the above to the
national programme on a monthly basis for the past 12 months)
(3) Universal access to effective treatment (percentage of priority areas having access to
treatment and referral system)
(4) Target population under personal protection (percentage of population in priority areas
under personal protection)
(5) Rapid response team (percentage of priority districts having early warning system and
trained rapid response teams)
(1)

UM: uncomplicated malaria, SM: severe malaria, MTF: malaria treatment failure

SEA/RC52/7
Page 5

3.4 Health Sector Development
(1)

RBM is a social movement for better health

RBM, as a social movement for better health, should focus on providing access to the poor
who suffer from malaria the most. Therefore, RBM should be a part of poverty alleviation
action. The community and the private sector would have the opportunity to play important
roles in the delivery of effective anti-malaria interventions, particularly in primary prevention
and treatment of malaria. As a consequence, RBM should also be part of the changing role
of malaria control programme - from being a delivery agent to leadership, coordination and
regulatory function. Quality control and standard setting should remain the responsibility of
the government.
(2)

Mainstreaming RBM

The RBM initiative has recognized the need to adhere to principles of decentralization and
local ownership of health programmes as basic principles in health sector development.
RBM should be an integral part of health sector development and work through the
primary health care (PHC) system for effective action against malaria. This will involve
transfer of resources, delegation of authority to district or sub-district levels and
empowerment of local authorities and communities to identify needs and priorities.
Strengthening of health sector development would facilitate mainstreaming of RBM and
benefit other health programmes.

(3)

Strengthening district health system

RBM's managerial capacity should be the lead in developing district action plan in line with
the package concept of health care. Information, education and communication (IEC)
activities should be intensified for both the people and providers at all levels, and
decentralized planning based on partnerships should lead to proactive action and optimal
utilization of resources.

3.5 Community Mobilization
The programmes should address health issues arising through enhanced community
awareness and knowledge about disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment, as well as
through local operational research activities. Bottom-up planning should be the core principle
where decision-making and planning capacity will be based at the level where the problem
occurs i.e. local-level planning, disease surveillance, monitoring of programme activities,
resource allocation, IEC, training, vector control etc. Epidemiological information would be
analysed at the local level for proactive action in developing evidence-based planning.
However, national-level competence and coordinating functions should be retained or
developed at the central level during the process of decentralization and thereafter.

SEA/RC52/7
Page 6

3.6 Advocacy
Creation of a forum for joint advocacy and resource mobilization as a common ground to
bring malaria to the forefront in health sector development. The forum would institutionalize a
mechanism for maintaining partnerships aimed at agreed joint action plan and implemented
in a concerted effort, exploring the possibility of redirecting some resources and giving
access to those who need them.

4.

REGIONAL SUPPORT NETWORKS

4.1 The Assets
The SEA Region has a strong infrastructure available for the implementation of RBM, as for
example:



indigenous production of insecticides, drugs, mosquito nets, equipment, transport;



training facilities for all categories of health staff and other functionaries;



experienced technical personnel in malaria control and related areas;



well-developed grassroots health infrastructure



advanced centres of basic, applied and field research;



a network of educational and research institutions, colleges, universities;

• WHO collaborating centres;


indigenous resources to sustain the RBM initiative.

4.2 Support Networks
(1) Technical support
To countries to address core issues, review, monitor and act as channel of information on
priority issues such as:



drug policy and monitoring drug efficacy;



monitoring and evaluation of surveillance systems and epidemic preparedness and
response;

• disease transmission control, and


advocacy through media communication and country partnerships.

(2) Regional network for rapid responses
In case of emergencies/epidemics, regional support network provides assistance with
emphasis on surveillance system, reviews of epidemics, dissemination of information, and
provision of emergency supplies.

SEA/RC52/7
Page 7
(3)

Strategic investments

New areas of strategic investment should be closely linked with partnership initiative as to
ensure concerted and sustainable efforts for RBM. The areas identified include the following:

o

Regional networks that will support multi-centre studies and fund-raising advocacy
to facilitate vaccines and new drugs development research and operational
research. Health policy research, such as socioeconomic research on malaria
integrated intervention and sustainable strategies; health indicators (incorporating
malaria) for situation analysis and rapid response incorporating information
technology; G1S (and possibly remote sensing) for analysis of the epidemiological
and ecological situation, including mapping of drug resistance based on monitoring
therapeutic efficacy.

o

Utilization of health impact assessment in projects and mitigating strategies in the
improvement of health and research on reforms in health systems for planning and
implementation of RBM.

o There is an urgent need for more coordinated work in search of new drug with
partners e.g., the industry, UN Agencies (WHO, UNICEF) World Bank, research
organizations, etc. WHO should take the lead in negotiation with RBM partners in
the industry to convince them to make available the techniques at an affordable
price for developing countries.
5.

INITIATING RBM ACTION AT COUNTRY LEVEL

National commitment for action against malaria would indicate RBM is instrumental in
reducing inequity and promoting human development through mobilization of all resources.

Policy-making. National governments determine the goals, strategy, organization and
operating procedures for RBM. RBM involves a situation analysis and strategy development,
a process led by national authorities and involving partners. Action against malaria
mainstreams into the health system with partners in RBM providing support within the
context of sectorwide approach to health development. RBM should now be seen as a social
movement for better health. Instead of being sole implementers, the National Malaria Control
Programme should assume a new role of leadership, regulation and coordination.
Working with partners. Working in partnership for common objectives, using agreed
strategies in a transparent manner with emphasis on local solutions to local problems. Within
the context of these principles, attempts are made to ensure that partners have sufficient
flexibility and autonomy to make the fullest possible contribution in a concerted effort to
RBM. WHO will establish a functioning partnership with a range of organizations at global,
regional and country levels. This will result in the development of a sustained capacity to
address malaria (and other priority health problems). WHO’s partnership in RBM will include
malaria endemic countries, UNDP, UNICEF, World Bank, bilateral development agencies,
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector.

Improve access to health care. Wider distribution of anti-malarial (first-line) drugs
through public and private sectors would reduce morbidity and mortality due to malaria.
Efforts to educate communities and individuals in the home treatment of malaria and on
strengthening support and supervision of treatment services, collaboration with professional
associations for quality assurance would prove rewarding and should be encouraged under

SEA/RC52/7
Page 8

RBM. Realizing that malaria is the disease of the poor who have little access to health
services, RBM should be considered as one of the priority areas in providing health care to
the poor. In this case, provision of health services should be a package delivering care to
other common diseases affecting local communities, such as anaemia, acute respiratory
infection, diarrhoea and intestinal worms, and it should be linked with other health
programmes such as MCH, IMCI, school health, health education, etc.

Selective vector control. Working with partners in implementing selective vector
control towards an integrated approach should replace traditional routine residual spraying
operations. Chemical control remains, nevertheless, the mainstay in this concept.
Forum for advocacy. RBM advocacy for change in the organizational set-up should
address the new role of district health managers. Emphasis should be on multi-sectoral
involvement and partnership development, community participation, local leadership for
participatory planning and supervision, political support e.g. Panchayat, Union Parishad,
other local government bodies, village development committees, etc., coordination of NGOs
and other social organizations, including the private sector. The forum represents all
possible leaders, e.g. political, administrative, technical, traditional, corporate, private sector;
interested groups, e.g. trade unions, environmentalists etc., and partners, e.g. international,
national, regional, provincial, district and local levels. At the district level, this forum may be
called District Malaria Society or District Health Forum etc., while at the national level, it may
be called Inter-ministerial Coordinating Committee or RBM Core Group for Partnerships.

6.

ROLL BACK MALARIA ACTION PLAN

The strategic action plan for the SEA Region would comprise three phases:

(1) Preparatory phase (Till the end of December 1999)



Development of guidelines for implementation of the strategies



Political commitment at all levels



Formulation of national strategies and development of partnerships plan



Situation analysis leading to the selection of districts for the piloting of RBM



Establishment of resource networks to address the core issues in malaria.

(2) Piloting phase (1999-2001)



Situation analysis of the districts and identification of problems at the local level



Time-bound action plan for RBM



Advocacy for RBM, identification of partners, assignment of responsibilities and
resource mobilization



Integrated malaria control in synergy with health development



Assessment and lessons learnt.

(3) Operational phase (2001-2006)



A five-year RBM action plan to be developed by countries involving all partners,
vital inputs to come from the pilot phase and resource networks.

SEA/RC52/7
Page 9

7.

POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION

(1)

National commitment to support the new role of malaria control programme

In the context of RBM, the malaria control programme will assume a new role of leadership,
regulation and coordination instead of being the sole implementer and delivery agent. To
meet these objectives, Member Countries need to develop sustainable broad-based
partnership with the private sector, health-related industries, medical associations, teachers’
associations, local governments and other related civil societies as well as other potential
partners, including donors.

What new policies are needed to sustain effective partnerships for RBM?
(2)

A social movement for better health

RBM should draw its strength by mainstreaming malaria control activities as part of health
sector development. RBM should facilitate the provision of health care to the poor and those
who have little access to health care. Priority will be on the delivery of the package of health
care to malaria and other common diseases and linked with other health programmes. The
way in which the health system tackles malaria - particularly among poor people - is the key
element of the assessment of that system’s overall performance.
What changes may be needed in policies and mechanisms within the ministry of health
to facilitate mainstreaming of RBM in health sector development?
(3)

Capacity building

Capacity building needs to be accorded the utmost priority. The RBM approach to capacity
development should ensure that malaria expertise should be available, wherever it is
needed, throughout the health sector. WHO’s assistance can be explored to support training
activities to create a core of motivated individuals with upgraded skills who would, in turn,
impart training to health personnel at different levels of health care.
How can the required human and other resources be mobilized?
(4)

Strategic investment

The development of appropriate technology would strengthen RBM implementation. New
areas of strategic investment should be evidence-based and closely linked with partnership
initiative to ensure concerted and sustainable efforts in RBM.

How can partnerships in strategic investment be initiated?
(5)

Regional support network

The available resources and expertise in the Region should be fully utilized. In order to
promote regional exchange of experience and information, there must be ways to create a
network of expertise among Member Countries to address priority issues, such as drug
policy and monitoring surveillance systems, epidemic preparedness and response, disease
transmission control and advocacy through media communication and country partnerships.

Under what mechanism could WHO foster regional support?

WORLD

HEALTH

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

ORGANIZATION

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 9

Fifty-second session

SEA/RC52/10 Corr.1

20 August 1999

REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE DECISIONS AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE
FIFTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY AND THE 103rd AND 104th
SESSIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
AND
REVIEW OF THE DRAFT PROVISIONAL AGENDAS OF
THE 105th SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AND
THE FIFTY-THIRD WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
Corrigendum

In the document SEA/RC52/10 dated 15 July 1999, please make the following
changes:

Page 2, First para:
First line, for ‘Forty-second’, read ‘Fifty-second’

Page 3, First para:
Seventh line, for ‘WHA52’ read 'WHA52.17'

WORLD

HEALTH

ORGANIZATION

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 9

Fifty-second Session

SEA/RC52/10 Add.1
18 August 1999

DRAFT PROVISIONAL AGENDAS
OF THE 105th SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
AND THE FIFTY-THIRD WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
1.

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board, the provisional
agenda of each session shall be drawn up by the Director-General in consultation with
the Chairman. It shall be despatched with the notice of convocation six weeks before
the commencement of a session.

2.

The attached indicative list of items for the 105th session of the Executive Board will be
the subject of further consultation between the Director-General and the Chairman. It
includes items requested by the Health Assembly or the Board at a previous session,
proposed by members of the Board, and proposed by the Director-General. It is
submitted to the regional committees for information.

3.

in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Health Assembly, the Board shall
prepare the provisional agenda of each regular session of the Health Assembly after
consideration of proposals submitted by the Director-General.

SEA/RC52/10 Add 1

INDICATIVE LIST OF ITEMS
FOR THE 105th SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
1.

Opening of the session and adoption of the agenda

2.

Gearing up for the next four years
°

Director-General’s report

° Towards a strategic agenda for the WHO Secretariat

o

Programme budget priorities for 2002-2003

0 Working in and with countries
°

3.

Draft policy on extrabudgetary resources

Technical and health matters

»

Food safety: the role of WHO

° WHO framework convention on tobacco control
° HIV/AIDS
4.

Staff development and support

o

Human resources: annual report

° Statement by the representative of the WHO staff associations on matters
concerning personnel policy and conditions of service

5.

Collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental
organizations

6.

Implementation of budget resolutions (resolutions EB103.R6 and WHA52.20)

7.

Management and financial matters

o Appointment of the Regional Directors for Africa and Europe

o

Use of languages in WHO
Review of WHO collaborating centres: progress report

• Other management issues
- Status of collection of assessed contributions, including Members in arrears in the
payment of their contributions to an extent which would justify invoking Article 7 of
the Constitution
- Casual income
- Real Estate Fund
- Financial Regulations and Rules
- Report of the International Civil Service Commission
- Confirmation of amendments to the Staff Rules

- Reports of the Joint Inspection Unit
— Collaboration with nongovernmental organizations,
Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations

report of the Standing

SEA/RC52/10 Add.1
Page 2


Legal issues

- Participation of WHO in the 1986 Vienna Convention on the law of treaties
between States and International organizations or between international
organizations
o

Executive Board matters

- Amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board on election of the
Chairman
- Membership of the Audit Committee
- Provisional agenda for and duration of the Fifty-third World Health Assembly
- Date and place of the 106th session of the Executive Board
o Awards
8.

Matters for information

o

Report on meetings of expert committees and study groups (including report on
appointments to expert advisory panels and committees)
o Implementation of resolutions and decisions
- Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (resolution WHA44.4)
- Revised drug strategy (resolution WHA52.19)
- Health promotion (resolution WHA51.12)
- Elimination of transmission of Chagas disease (resolution WHA51.14)
- Technical cooperation among developing countries (resolution WHA42.37)
- Infant and young child feeding (resolution WHA33.32)

9.

Closure of the session

}>.<

WORLD

HEALTH

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

ORGANIZATION

R
E
G

N
A
C
O
M
M
I
T
T
•E
E
D
O
C
U
M
E
N
T

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 9

Fifty-second session

SEA/RC52/10 Add.2

5 September 1999

REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE DECISIONS AND
RESOLUTIONS OF THE FIFTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH
ASSEMBLY AND THE 103rd AND 104™ SESSIONS OF THE
EXECUTIVE BOARD
AND
REVIEW OF THE DRAFT PROVISIONAL AGENDAS OF
THE 105™ SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AND
THE FIFTY-THIRD WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

This document contains highlights of the discussions and
recommendations made by the Thirty-sixth Meeting of the
Consultative Committee for Programme Development and

Management on the subject item.

SEA/RC52/10 Add.2
Page 1

REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE DECISIONS AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE
52nd WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY AND THE 103rd AND 104th SESSIONS OF
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
The CCPDM reviewed the resolutions of regional interest adopted by the 52nd
World Health Assembly and the 103rd and 104th sessions of the WHO Executive
Board. The following are the highlights of the discussions:

Scale of assessment for the financial period 2000-2001 (WHA 52.17)


There was a need to review the basis of determining assessed contributions.
Even though the scale of assessment was determined by the UN General
Assembly, it would be useful to have relevant information on the base year on
which assessments were determined. The Regional Office was requested to
provide this information later.

Towards a WHO framework convention on tobacco control (WHA52.18)


The solidarity among Member Countries of the Region should be used in
protecting regional interests. This was particularly vital in the area of the
Programme Budget. There was need for proactive initiatives to ensure that
experts from the Region were nominated to the proposed expert group on the
destruction of variola virus, Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, etc.



Since the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control would take a few
years to be approved by individual Member Countries, they should proceed
with the development of strategies and programmes for tobacco control for
early implementation. It should, however, be ensured that countries do not
suffer adversely for not implementing the international conventions.

Recommendations to the regional director
1.

SEARO should follow-up with WHO Headquarters and keep itself abreast
with developments relating to the Framework Convention for Tobacco
Control and keep countries in the Region informed of the action being
taken.

2.

Member countries should formulate activities and plans of action for
implementation of tobacco cessation programmes.

3.

Member countries should initiate follow-up action on the decisions and
resolutions of the WHA/EB at the country level and provide regular feed
back to the Regional Office on the actions taken.

4.

There should be concerted efforts on the part of the Member countries and
WHO, in a spirit of solidarity, for safeguarding the regional interests in the
decisions and resolutions of the WHO Governing Bodies.

SEA/RC52/10 Add.2
Page 2

5.

Any adverse implications on the countries arising from the adoption or non­
adoption of International Conventions and resolutions of WHA/EB should
be carefully assessed and monitored by the countries with appropriate
assistance from the Regional Office.

6.

The Regional Director should explore with the Director-General the
possibility of including at least one expert from the South-East Asia Region
in the expert group to be established by her on the destruction of variola
virus stock.

REVIEW OF THE INDICATIVE LIST OF ITEMS FOR DISCUSSIONS BY THE
105th SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Committee noted the indicative list of items for discussions by the 105th
session of the Executive Board. The following issues emerged during the
discussions:

..



Members of the Executive Board from the Region need to be briefed
adequately by WHO Representatives on the process of proposing agenda
items of interest to the Region.



While World Health Assembly resolution (WHA51.31) clearly indicated that
the interests of the least developed countries would be protected, it should be
ensured that there should not be more than a 3% reduction each year of the
regional budget through 2005.



It would be very useful to include persons who are technically sound in
specific health related areas as part of country delegations to WHO Governing
Body meetings.

Recommendations to the regional director
1.

The Executive Board members from the Region should be advised
appropriately on the process of inclusion of any additional agenda item for
the EB session.

2.

Support for the bilateral efforts of the countries, with assistance from WHO,
to deal with cross-border health problems such as poliomyelitis, malaria,
HIV/AIDS etc., should be assessed by Member countries with support from
SEARO.

3.

The possibility of inclusion of technical experts in country delegations to
WHO Governing Body meetings should be explored.

4.

WHO should continue to support countries in combating the problem of

WORLD

R
E
G
I
O
N
A
L

O
M
M
I
T
T
E
E
D
O
C
U
M
E
N
T

HEALTH

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

ORGANIZATION

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 8.2

Fifty-second Session

SEA/RC52/9

25 June 1999

SELECTION OF A SUBJECT FOR THE TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS TO BE
HELD DURING THE 38TH MEETING OF THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
ON PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT (CCPDM)
The following subjects have been dealt with in the Technical Discussions held in conjunction
with the sessions of the Regional Committee since 1989:

1989

-

Role of epidemiology in health for all

1990

-

Health of the underprivileged

1991

-

Disaster preparedness

1992

-

Balance and relevance in human resources for health for HFA/2000

1993

-

Community action for health

1994

-

Resurgence of tuberculosis - the challenge

1995

-

Alternative financing of health care

1996

-

Quality assurance in laboratory practices

1997

-

Health sector reform

1998

-

Partnerships for health development with focus on women's health
and development

1999

-

Tobacco or health: Actions for the 21st century

-

Intensification of STD/AIDS surveillance

In selecting a subject for the Technical Discussions to be held prior to the fifty-third
session in 2000, the Committee may wish to consider the following subjects:

(1)

Equity in access to public health

(2)

Healthy settings

(3)

Mental health - Healthy family life

(4)

Polio eradication in the South-East Asia Region

WORLD

HEALTH

ORGANIZATION

R
E
G

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR
SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 13.1

Fifty-second Session

SEA/RC52/4

16 July 1999

O
N

0

o
M
M

T
E

D
O
C
U
M
E
N
T

UNDP/WORLD BANK/WHO SPECIAL PROGRAMME FOR RESEARCH
AND TRAINING IN TROPICAL DISEASES: JOINT COORDINATING
BOARD (JCB) - ATTENDANCE AT 1999 JCB

SEA/RC52/4
Page 2

1.

INTRODUCTION

The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) has been set
up under the administrative aegis of the World Health Organization (WHO) and is
co-sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank.
The Special Programme, which is a long-term endeavour, has two principal goals:

2.

(1)

To develop new methods of preventing, diagnosing and treating selected tropical
diseases, methods that would be applicable, acceptable and affordable by
developing countries, require minimal skills or supervision and be readily integrated
into the health services of these countries, and

(2)

To strengthen - through training in biomedical and social sciences and through
support to institutions - the capability of developing countries to undertake the
research required to develop these new disease control technologies.

JOINT COORDINATING BOARD

For the purpose of coordinating the interests and responsibilities of the parties cooperating in
this Special Programme, a Joint Coordinating Board (JCB) has been established.
2.1

Functions

The JCB shall, for the purpose of coordinating the interests and responsibilities of the parties
cooperating in the Special Programme, have the following functions:

(1) Review and decide upon the planning and execution of the Special Programme. For
this purpose, it will keep itself informed of all aspects of the development of the
Special Programme, and consider reports and recommendations submitted to it by
the Standing Committee, the Executing Agency, and the Scientific and Technical
Advisory Committee (STAC);
(2) Approve the proposed plan of action and budget for the coming financial period,
prepared by the Executing Agency and reviewed by the Standing Committee;
(3)

Review the proposals of the Standing Committee and approve arrangements for the
financing of the Special Programme in that period;

(4)

Review proposed longer-term plans of action and their financial implications;

(5)

Review the annual financial statements submitted by the Executing Agency as well
as the audit report thereon, submitted by the External Auditor of the Executing
Agency;

(6)

Review periodic reports which evaluate the progress of the Special Programme
towards the achievement of its objectives;

SEA/RC52/4
Page 3

o?A^Se the ProP°sals of the Executing Agency and the Standing Committee for
STAC membership, and
(8) Consider such other matters relating to the Special Programme as may be referred
to it by any Cooperating Party.

Composition

2.2

The JCB shall consist of 30 members from among the Cooperating Parties as follows:

(1) Twelve government representatives selected by the contributors to the Special
Programme resources;
(2) Twelve government representatives selected by the WHO regional committees from
among those countries directly affected by the diseases dealt with by the Special
Programme, or from among those providing technical or scientific support to the
Special Programme;
(3)

Three members, designated by the JCB itself, from among the remaining
Cooperating Parties, and

(4)

The three Agencies which comprise the Standing Committee.

Members of the JCB shall serve for a period of three years and may be reappointed.

Other Cooperating Parties may, at their request, be represented as Observers upon
approval by the JCB.

3.

MEMBERSHIP OF JCB FROM THE SOUTH-EAST ASIA REGION

At present, the following three Member States from the South-East Asia Region are
members of the JCB:

Period

Selected by

Paragraph of Memorandum
of Understanding under
which selected

India

1998-2000

Regional Committee

2.2.2

Sri Lanka

1999-2001

Regional Committee

2.2.2

Thailand

1997-1999

JCB

2.2.3

Country

3.1

Nominations under Paragraph 2.2.2

There will be no vacancies for the JCB membership from 1 January 2000 in theSouth-East
Asia Reqion under paragraph 2.2.2 of the Memorandum of Understanding (governments
cpiprtpri bv the WHO Regional Committees). As such, no selection need be made by the
Regional Committee at its fifty-second session.

SEA/RC52/4
Page 4

3.2

Nominations under Paragraph 2.2.3

One vacancy will occur on 1 January 2000 under paragraph 2.2.3 of the TDR Memorandum
of Understanding (members selected by the JOB itself) as the term of office of Thailand will
expire on 31 December 1999. From the South-East Asia Region, the Governments of Nepal
and Thailand applied for selection to JCB membership from 2000 and their applications were
considered under paragraph 2.2.3 of the Memorandum of Understanding. However, they
were not selected.

4.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Noting of the Report on JCB Session
The representatives from India and Sri Lanka attended the 22nd session of JCB, held in
Geneva on 24-25 June 1999. A report on the deliberations of the JCB was presented to the
36lhCCPDM, which was held from 30 August to 4 September 1999. The Regional Committee
may note the report of the representatives from India and Sri Lanka to the 36lh CCPDM.

WORLD

HEALTH

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

ORGANIZATION

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 13.1

Fifty-second session

SEA/RC52/4 Add.1

4 September 1999

UNDP/WORLD BANK/WHO SPECIAL PROGRAMME FOR
RESEARCH AND TRAINING IN TROPICAL DISEASES:
JOINT COORDINATING BOARD (JCB) ATTENDANCE AT 1999 JCB

This document contains highlights of the
report to the Thirty-sixth Meeting of the
Consultative Committee for Programme
Development and Management (CCPDM)
made by the representative of Sri Lanka on
the subject item.

SEA/RC52/4 Add.1
Page 1

UNDP/WORLD BANK/WHO SPECIAL PROGRAMME
FOR RESEARCH AND TRAINING IN TROPICAL DISEASES:
JOINT COORDINATING BOARD (JCB) ATTENDANCE AT 1999 JCB

The member from Sri Lanka presented the report on behalf of representatives
from India, Sri Lanka and Thailand, on participation of these countries in the 22nd
Session of the Joint Coordinating Board of the Special Programme for the
Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (JCB), held in Geneva in June 1999.
The meeting emphasized the important role of the TDR programme in improving
the quality of life of populations exposed to tropical diseases and noted that the
WHO contribution to the programme’s budget had been increased by 25% for the
next biennium. The need for providing adequate administrative support to the
TDR programme was stressed. The participants at the JCB meeting discussed the
Roll Back Malaria Initiative and its principles and key elements such as early
detection, prompt treatment, multiple prevention methods, well-coordinated action,
dynamic global movement and focused research.
In view of the re-emergence of Tuberculosis and its close association with
HIV infections, the JCB agreed to include tuberculosis control into the TDR
programme. A proposal to include research pertaining to dengue control in the
TDR programme was also endorsed. The need for, and the importance of
institutional strengthening, particularly in the least developed countries was also
underlined. Malaysia was elected for membership for a period of 3 years from
1.1.2000, under paragraph 2.2.3 of the TDR Memorandum of Understanding.
The following are the highlights of thl CCPDM discussions:

In response to a query about the quantum of funds channelled to
Regions/countries under the TDR Programme, out of the estimated US$73 million
spent, it was clarified that SEARO did not have complete information since WHO
Headquarters mostly handled the provision of support directly to Institutions. The
Regional Office was requested to obtain the information and provide it to the
Member Countries.
The CCPDM noted
Sri Lanka.

the report presented by the member from

WORLD

HEALTH

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

ORGANIZATION

R
E
G
I
O
N
A
L

C
O
M
M
I
T
T
E
E
D
O
C
U
M
E
N
T

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 7

Fifty-second session

SEA/RC52/11 Rev.1
5 September 1999

PROGRAMME BUDGET
(1998-1999, 2000-2001 AND 2002-2003)

SEA/RC52/11 Rev.1
Page 1

1. 1998-1999

(1)

The 3% programme budget implementation reduction effected by the
Director-general due to anticipated shortfall in the receipt of assessed
contributions will not be returned according to current information.

(2)

Obligation of Regular Budget funds made available to SEAR during the
biennium was 80% as of 30 June 1999. This is in line with the other
regions and HQ. In relation to the target of 100% country activity obligation
by 30 September 1999, the standing as of 30 June 1999 was 75%.

(3)

As of 30 June 1999, extrabudgetary funds available to SEAR during the
biennium amounted to US$61.9 million, of which 61% has been obligated.

(4)

Audit observations have indicated the need for improvement in the
selection of fellows and appropriate training institutions; termination of
studies and utilization of fellows’ services reports; and the relationship of
training’ topics selected, compared with those approved in the Plans of
Action. In addition, the review of unliquidated obligations, the receipt of
local cost financial statements and inventory controls were also identified
as areas needing improvement.
2.

2000-2001

REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF RESOLUTION WHA52.20
(1)

Format: The World Health Assembly approved a modified format for the
regional programme budget as compared with that agreed during RC51. It
reflects, for the regional/inter-country programmes, the 10 appropriation
sections modelled on the HQ clusters, and for country programmes, the
amounts budgeted for country offices, and for all other activities taken as a
whole.

(2)

Efficiency: The World Health Assembly, when approving a budget
representing zero nominal growth, encouraged identification of 2-3%
efficiency savings to be diverted to priority programmes, and the DirectorGeneral has increased the global amount by $10 million (on top of 3%
globally). For SEAR, this amounts to $3.9 million.

(3)

Zero Nominal Growth = Cost increases not approved. As SEAR had
requested 4.9% in cost increases which were not approved, the DirectorGeneral has determined that savings must be identified to offset this
amount for a total of $4.7 million.

(4)

Total savings required: A total of $8.6 million has, therefore, been identified
within the SEAR approved budget to offset unawarded cost increases and
to reallocate efficiency savings to priority activities. These savings have
been identified by the Regional Director on the basis of “activity
component" areas. They will remain in the country and regional

WORLD

R
E
G

HEALTH

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

ORGANIZATION

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 12

Fifty-second Session

SEA/RC52/8

25 June 1999

O
N
A
L
C

o
M
M
I
T
T
>E
E
D
O
C
U
M
E
N
T

STRENGTHENING POISON CONTROL CENTRES IN THE REGION

TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH
SOUND MANAGEMENT OF CHEMICALS

SEA/RC52/8

CONTENTS
Page

1.

INTRODUCTION

1

2.

PROBLEM OF EXPOSURE TO TOXIC CHEMICALS

1

3.

EXISTING CAPACITIES FOR POISON CONTROL

2

4.

INTERNATIONAL POLICY FRAMEWORK IN POISON CONTROL

3

5.

STRATEGIES PROPOSED FOR ESTABLISHING POISON CONTROL
PROGRAMME

4

5.1 Political Commitment: Leading Role of Ministry of Health
5.2 Partnership with NGOs, Private Sectors and Other Disciplines
5.3 Prevention and Awareness Programme
5.4 Training and Education
5.5 Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening
5.6 Support Role of IPCS/WHO and Centres of Excellence

4
4
5
5
5
5

6.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

6

7.

POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION FOR IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE STRATEGIES

7

7.1 Leading Role of Ministries of Health
7.2 Partnership with NGOs, Private Sector and Other Disciplines
7.3 Prevention and Awareness Programme
7.4 Training and Capacity Building
7.5 Role of WHO

7
7
7
7
8

SEA/RC52/8

1.

INTRODUCTION

The growing incidence of poisoning from accidental, occupational or intentional exposure to
chemicals has drawn worldwide attention. While global incidence of poisoning is not known,
it is estimated that up to half a million people die each year as a result of poisonings, due to
pesticides and natural toxins. WHO conservatively estimated that though developing
countries account for only 15% of the worldwide use of pesticides, about 50% of pesticide
poisonings occur in these countries, especially through misuse of chemicals. The exact
magnitude of the problem is not known due to inadequate epidemiological data from the
Region. However, hospital-based studies and public health surveillance reports clearly
indicate increasing incidence and mortality due to chemicals, particularly pesticides.

Clinical and toxicological diagnostic and treatment facilities are often inadequate due to
the lack of trained personnel thus requiring strengthening of national capabilities for
prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Further, the lack of information on the ingredients of
various products available make it difficult to plan and develop national poison policies and
control programmes and to provide timely and reliable source of information to doctors and
other medical personnel and first responders on the appropriate treatment. Nevertheless,
some SEAR countries are in the process of establishing poison information centres while
others are just beginning to develop their capabilities.
All governments have recognized, through Agenda 21, adopted by the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Brazil, June 1992, that the sound
management of chemicals is an essential component of sustainable development and that
capabilities and capacities in the countries for prevention of toxic exposures and for
management of exposed persons is an important element of chemical safety. Further, the
World Health Assembly has called upon all Member States to develop and strengthen
national chemical safety programmes. The Regional Consultation on Promotion of National
Chemical Safety, held in Bangkok from 4-6 March 1998, urged SEAR countries to initiate
poison control programmes according to the local needs of the country.
The International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS/WHO) provides guidelines and
data to ensure efficient use of resources, patient care and effective preventive measures. It
is essential for Member Countries to identify the existing capabilities and facilities for poison
control and take steps towards resource mobilization, capacity building and institutional
strengthening. This also calls for policy decisions at the level of ministry of health with the
active partnership of various nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and private sectors.
Furthermore, it is recognized that poison centres are cost-saving interventions as
unnecessary hospital admissions are avoided.

2.

PROBLEM OF EXPOSURE TO TOXIC CHEMICALS

With rapid economic and industrial growth in the Region, the demand for and use of
chemicals in agriculture, health and industrial sectors has increased enormously. Since all
countries in the Region have an agriculture-based economy, pesticides and agrochemicals

SEA/RC52/8
Page 2

have become essential for increasing and sustaining agricultural productivity. Pesticide
poisoning due to indiscriminate and unsafe use of pesticides is a major health concern in all
countries. The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has
indicated that the incidence of pesticide poisoning in this Region could be as high as 2 million
a year causing 40 000 deaths. Every minute someone in an economically underdeveloped
country is poisoned by a pesticide. Nearly 85% of the world pesticide production is used in
the industrialized countries. Yet, the incidence of pesticide poisoning is 13 times higher in
developing countries. However, the quantification of the problem of poisoning is difficult in
each country due to a general lack of systematic reporting of poisoning cases.
A number of hospital-based retrospective studies in India have shown an increasing
incidence of pesticide poisoning during the last decade. Organophosphates, aluminium
phosphide and rodenticides are most often involved in such poisonings. Plant poisonings,
snake envenomations and accidental kerosene poisoning in children are also common.
Frequent outbreaks of epidemic dropsy due to oil adulteration with argemone oil, toxic
polyneuropathy due to triorthocresyl phosphate, lathyrism due to lathyrus sativus and
intoxication due to methanol have occurred in the past. Environmental contamination with
persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals is well known. Chronic arsenic
poisoning has been reported from West Bengal due to ingestion of contaminated ground
water. Industrial and transportation accidents involving chemicals are not infrequent. The
Bhopal gas leak in 1984 was the greatest chemical accident of the century.

In Sri Lanka, poisoning was reported to be the second leading contributor to deaths in
hospitals during 1997. The country has the third highest rate in the world for suicidal deaths
from pesticides. In Bangladesh, ground water contamination of arsenic and organochlorine
(heptachlor and lindane) beyond permissible limits is the cause of chronic illness. Pesticide
poisoning also poses serious health problems in Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand.

The population is also exposed to the risk of poisoning by pharmaceuticals, traditional
medicines and natural toxins of poisonous plants, snakes and scorpions. Chemicals are
often poorly labelled, improperly stored and mishandled leading to accidental exposures.
Further, adequate emergency preparedness and response plans for chemical accidents do
not exist in any of these countries.
Increasing urbanization and unemployment have led to a high incidence of intentional
exposure to chemicals. Malnutrition and deficiency diseases further contribute to the
increased vulnerability of the toxic effects of chemicals in the population. The plight of
vulnerable population groups, including children, pregnant women and rural migrant workers
deserves recognition and requires action.

3.

EXISTING CAPACITIES FOR POISON CONTROL

Poison control facilities with an established national poison information centre have existed
in Sri Lanka since 1988. More recently, poison centres have been established in India (at the
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, and the National Institute of Occupational
Health, Ahmedabad). Establishment of eight more centres has been recommended Throuah
a WHO-financed project in Indonesia, a national poison information centre has been
established at the Ministry of Health, linked to treatment facilities atCipto Mangunkusumo

SEA/RC52/8
Page 3

Hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. Four provincial centres were being established and are
operating since 1997. The plan is to establish four more centres. In Thailand, a poisoning
rea men
* y operates at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok. More poison centres are
expec e o e established at central and peripheral levels, often associated with adverse
drug reaction units in regional hospitals. Nepal is taking initiative to establish poison control
facilities through the Ministry of Health and a local NGO. No facilities are reported to exist in
Bangladesh, Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives and Myanmar. Consequently, while some poison
control facilities exist in five of the ten SEAR countries, these are inadequate to meet the
needs of the respective countries. Therefore, new facilities need to be created and existing
ones further strengthened.

4.

INTERNATIONAL POLICY FRAMEWORK IN POISON CONTROL

Following the recommendations of UNCED in relation to sound management of chemicals,
an Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) was established in April 1994. One
of the priority activities recommended to all governments by IFCS is the establishment of
poison centres with related clinical and analytical facilities and the promotion of harmonized
systems for recording data in different countries. Consequently WHO, through the
International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) established its global activities to
promote the establishment and strengthening of poison control facilities in countries.
Guidelines for Poison Control, prepared by IPCS, provides both a policy overview of the
problems of poisoning and the types of programmes and facilities that will be effective in
preventing and dealing with them. The WHO Guidelines on Poison Control have been used
to prepare training courses for professionals involved in poison control activities, several
courses having been held in SEAR. A manual on Management of Poisoning has been
prepared for use by primary health care workers and physicians working in the field of
prevention, diagnosis and treatment of poisoning. A manual on Basic Analytical
Toxicology, with simple laboratory tests to support diagnosis and treatment of poisoning,
has been developed for hospitals lacking advanced technology.

In 1988, IPCS initiated the IPCS INTOX project to provide internationally evaluated
information, information management, networking arrangement, software tools and training
materials to support professionals working at poison control facilities in countries. The IPCS
INTOX system provides an information management software to enable communications about
chemical incidents and poisoning cases, as well as data on substances, pharmaceuticals, toxic
plants and fungi, venomous animals and on chemical products to be recorded in an
internationally harmonized way so that situations may be compared within and among
countries. The project promotes twinning arrangements between established and new centres
and provides a number of specialized e-mail discussion groups for professionals in the field.
The project also has a website(http://www.intox.org). Some 60 centres and over 100
professionals take part in different aspects of the work of the project, including five centres
in SEAR countries. Guidance is also provided, through the Antidotes Evaluation Series, for
treatment of poisoning cases, with a view to promoting the availability and use of antidotes.
Recognizing that vulnerable groups, such as women, children, occupationally-exposed
persons and the public need to be made better aware about poisonings and the need for
prevention of toxic exposures, specific Guidelines on Prevention of Toxic Exposuresand
training materials are under preparation.

SEA/RC52/8
Page 4

Much of the work of WHO to promote poison control in countries is undertaken in
cooperation with the relevant international professional bodies and associations.
Recognizing that the fields of chemical and analytical toxicology and poison control are not
well established in the Region, IPCS has assisted in the establishment of the Asian and

Pacific Association of Medical Toxicologists.
To review the current status of control and management of acute cases of poisoning in
the Region and the facilities, including expertise available, an informal Consultation on
Poison Control in South-East Asia was held in the Regional Office in December 1998. It
concluded that all SEAR countries have significant poisoning-related health hazards
requiring support at all levels of management and prevention and analytical capability. The
support of WHO for Poison Control Programmes through IPCS and related activities was
considered to be fundamental. Collaboration with centres of excellence in other regions,
such as the Medical Toxicology Unit in London, may help in information exchange, training,
teaching and research in the Region.

5.

STRATEGIES PROPOSED FOR ESTABLISHING POISON
CONTROL PROGRAMME

Recognizing that a poison control programme is an essential element of sound management of
chemicals, all countries should establish such programmes, building on existing facilities and
planning realistic time-bound implementation action plans. Plans should aim to establish poison
information services and related chemical and analytical toxicological facilities consistent with
the internationally agreed criteria provided by WHO in the IPCS Guidelines on Poison Control.
The role of the poison control centres may be extended beyond just the provision of advice on
individual poisonings to also include national collection and collation of internationallyharmonized epidemiological and clinical data on chemical poisonings, particularly in
strengthening the evidence base for control of diseases of chemical etiology, and the
establishment of programmes for the prevention of toxic exposures andtoxicovigilance.

5.1 Political Commitment: Leading Role of Ministry of Health
The health sector must play a lead role in initiating, establishing and maintaining partnership
for poison control. Ministries of health must mobilize funds and provide leadership in
strengthening the capabilities and facilities for prevention and management of poisoning at
every health care level thereby addressing the issue holistically. Implementation will require
reorientation of health systems, programmes and personnel. Ministries of health must also
play a lead role in advocating, promoting and participating in inter-ministerial mechanisms for
mainstreaming the Poison Control Programme in the country.

5.2 Partnership with NGOs, Private Sectors and Other Disciplines
Forging partnership with NGOs is important for any health initiative. In Nepal an NGO run
Poison Information Centre is functional. This potential of NGOs and private sector mav be
tapped in strengthening Poison Control Programmes. Broad strategic frameworks within
which these agencies can collaborate with the governments may be worked out and
mechanisms initiated.
u

SEA/RC52/8
Page 5

In some countries, including India, all poisoning cases are labelled as medico-legal, and
consequently involve forensic doctors for establishing the diagnosis. While some hospitals
have well-equipped forensic laboratories for this purpose, this is not the case throughout the
Region. Strengthening of such laboratories, collaboration between them and other
environmental/pollution control laboratories in the countries would go a long way in improving
the quality of services in poison control.

5.3 Prevention and Awareness Programme
Poison information centres will have an important role in prevention through toxicovigilance.
Observations and data collected by the centres can contribute to the prevention of poisoning
through the identification of high-risk circumstances of exposure in the community and by
calling attention to potential emergency situations, where mass poisoning may occur. Health
authorities thus notified may implement appropriate preventive measures, such as alerting
the community, advising consumers, introducing codes of practice and regulations for
appropriate labelling of products, special packaging and modification or withdrawal of
products from the market. Integrated approach with the health, agricultural and
environmental sectors is required in planning prevention programmes. Programmes and
campaigns in the mass media, on specific toxic risks involves strategic governmental
support. The role of industries and the private sector in prevention has already been
stressed.

5.4 Training and Education
Training programmes are essential for improving the diagnostic and management
capabilities of professionals involved in poisoning management. IPCS/WHO guidance can be
utilized for preparing necessary training resources for professionals. The existing poison
information centres in the Region can help train professional and paramedical staff.

5.5 Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening
In order to function effectively, poison control centres require computers, telecommunications
and Internet connections, laboratory equipment, antidotes, drugs and library support.
Promotional programmes for national and international exhange of staff among poison
centres may be initiated for capacity building.

5.6 Support Role of IPCS/WHO and Centres of Excellence
As elaborated, IPCS/WHO plays an important role in helping developing countries in
establishing and strengthening poison control programmes through:

(1) improving the international flow of communication, exchange of information and
experience in the field of poison control, as well as exchange of personnel,
particularly for educational and training purposes,

(2) organizing regional and international workshops directed towards diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of toxic exposures, setting up and running of poison
control centres and related activities using existing IPCS/WHO materials suitably
adapted for the SEA Region;

SEA/RC52/8
Page 6

6.

(3)

promoting activities aimed at the recognition and mitigation of the effect on
specially vulnerable groups, such as children, women and rural workers,

(4)

harmonizing definitions and criteria concerning the description ofclincial features,
treatment schedule and sequelae of poisoning cases;

(5)

establishing comparability between methods for monitoring exposure to toxic
chemicals, and for assessing the burden of disease (poisonings), their cost and the
cost of interventions;

(6)

establishing mechanisms for international collection, validation and analysis of
comparable data;

(7)

undertaking collaborative research projects using agreed protocols;

(8)

establishing channels of communication between countries for providing rapid
availability of antidotes and other therapeutic agents and medical equipment; and

(9)

establishing channels of communication among countries for rapid access to
relevant information about chemical incidents or emergencies, which may be of
value in calling toxic alerts.

f

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

With the rapid economic and industrial growth in the Region, the demand for and use of
chemicals in agriculture, health and industrial sectors have increased enormously. Since all
countries of the Region have an agriculture-based economy, pesticides and agrochemicals
have become essential for increasing and sustaining productivity. In the process,
indiscriminate and unsafe use of pesticides has resulted in increasing incidence of accidental
and intentional poisoning with consequent morbidity and mortality. Significant proportions of
the population, being illiterate, are unaware of the toxic risks of chemicals, which are often
poorly labelled and improperly stored. Urbanization, unemployment and poverty have led to
high incidence of suicides due to pesticides. Malnutrition further contributes to the sensitivity
of the population to the toxic effects. Occupational exposure to industrial chemicals,
environmental contamination with pesticides and pollutants and adulteration of food and
traditional medicines pose serious health problems in terms of chronic poisoning and
morbidity.

The exact magnitude of the problem is not yet known because of inadequate
epidemiological data from the Region. However, pesticide poisoning appears to be a major
health concern in all countries. Clinical and toxicological assessment and treatment facilities
are often inadequate as there are only a limited number of trained personnel, insufficient
analytical and treatment equipment, antidotes and drugs, thus requiring strengthening of
national capabilities for prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Further, the lack of information
on toxic ingredients of various products makes it difficult to provide timely and reliable
information to the first responders and doctors on the treatment of poisoning. Though some
poison information facilities exist in five of the ten SEAR countries, yet these are incomplete
and do not provide full coverage throughout the country. Existing facilities need considerable
strengthening while new ones need to be established.

At the informal Consultation on Poison Control, held in the Regional Office in December
1998, it was recognized that all SEAR countries have significant poisoning-related health

f

SEA/RC52/8
Page 7

hazards requiring support at all levels of management and prevention. It was recognized that
there is a need to strengthen poison control programme in each country through
country/WHO support and a time-frame action plan. The involvement of ministries of health
along with intersectoral coordination and NGO support is fundamental.
It is therefore proposed that: (1) each country initiates its own poison control
programme based on WHO guidelines; (2) ministries of health mobilize funds and provide
leadership in strengthening capabilities and facilities for poisoning prevention and
management at every health care level; (3) a comprehensive poison control programme is
developed by the Regional Office for the biennium 2000-2001 with particular emphasis on
providing technical support and the human resource development for the provision of poison
information and management, analytical toxicological service, prevention activities and for
collecting epidemiological data; and (4) activities continue in future with local resource
management through NGOs/industries in the country.

7.

POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION FOR IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE STRATEGIES:

7.1 Leading Role of Ministries of Health
o

What initiatives ministries of health need to take to establish a poison control
programme?



What steps need to be taken to mobilize resources?



What changes are needed in policies to get the support of other ministries
concerned?

7.2 Partnership with NGOs, Private Sector and Other Disciplines


What policies are needed to facilitate partnership with NGOs and other medical
disciplines?

7.3 Prevention and Awareness Programme


How can mass media be involved in the awareness programme?



How to initiate poison information services in the country which will have
responsibility for prevention and toxicovigilance?



How to strengthen partnership with pesticide associations and industry?

7.4 Training and Capacity Building


In what way can training programmes in poison control be initiated?



How to get support from ministries of health and WHO?



How to bring about institutional strengthening in terms of infrastructure and trained
personnel?

SEA/RC52/8
Page 8

7.5 Role of WHO


How can WHO establish more direct links with concerned ministries?



How can WHO support in poison information, analytical toxicology, prevention
management capabilities?



How can WHO help to initiate epidemiological and multicentric studies?



How can WHO support in training professionals and para-professionals?

WORLD

R
E
G

HEALTH

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

ORGANIZATION

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Provisional Agenda item 11

Fifty-second Session

SEA/RC52/6

25 June 1999

I
O
N
A
L
C

O
M
M

T
T
E
E
D
O
C
U
M
E
N
T

INTERCOUNTRY COOPERATION IN
SUPPLY OF ESSENTIAL DRUGS

SEA/RC52/6

CONTENTS
Page
1.

INTRODUCTION

1

2.

MANAGING DRUG SUPPLY

1

3.

EXISTING INTERCOUNTRY COOPERATION IN SUPPLY OF
ESSENTIAL DRUGS

2

4.

ENABLING FACTORS IN A POOLED PROCUREMENT SCHEME


—AV*''

3
J&C "I’D c-'Cc

V

4.1 Sharing of Drug Information
...... .........J
4.2 Information on Regional and Global Price Indicators
' My1-4
4.3 Harmonization in Drug Quality Assurance
Asfex
4

A MODEL FOR INTERCOUNTRY COOPERATION IN SUPPLY OF
ESSENTIAL DRUGS
5.1 Careful Selection of Manufacturers and their Raw Material Products
5.2 Assurance of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and ISO Standards
5.3 Random Checking of Raw Materials

5
5
5
6

6.

CONCLUSIONS

6

7.

POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION

6

5.

SEA/RC52/6

1.

INTRODUCTION

Medicinal drugs are indispensable for the prevention, control, treatment and amelioration of
a number of maladies that affect human beings. Communicable as well as noncommunicable diseases are amenable to pharmacological actions of therapeutic agents.
Hence it is important to ensure that essential drugs, which are important for the health of the
majority of the population, are available and accessible at all times in sufficient quantities
and in proper dosage forms.
WHO has been assisting Member Countries in the formulation and implementation of
national drug policies in order to reduce morbidity and mortality from common illnesses by
promoting the availability of and accessibility to essential drugs. Towards this goal, a major
thrust has been placed on promoting the essential drugs concept, drug supply management,
quality assurance and rational use of drugs. Furthermore, other aspects of the national drug
policy relating to drug legislation and regulatory control, essential drugs production according
to the current good manufacturing practices, dissemination of drug information, drug
financing, training of human resources and technical cooperation among countries of the
region, among others, are being supported in accordance with the priorities of the countries.
Even though national drug or pharmaceutical policies have been developed in the
countries of South-East Asia, accessibility to essential drugs varies from place to place
within a country. Such differences can also be observed from country to country within the
Region as a whole. These variabilities become prominent at the time of an economic crisis
since drug supply management is disrupted due to financial and economic factors. In the
circumstances, intercountry cooperation in sustaining the supply of essential drugs becomes
a critical issue as this strategy can ameliorate the shortage of essential drugs in the health
care facility.

2.

MANAGING DRUG SUPPLY

In order to have an efficient drug supply system, four components are critically important.
They are:



Selection of appropriate drugs,



Procurement,



Distribution



Rational use.

Among these four components, intercountry cooperation has been commonly seen in
the area of procurement. Countries have been able to collaborate successfully in pooled
procurement or group purchasing with obvious benefit to the countries due to economies of
scale. Examples of pooled procurement can be seen in the following Table.

SEA/RC52/6
Page 2

Table. Existing intercountry cooperation in pooled procurement
of drugs and other medical supplies
Year
started

Type of
agreement

No. of
countries

Participating countries

African Association of
Central Medical Stores
for Generic Essential
Drugs

1996

Declaration
of Intention

5

Burkina Fasso, Chad, Mali, Niger
and Senegal

Maghreb Commission
for Bulk Purchasing

1989

Proposal

5

Algeria, Libya, Mauritania,
Morocco and Tunisia

Gulf Cooperative
Council

1978

Health
Ministers’
Meeting

6

Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia and United Arab
Emirates

Eastern Caribbean
Drug Service(ECDS)

1981

ECDS
Agreement

8

Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica,
Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts
and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent
and Grenadines, and British
Virgin Islands

South Pacific
Pharmaceutical
Project

1997

Rarotonga
Agreement

4

Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu

Procurement group

3.

EXISTING INTERCOUNTRY COOPERATION IN SUPPLY OF
ESSENTIAL DRUGS

There are a number of successful pooled procurement schemes in different parts of the
world. The schemes now in operation are - African Association of Central Medical Stores for
Generic Essential Drugs (abbreviated in French as ACAME); Maghreb Commission for Bulk
Purchasing by the Arab States; the Bulk Purchasing System of the Gulf Countries; Eastern
Caribbean Drug Service in the West Indies, and South Pacific Pharmaceutical Project
among the Pacific Island countries.

A Generic Model of Pooled Procurement/Group Purchasing Scheme
It can be seen from the above-mentioned pooled procurement schemes that intercountry
cooperation in the supply of essential drugs can be realized through the establishment of a
viable system. Such a system is usually initiated with the Agreement of the participating
countries, which subsequently leads to the development of a programme. The programme
includes, among other things, establishment of:


objectives of pooled procurement



policy framework



administrative infrastructure



responsibilities and functions of office-bearers



tendering system



financial management, and



legal provisions in case of dispute.

SEA/RC52/6
Page 3

The key findings in pooled procurement of pharmaceuticals are the following:


Reduction in the cost of drugs and other medical supplies

»

Improvement in quality assurance



Increase in local production due to greater scope of supply



Increased collaboration of pharmaceutical sectors among countries including
harmonization of drug registration.

There are a number of advantages in the pooled procurement scheme, the most
important being the reduction of drug cost due to economies of scale. Due to greater
quantities of purchase compared to those done by individual countries, there is better
service and attention given by suppliers. There is also a decrease in the administrative
workload of the individual countries. Another advantage of the pooled procurement scheme
is harmonization in drug registration among countries since the same products are imported
at approximately the same time. Production for regional supply instead of national supply is
also an added advantage.
There are a number of key conditions for successful implementation of pooled
procurement. They are:

o

Political will

o

Commitment of participating countries to the scheme

o

Formal agreement among the relevent countries



Well-defined regulations and procedures



Permanent and independent secretariat, and



Stage-by-stage development.

The political will of the participating countries and commitment of the secretariat are
critical elements in making pooled procurement a success. Pre-qualification and registration
of suppliers are important in better selection of suppliers. A realistic number of drugs to be
purchased and a limited number of participating countries in the initial stages of development
of pooled procurement are contributory to the effectiveness of the system.

4.

ENABLING FACTORS IN A POOLED PROCUREMENT SCHEME

In addition to the establishment of a pooled procurement system, sharing of information
among participating countries pertaining to drugs for procurement, such as sources and
suppliers, prices of drugs, and ways and means to ensure the quality of pharmaceutical
products, are indispensable in instilling confidence in the system.

4.1 Sharing of Drug Information
Exchange of drug information is a cost-effective way of utilizing available resources. It is
particularly important in country situations where there is a limitation of technical,
administrative and/or human resources. Exchange of information can cover many areas in

SEA/RC52/6
Page 4

the field of essential drugs but the following issues are considered to be important in
improving the supply of essential drugs:


Sources of essential drugs, import prices and conditions of contract



Decisions of drug regulatory authorities pertaining to procured drugs



Quality of the drugs.

4.2 Information on Regional and Global Price Indicators
It is well known that there is wide variation between prices of essential drugs procured by
various organizations. In order for Member Countries to help reduce such variations, the
Regional Office for Africa, in collaboration with WHO headquarters, is in the process of
publishing “Prices of Essential Drugs” in the Region on an annual basis. Data on prices are
to be collected from all Member Countries of the Region. The data are analysed by experts
and compared with prices of international drug suppliers. It is important to have the
participation of all countries in the data collection process and to use the data so generated
in the tendering and procurement of pharmaceuticals, especially in the case of essential
drugs.
At present, there are international prices of essential drugs published by UNICEF,
International Dispensary Association, Foundation for Non-Profit Procurement of Medical
Supplies based in the Netherlands, and International Drug Price Indicator Guide published by
Management Sciences for Health (located in the State of Virginia, USA) and the World Bank.

4.3 Harmonization in Drug Quality Assurance
Drug quality assurance is a prerequisite for any supply of essential drugs. There are various
critical procedures by which quality of drugs can be assured. They are:


Product selection - selection of products with longer shelf life, powders for
reconstitution rather than oral suspension and selection of products with no
bioavailability problems.



Supplier selection - supplier pre-qualification, valid GMP certification, supplier
monitoring, limitation of purchase of non-critical products from new suppliers.



Product certification - through GMP certificate, requirement of certificates of
pharmaceutical product and batch (as recommended by WHO).



Contract specifications - quality standard according to pharmacopoeia, labelling
requirement, minimum shelf life, packaging standard.



Inspection of shipments - physical inspection of all shipments, sampling for
analysis of suspect products and random sampling for testing.



Laboratory testing - therapeutically critical drugs, drugs with known bioavailability
problems, new suppliers, suppliers with past quality problems.



Product problem reporting system - having a system for reporting suspect or
problem drugs.



Application of the WHO Certification Scheme - very useful tool for certifying the
quality of pharmaceutical products moving in international commerce.

SEA/RC52/6
Page 5

5-

peMe?ST^°nRD!NTERCOUNTRY COOPERATION IN SUPPLY OF
ESSENTIAL DRUGS

°f econom'c crises in the Region in recent years, the Regional
at competitive priceT*5 ° Pr°mote ‘ntercountry cooperation for the provision of quality drugs
em er aes of SEAR are, to some extent, in a similar situation with Member States
in o er regions described above with respect to constraints in the accessibility to essential
drugs a ifferent levels of health care. However, SEAR Member States are also in a unique
position in that eight of the ten Member Countries have drug production facilities as well as
capability and capacity to manufacture essential drugs. Furthermore, there is also the
availability of good quality raw materials from a number of Member States of the Region.
Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, DPR Korea and Thailand are producers of a certain number of
raw materials as well as a wide range of pharmaceuticals from the national lists of essential
drugs.
This model is focused on intercountry cooperation in the supply of raw materials for the
production of essential drugs. To help achieve this aim, the following mechanisms may be
introduced to ensure that only good quality raw materials are made available from the
exporting country.

5.1 Careful Selection of Manufacturers and their Raw Material Products
The track record of the manufacturer of raw materials is a prerequisite for ensuring the
quality of their product. In this regard, GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certificate of the
manufacturer and approval of their products by well-developed regulatory authorities, such
as the United States Food and Drug Administration, the Medicines Commission of the United
Kingdom or the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia, are useful indicators.
Furthermore, the producers must also have a good record of timely delivery of goods.
Supply of raw materials from within the Region would be a useful mechanism in
intercountry cooperation in improving the supply of essential drugs through their production.
Providing information regarding availability of raw materials in the international market can
also facilitate national production. The International Trade Centre of the World Trade
Organization, in collaboration with the Action Programme on Essential Drugs of WHO
headquarters, publishes such information on a monthly basis. It is known as Market News
Service for Pharmaceutical Raw Materials/Essential Drugs Report. The report contains unit
price of packing, minimum quantity for order, delivery time, quality standard, country of origin
of the raw material and price trend indicating whether it is increasing, decreasing or is static.
Communication with the supplier can be established through the International Trade Centre.

5.2 Assurance of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and ISO Standards
The manufacturers must have a GMP certificate as recommended by WHO. These
certificates are issued by national regulatory authorities and form part of the WHO
Certificationscheme on the quality of -pharmaceutical products moving in international
commerce Hence it is the prerogative of the importer to request the required certificate from
the exoorter or its representative in the importing country. Such a certificate may also be
requested from or verified by the national control authority of the country where the

manufacturer is located.

SEA/RC52/6
Page 6

Recently, the International Standards Organization (ISO) has established requirements
for internationally-accepted standards of quality system, which deals with the organizational
structure, procedures, processes and resources needed to implement quality management.
It is implemented through a quality manual, which covers relevant ISO standards and GMP
requirements. It also describes how the quality system is managed.

5.3 Random Checking of Raw Materials
It is important to randomly check samples of raw materials at a recognized laboratory for
quality assurance of pharmaceuticals. A system for random selection of samples for testing
has to be instituted.

6.

CONCLUSIONS

Intercountry cooperation in the supply of essential drugs (manufactured products) as well as
raw materials for the manufacture of essential drugs can be accomplished if there is a
complement of three basic and indispensable components. These are:

7.



Political will and commitment of relevant decision-makers to procure raw materials,
regionally or internationally, based on cost-effectiveness,



Assurance of quality through a well-defined mechanism, and



Sufficient financial resources to ensure the availability of adequate quantities of
essential drugs and other medical supplies.

POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION

The following issues may be taken into consideration in regard to intercountry cooperation in
the supply of essential drugs:


Intercountry cooperation is seen in the form of pooled procurement or group
purchasing as a common strategy for improving drug supply to regional groups of
countries. Is this a step towards intercountry cooperation in this Region?



A recent survey in SEAR has shown that raw materials for the production of
essentia! drugs can be obtained more cheaply from within the Region. Is
procurement of raw materials from within the Region a step towards intercountry
cooperation in this Region?



Are enabling factors in pooled procurement schemes, such as information sharing
on suppliers of essential drugs (finished products), their prices and quality a step
towards intercountry cooperation in this Region while leaving procurement as the
national prerogative?



Are there other more desirable options for intercountry cooperation in this Region?

References
Agreement Establishing the Eastern Caribbean Drug Service, Published by ECDS, Castries, St. Lucia, 1990

Discussion Paper, South Pacific Pharmaceutical Project, WPR/HRH/HRH(1)/99.5(a), WPRO, 1999
Draft Report of Experiences on Bulk Purchasing of Essential Drugs, AFRO, 1999

Quick, J.D. et al. (Editors). Managing Drug Supply, Kumarian Press, West Hartford, Connecticut, USA. 1997

(SorA

WORLD

HEALTH

- 6 3-

ASSEMBLY

^JOURNAL
Issued in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish
Available on Internet (http://www.who.ch)

Fifty-second World Health Assembly

No. 2

18 May 1999

PROGRAMME OF MEETINGS FOR
TUESDAY, 18 MAY 1999

Time

Plenary
Assembly Hall.

Committee A
Room XVIII

Committee B
Room XVII

Other
Room VII

Round tables
Rooms XVII, XVIII,
XXIII
09h00

Fourth plenary meeting

14h30

Ministerial round tables

Committee on
Credentials

Special security arrangements are currently in place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Delegates should therefore ensure that they are carrying identification documents and
should expect delays in entering the Palais.

Office of the Journal A.663

Telephone 76766/76769

-2PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR THE HEALTH ASSEMBLY

Tuesday, 18 May
09h00

FOURTH PLENARY MEETING

Item 2

Assembly Hall

A year of change: reports of the Executive Board on its 102nd and 103rd sessions
Document A52/2

Item 3

Looking ahead for WHO after a year of change: report of Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland,
Director-General (including The World Health Report 1999)

Document A52/3
Document A52/4
Item 4

Health in development: presentation by Professor Amartya Sen, Master of Trinity
College, Cambridge; Nobel Laureate in Economics

Item 3 (continued)

Review of The World Health Report 1999
See page 15 for list of speakers.
Rooms XVII,
XVIII, XXIII

ROUND TABLES: Lessons learned in world health

14h30

Round tables on the following topics will be held concurrently:

Item 5

- Priority-setting in the health sector: challenges to ministers

Document A52/DIV/4

- Investment in hospitals: dilemmas facing ministers
Document A52/DIV/5

Participants are Ministers of Health; the discussions will be held in public and all
delegates are welcome to attend. See page 16 for rooms and provisional list of
participants.
FIRST MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS

14h30

Room VII

Wednesday, 19 May

Time

Plenary /
round tables

09h00

Fifth plenary meeting

09h30 or
immediately
after Plenary
adjourns

Ministerial round tables

14h30

Sixth plenary meeting

Committee A

Committee B

Second meeting
General Committee

17h30

09h00

Other

FIFTH PLENARY MEETING

Report of the Committee on Credentials

Assembly Hall

ROUND TABLES: Lessons learned in world health (continued)

09h30 or
immediately
after Plenary
adjourns

Item 5 (continued)

Rooms XVII,
XVIII, XXIII

Round tables on the following topics will be held concurrently:

Finding the money: dilemmas facing ministers
Document A52/DIV/6

HIV/AIDS: strategies for sustaining an adequate response to the epidemic
Document A52/D1V/7

Participants are Ministers of Health; the discussion will be held in public and all
delegates are welcome to attend. See page 16 for rooms and provisional list of
participants.
SIXTH PLENARY MEETING

14h30

Item 3 (continued)

Assembly Hall

Review of The World Health Report 1999
See page 15 for the list of speakers.
SECOND MEETING OF COMMITTEE A

14h30

Room XVIII

Proposed programme budget for 2000-2001

Item 12

Room VII

GENERAL COMMITTEE

17h30

Thursday, 20 May

09h00

Committee A

Plenary

Time

Seventh plenary meeting

Other

Third meeting

Second meeting

Immediately
after Plenary
adjourns
Fourth meeting

14h30
17h00

Committee B

Third meeting

Eighth plenary meeting

09h00

Item 3 (continued)

SEVENTH PLENARY MEETING

Assembly Hall

Review of The World Health Report 1999

See page 15 for the list of speakers.
09h00

THIRD MEETING OF COMMITTEE A

Room XVIII

Item 12 (continued) Proposed programme budget for 2000-2001
Immediately after
Plenary adjourns

SECOND MEETING OF COMMITTEE B

Room XVII

Item 15

Management and financial matters: status of collection and assessed contributions,
including Members in arrears in the payment of their contributions to an extent that
would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution

Item 17

Health conditions of, and assistance to, the Arab population in the occupied Arab
territories, including Palestine

-4FOURTH MEETING OF COMMITTEE A

14h30

Room XVIII

Item 12 (continued) Proposed programme budget for 2000-2001
THIRD MEETING OF COMMITTEE B

14h30

Room XVII

Item 16

Amendments to the Constitution

Item 18

Collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental
organizations

Item 19

Reform of the Health Assembly
EIGHTH PLENARY MEETING

17h00

Item 8

Assembly Hall

Awards

Friday, 21 May

Time

Plenary

Committee A

Committee B

09h00

Fifth meeting

Fourth meeting

14h30

Sixth meeting

Fifth meeting

Other

General Committee

17h30

FIFTH MEETING OF COMMITTEE A

09h00

Room XVIII

Item 12 (continued) Proposed programme budget for 2000-2001
Room XVII

FOURTH MEETING OF COMMITTEE B

09h00

Item 19 (continued) Reform of the Health Assembly

Item 15 (continued) Management and financial matters
SIXTH MEETING OF COMMITTEE A

14h30

Item 13

Room XVIII

Technical and health matters
Smallpox eradication: destruction of variola virus stocks
Roll Back Malaria
Room XVII

FIFTH MEETING OF COMMITTEE B

14h30

Item 15 (continued) Management and financial matters
Room VII

GENERAL COMMITTEE

17h30

To draw up the list for the annual election of Members entitled to designate a person to
serve on the Executive Board and review the programme of work

Saturday, 22 May

Time
09h00

Plenary

Committee A
Seventh meeting

Committee B
Sixth meeting

Other

-5SEVENTH MEETING OF COMMITTEE A

09h00

Room XVIII

Item 13 (continued) Technical and health matters
- Tobacco Free Initiative
- Eradication of poliomyelitis
- Revised drug strategy
SIXTH MEETING OF COMMITTEE B

09h00

Room XVII

Item 15 (continued) Management and financial matters

Monday, 24 May

09h00

Committee A

Plenary

Time

Committee B

Other

Ninth plenary meeting

Immediately
after Plenary
adjourns

Eighth meeting

Seventh meeting

14h30

Ninth meeting

Eighth meeting

09h00

NINTH PLENARY MEETING

Assembly Hall

Item 7

Election of Members entitled to designate a person to serve on the Executive Board

Item 9

Approval of reports of the main committees

Immediately
after Plenary
adjourns

EIGHTH MEETING OF COMMITTEE A

Room XVIII

Item 13 (continued) Technical and health matters
- Revision and updating of the International Health Regulations: progress report
- Promotion of horizontal technical cooperation in health sector reform in developing
countries
Immediately
after Plenary
adjourns

SEVENTH MEETING OF COMMITTEE B

Room XVII

Item 15 (continued) Management and financial matters

Supplementary
agenda item
14h30

The use of languages in WHO

NINTH MEETING OF COMMITTEE A

Room XVIII

Item 13 (continued) Technical and health matters
- Prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders

- Cloning in human health
14h30

EIGHTH MEETING OF COMMITTEE B

Finalization of draft resolutions and reports

Room XVII

-6Tuesday, 25 May

Committee A

Plenary

Time

Committee B

Other

Tenth meeting

09h00

11h30

Tenth plenary meeting

Immediately
following

Eleventh plenary meeting

09h00

TENTH MEETING OF COMMITTEE A

Room XVIII

Item 13 (continued) Technical and health matters

Finalization of draft resolutions and reports
TENTH PLENARY MEETING

11h30

Item 9 (continued)

Approval of reports of the main committees
ELEVENTH PLENARY MEETING

Immediately
following

Item 10

Assembly Hall

Assembly Hall

Closure of the Health Assembly

REPORT OF MEETINGS

Monday, 17 May 1999

FIRST PLENARY MEETING

In the Chair:
Item I

Dr Faisal Radhi Al-Mousawi (Bahrain)
President of the Fifty-first World Health Assembly

Opening of the Session

Dr Faisal Radhi Al-Mousawi declared the Fifty-second World Health Assembly open.

The President then welcomed: Mr Vladimir Petrovsky, Director-General of the United
Nations Office at Geneva and representing the Secretary-General of the United Nations;
Mr M. Ulkiimen, Chief of Protocol, United Nations Office at Geneva; Mr Guy-Olivier
Segond, Councillor of State, Department of Social Action and Health of the Republic
and Canton of Geneva, representing the Geneva State Council; Mr Jean Spielmann,
President of the Parliament of the Republic and Canton of Geneva; Mr Walter Gyger,
Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the International
Organizations at Geneva and Permanent Observer to the United Nations; Professor
Peter Suter, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva; Mr Carlos Fortin,
Assistant Secretary General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development;
Mr Patrice Robineau, representing the United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe; Dr Brian Gushulak, representing the Director-General, International
Organization for Migration; Mr Comelio Sommaruga, President, International
Committee of the Red Cross; Mr George Weber, Secretary-General of the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; the representatives of the United
Nations specialized agencies; the representatives of the various United Nations bodies;
and the delegates of Member States. He also welcomed the observers of Non-Member
States; the observers from the Order of Malta, the International Committee of the Red
Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and from
Palestine; the representatives of intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations
in official relations with WHO; and the representatives of the Executive Board.

-7-

The President then called on Mr Petrovsky, Director-General of the United Nations
Office in Geneva and representing the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who
addressed the Assembly.
The President then gave the floor to Mr Guy-Olivier Segond, Councillor of State,
Department of Social Action and Health of the Republic and Canton of Geneva.
The President of the Fifty-first World Health Assembly then delivered his speech.
Item 1.1

Appointment of the Committee on Credentials

On the proposal of the President, and in accordance with Rule 23 of the Rules of
Procedure, the Assembly appointed the Committee on Credentials constituted by the
delegates of the following 12 Member States:

Andorra
Angola
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Guinea
Item 1.2

Iceland
Maldives
Palau
Portugal
Tanzania
United Arab Emirates

Election of the Committee on Nominations

In accordance with Rule 24 of the Rules of Procedure, the President submitted to the
Assembly the following list of 24 Member States, which were elected to comprise, with
the President, Dr Faisal Radhi Al-Mousawi (Bahrain), ex-officio, the Committee on
Nominations:

Bangladesh
Botswana
Brazil
China
Dominica
Ecuador
Ethiopia
France
Greece
Honduras
Hungary
Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Liberia
Myanmar
Namibia
Nigeria
Paraguay
Poland
Qatar
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Solomon Islands
Tonga
United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland

SECOND PLENARY MEETING

Item 1.3

In the Chair:

Dr Faisal Radhi Al-Mousawi (Bahrain)
President of the Fifty-first World Health Assembly

Later:

Mrs Maria de Belem Roseira (Portugal)
President of the Fifty-second World Health Assembly

Election of the President and the five Vice-Presidents (Rule 26), the
Chairment of Committees A and B (Rule 34) and the establishment of the
General Committee (Rule 31) of the Fifty-second World Health Assembly

First Report of the Committee on Nominations (A52/28)

As proposed by the Committee, Mrs Maria de Belem Roseira (Portugal) was elected
President of the Fifty-second World Health Assembly by acclamation, and took the
chair.

-8-

Second Report of the Committee on Nominations (A52/29)
Dr Misa Teletbni RetzlafT (Samoa)
Dr E.F. Ehtuish (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya)
Dr T.J. Stamps (Zimbabwe)
Mr S.U. Yussuf (Bangladesh)
Mr J. Junor (Jamaica)
were elected Vice-Presidents of the Health Assembly by acclamation.'

Committee A:

Dr A.J. Sulaiman (Oman) was elected chairman by acclamation.

Committee B:

Dr R. Tapia (Mexico) was elected chairman by acclamation.

In accordance with Rule 31 of the Rules of Procedure the delegates of the following
17 countries were elected members of the General Committee:
Argentina
Benin
Burkina Faso
Cape Verde
China
Cuba
France
Israel
Japan

Kenya
Lebanon
Lithuania
Russian Federation
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom of Great Britain
And Northern Ireland
United States of America
Zambia

THIRD PLENARY MEETING

In the Chair:

Item 1.4

Mrs Maria de Belem Roseira (Portugal)
President of the Fifty-second World Health Assembly

Adoption of the agenda and allocation of items to the main committees
(rules 33 and 34)

Acting according to Rules 42 and 85 of the Rules of Procedure, the Health Assembly
established as committees of the Assembly each of six meetings on four topics included
under agenda item 5: Round tables: lessons learned in world health:
• Priority-setting in the health sector: challenges to ministers
• Investment in hospitals: dilemmas facing ministers
• Finding the money: dilemmas facing ministers
• HIV/AIDS: strategies for sustaining an adequate response to the epidemic.
This item had been included in response to the Executive Board resolution EB103.R19,
the aim of which was to provide a forum for ministers of health to discuss informally
major issues of concern to the health community. In order for the round-table
discussions to be lively and interesting to all concerned and to evolve according to the
views exchanged, the Health Assembly approved that membership in each round table
would be limited to ministers of health or delegates at ministerial level registered for
one or more specific round tables, and only members would be permitted to speak; the
round tables would not consider draft resolutions; and an oral report of each round
table’s discussion would be made to the plenary.

1 The names of the five Vice-Presidents are shown in the order in which they were drawn by lot under
Rule 28 of the Rules of Procedure.

-9-

The President reported that the General Committee recommended that a proposed
supplementary agenda item, “Invitation to the Republic of China (Taiwan) to participate
in the World Health Assembly as an Observer”, not be included on the agenda.
Delegations of Nicaragua, China, Dominica and Myanmar took the floor. The
recommendation of the General Committee not to include the supplementary item was
approved.
The President reported that the General Committee recommended that a second
proposed supplementary agenda item, “Use of languages at WHO”, be included on the
agenda. The recommendation to include this supplementary item was approved.
The provisional agenda was adopted as amended. The changes will be reflected in
document A52/1 Rev. 1.
The Health Assembly approved the recommendation of the General Committee that the
supplementary item on “Use of languages in WHO” be discussed in Committee B, and
that the issue of “casual income”, listed under item 15 in Committee B be taken up by
Committee A under item 12, “Proposed programme budget for 2000-2001".
The President announced that Members who wished to make suggestions
regarding the annual election of Members entitled to designate a person to serve
on the Executive Board should do so not later than 16h00 on Tuesday, 18 May
1999. These should be submitted to the Assistant to the Secretary of the Assembly,
in office A.658.

FIRST MEETING OF COMMITTEE A

Chairman:
Item 11

Dr A.J.M. Sulaiman (Oman)

Election of Vice-Chairmen and Rapporteur (Rule 36)

In accordance with Rule 36 of the Rules of Procedure of the Health Assembly, the
Committee elected Mr S. Nuamah Donkor (Ghana) and Dr M. Taha bin Arif
(Malaysia), Vice-Chairmen, and Professor A. Akanov (Kazakhstan), Rapporteur

FIRST MEETING OF COMMITTEE B

Chairman: Dr R. Tapia (Mexico)
Item 14

Election of Vice-Chairmen and Rapporteur (Rule 36)

In accordance with Rule 36 of the Rules of Procedure of the Health Assembly the
Committee elected Dr J. Eskola (Finland) and Mr B. Kesang (Bhutan), Vice-Chairmen,
and Dr M.E. Mbaiong (Chad), Rapporteur. One delegation took the floor.

TECHNICAL BRIEFINGS

The following technical briefings, symposium and seminar will take place during the Fifty-second World
Health Assembly:
Tuesday, 18 May

13h00 - 14h00

Global surveillance of communicable diseases
This briefing will be held in Room VII. There will be interpretation in English, French and
Spanish.
Both industrialized and developing countries have a growing interest in rapid and timely
detection and containment of epidemic-prone communicable diseases such as cholera,

- 10meningitis, haemorrhagic fevers, human zoonoses, influenza and other emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, including phenomena such as antimicrobial resistance and
biological food safety. A new, multidisease (or integrated) approach to national surveillance
has been developed by WHO, focusing on common surveillance functions across disease­
specific surveillance activities. Essential elements of this new approach include the
development of surveillance standards and, more importantly, the development of
multipurpose human resources at the national level through field epidemiology training and
the strengthening of laboratory infrastructure.

13h00- 14h00

Curbing the epidemic: Governments and the economics of tobacco control
This briefing will be held in Room XIX. There will be interpretation in English, French and
Spanish.

A new World Bank report* examines the economic questions that policy-makers usually face
when contemplating tobacco control. The report assesses the expected consequences of
tobacco control for health, for economies, and for individuals. It demonstrates that the
economic fears that have deterred policy-makers from taking action are largely unfounded.
By adopting measures to reduce the demand for tobacco, developing countries would prevent
millions of premature deaths and much disability, including among the poor. The briefing
will be co-chaired by Chris Lovelace, The World Bank, and Iraj Abedian, University of Cape
Town, South Africa. The presenters will be Prabhat Jha, The World Bank, and Kenneth
Warner, University of Michigan, USA. (* Curbing the epidemic: governments and the
economics oftobacco control. In press. The executive summary will be available at the
briefing.)
Wednesday, 19 May

13h00 - 14h00

Change in WHO
This briefing will be held in Room VII. There will be interpretation in English, French and
Spanish.

After taking office as Director-General of the World Health Organization, on 21 July 1998,
Dr Brundtland introduced a number of significant changes to the structure, staffing, image,
focus of work and working ethos of the Organization. Under the themes of Stronger
Partnership with Member States, Making a Difference, Working Together, Reaching Out and
One WHO, she has implemented a series of changes that will shape the direction of the
Organization for years to come. The briefing will provide details on the scope of changes,
their impact and the lessons learnt.

13h00 - l4h00

WHO humanitarian action in the South Balkans
This briefing will be held in Room XIX. There will be interpretation in Arabic, Chinese,
English, French, Russian and Spanish.

The briefing will provide an overview of the health achievements and of the operational
limitations faced in the field by WHO as well as by Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees. The strong partnership between agencies since the beginning of
this crisis is a key element for maintaining sectoral unity in assessment and response and for
ensuring full support to the national health authorities of the countries and provinces affected
by the crisis.
Thursday, 20 May

13h00 - l4h00

Trends and challenges in world health
This briefing will be held in Room VII. There will be interpretation in English, French and
Spanish.

The context of rapid change and growing complexity is shaping the main trends and
challenges confronting health throughout the world. In order to organize the evidence on such
trends and challenges, the presentation will consider six essential goals of health systems: (I)
improving the health status of the population, (2) reducing health inequalities, (3) enhancing
responsiveness to legitimate expectations of the population, (4) increasing efficiency, (5)
protecting people from financial loss due to health care costs, and (6) enhancing fairness in

- Il -

the finance and delivery of health care. For each of these goals recent information will be
presented in a way that makes it possible to systematically anticipate problems, identify
policy options and develop a vision of the preferred future.
17H30 - IShOO

What is WHO’s plan for global tuberculosis control following reform?
This briefing will be held in Room VII. There will be interpretation in English, French and
Spanish.
Tuberculosis control has achieved significant progress due to the adoption of the DOTS
(directly-observed treatment, short-course) strategy in 102 countries. On the other hand, less
than 40% of the estimated cases are currently reported globally, and only 26 countries are
achieving case-detection and treatment success targets. WHO is responding to this situation
by including tuberculosis among the top priorities for infectious disease control and
prevention, and by providing technical support to disease control within the context of
strengthening health systems, particularly at district level.

18h00 - 18H30

The Roll Back Malaria project
This briefing will be held in Room VII. There will be interpretation in English, French and
Spanish.
WHO’s Roll Back Malaria project was established in May 1998 to serve a global partnership
and facilitate country action to halve the global burden of malaria in the next 10 years. A
movement has been created to mobilize a wide range of people, organizations and agencies
worldwide to ensure that antimalarial interventions are delivered effectively to persons at
risk. Action to roll back malaria has been initiated in 59 countries in three WHO regions.
These countries have engaged in the inception process leading to preparing action plans to
roll back malaria. Countries in other regions will follow suit. Technical support networks
have been established to provide the best technical guidance to countries for community-level
action. Strategic initiatives for the production of new antimalarial drugs, vaccines and
diagnostics are being established, and are beginning to lead to action. The Roll Back Malaria
movement will be carefully monitored and evaluated.

Friday, 21 May

13h00-14h00

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in
West Africa: onchocerciasis control in health and development
This symposium will be held in Room XII. There will be interpretation in English, French
and Spanish.

The Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa (OCP), now in its twenty-fifth year of
operations, the Onchocerciasis Elimination Programme for the Americas (OEPA) and the
African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) protect more than 90 million people,
the majority in Africa, from riverblindness. The three programmes, eminently field
operations, have demonstrated the importance of, and contributed to, such essential elements
of health systems development as integration in the context of health sector reform,
partnership and poverty alleviation in the context of socioeconomic development.
Representatives of OCP, OEPA and APOC will highlight the contribution of their
programmes to these components of health development which will be elaborated upon by
experts in each of the three fields, followed by an opportunity for an exchange of views and
response to questions.
Monday, 24 May

13h00- 14h00

Ageing and health
This briefing will be held in Room XXIV. There will be interpretation in English, French and
Spanish.

The United Nations General Assembly declared 1999 the International Year of Older Persons
and World Health Day this year was devoted to Active Ageing. The Ageing and Health
programme ensures inter alia that countries receive up-to-date information on how to
develop policies aimed at increasing healthy life expectancy. The briefing will give an
overview of the unprecedented changes brought about by the ageing of the world’s

- 12population, of health policy implications for developed and developing countries and will
illustrate how WHO addresses the cross-cutting issue from the perspectives of health
promotion, life course and gender within the Cluster of Social Change and Mental Health and
throughout the Organization.
Tuesday, 25 May

14h30 - 16h30

Year 2000 computer problem
This seminar will be held in Room A, WHO main building. There will be interpretation in
English, French and Spanish.

The millennium computer bug is totally predictable in its timing, but completely
unpredictable in its effects. Its greatest danger lies in that uncertainty (Frances Caimcross).
The Year 2000 problem (or “Millennium Bug”) will affect any system, device, machine, or
entity that uses software, firmware or hardware that includes date calculations and that has
not been adapted to deal with date calculation deficiencies, such as the inability to recognize
2000 as a valid date or as a leap year. This seminar will provide information to delegates to
the World Health Assembly on how best to approach and solve the problem in order to
minimize any potential disruption of health-related equipment. Please also consult the WHO
Web page at http://www.who.int/y2k/

OTHER MEETINGS

The Secretariat has been advised that the following meetings will take place prior to and during the Health
Assembly:
Tuesday, 18 May

08h00 - O8h3O

Coordination meeting of the European Union
This meeting will be held in Room VII.

08h00-09h00

Meeting of Ministers of Health of the Caribbean
This meeting will be held in Room XXII.

08h00 - 09h00

Meeting of Ministers of Health of countries of the South African Development
Community
This meeting will be held in Room XII.

08h00 - 09h00

Meeting of Nordic countries
This meeting will be held in Room F.3.

08hl5-08h45

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the Eastern Mediterranean Region
This meeting will be held in Room IX. There will be interpretation in Arabic, English and
French.

08h30 - 09h00

Meeting of the Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
This meeting will be held in Room VII.

08h30 - 09h30

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the Western Pacific Region
This meeting will be held in Room XIX.

l2h00 - l4h00

Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Health of the Cooperation Council of the Arab
Gulf States
This meeting will be held in Room XII.

12h30- 14h30

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the South-East Asia Region
This meeting will be held in Room XXII.

14h00-17h00

Meeting of the NGO Forum for Health (Global Health Watch)
This meeting will be held in Room IX.

-13Wednesday, 19 May

OShOO-O8h3O

Coordination meeting of the European Union
This meeting will be held in Room VII.

OShOO - 09h00

Meeting of the heads of delegations of Member States of the Region of the Americas
This meeting will be held in Room XII. There will be interpretation in English and Spanish.

OShOO - 09h00

Meeting of Nordic countries
This meeting will be held in Room F.3.

08h30 - 09h00

Meeting of the Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
This meeting will be held in Room VII.

08h30 - 09h30

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the Western Pacific Region
This meeting will be held in Room XIX.

l2h30 —I4h00

Meeting on contracting NGOs for health
This meeting will be held in Room XII. There will be interpretation in English, French and
Spanish.

l3h00- 14h00

Meeting on NGO and government partnerships for a global alliance for health
promotion
This meeting will be held in Room IX. There will be interpretation in English, French and
Spanish.

I3h30 — 14hl5

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the South-East Asia Region
This meeting will be held in Room XXII.

16H00 - 17h00

Twenty-fourth Meeting of Ministers of Health of the Non-aligned Movement
This meeting will be held in Room XII. There will be interpretation in Arabic, English,
French and Spanish.

Thursday, 20 May

08h00-08h30

Coordination meeting of the European Union
This meeting will be held in Room VII.

08h00 - 09h00

Meeting of Nordic countries
This meeting will be held in Room F.3.

08hl5 - 08h45

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the Eastern Mediterranean Region
This meeting will be held in Room IX. There will be interpretation in Arabic, English and
French.

08h30 - 09h00

Meeting of the Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
This meeting will be held in Room VII.

08h30 - 09h30

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the Western Pacific Region
This meeting will be held in Room XIX.

10h30 - 12:30

Meeting of the Fifty-second World Health Assembly President with Lusophone
countries
This meeting will be held in Room IX.

Friday, 21 May

08h00 - O8h3O

Coordination meeting of the European Union
This meeting will be held in Room VII.

08h00 - 09h00

Meeting of Nordic countries
This meeting will be held in Room F.3.

- 1408h30 - 09h00

Meeting of the Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
This meeting will be held in Room VII.

08h30 - 09h30

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the Western Pacific Region
This meeting will be held in Room XIX.

13h30 - 14hl5

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the South-East Asia Region
This meeting will be held in Room IX.

Saturday, 22 May

OShOO - 08h30

Coordination meeting of the European Union
This meeting will be held in Room XII.

08h00 - 09h00

Meeting of Nordic countries
This meeting will be held in Room A.206.

08hl5-08h45

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the Eastern Mediterranean Region
This meeting will be held in Room IX. There will be interpretation in Arabic, English and
French.

08h30 - 09h00

Meeting of the Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
This meeting will be held in Room XII.

08h30 - 09h30

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the Western Pacific Region
This meeting will be held in Room XIX.

Monday, 24 May

08h00 - 08h30

Coordination meeting of the European Union
This meeting will be held in Room VII.

08h00 - 09h00

Meeting of Nordic countries
This meeting will be held in Room A.206.

08hI5 — 08h45

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the Eastern Mediterranean Region
This meeting will be held in Room XII. There will be interpretation in Arabic, English and
French.

08h30 - 09h00

Meeting of the Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
This meeting will be held in Room VII.

08h30-09h30

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the Western Pacific Region
This meeting will be held in Room XXIII.

12h30- 14h30

Steering Committee on the Employment and Participation of Women in the Work of
WHO
This meeting will be held in Room XII.

Tuesday, 25 May

08h00 - 08h30

Coordination meeting of the European Union
This meeting will be held in Room VII.

08h00-09h00

Meeting of Nordic countries
This meeting will be held in Room A.206.

08h30 - 09h00

Meeting of the Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
This meeting will be held in Room VII.

08h30 - 09h30

Meeting of the delegations of Member States of the Western Pacific Region
This meeting will be held in Room XXIII.

- 15-

ANNOUNCEMENTS

A special lounge is available for Ministers of Health in Room X.

Ministers of Health interested in participating in round tables should contact the secretary in office A.640.

Delegates wishing to have video coverage of their speeches in plenary may request this in advance by
contacting Mrs Loma Wieteska in office A.569.

PROVISIONAL LIST OF SPEAKERS FOR THE DEBATE ON ITEM 3

The following is the list of speakers, given in the order to be recognized by the President.
Bangladesh
United Republic of Tanzania

United States of America
Egypt
Japan
Russian Federation
United Arab Emirates

Canada
China
Germany
Croatia
Saint Lucia
Sweden
Kenya
Peru
India
Morocco
Argentina
Syrian Arab Republic
Turkey
Greece
Finland
Algeria
Italy
Israel
Sri Lanka
Mexico
Spain
Republic of Korea
Brazil
Bhutan
San Marino
Cuba
Czech Republic
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Maldives
Australia

(The delegate of the United Republic of Tanzania will speak on behalf of the
Southern African Development Community: Angola, Botswana, democratic
Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia,
Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and on behalf of
his/her own country. The delegates of these Member States will be seated on the
Rostrum.)

(The delegate of the United Arab Emirates will speak on behalf of the Council of
Health Ministers of the States of the Cooperation Council of the Arab Gulf States:
Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, and on behalf of his/her own
country. The delegates of these Member States will be seated on the Rostrum.)

(The delegate of Germany will speak on behalf of the European Union.)

- 16-

Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Malta
Venezuela
Guinea
Nicaragua

(The delegate of Nicaragua will speak on behalf of the Central American Group:
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama,
and on behalf of his/her own country. The delegates of these Member States will
be seated on the Rostrum.)

Thailand
Yemen
Bulgaria
Myanmar
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Palestine
Paraguay
Malaysia
Indonesia
New Zealand
Pakistan
Poland
Iraq
Jordan
Burkina Faso
Mongolia
Romania
Uruguay
Sao Tome and Principe
Nepal
Holy See
Order of Malta

PROVISIONAL LIST OF PARTICIPANTS FOR THE ROUND TABLES

Tuesday, 18 May
14h30

Priority-setting in the health sector: challenges to ministers
Room XVII

Discussion Group A

Chair:

Dr Misa Telefoni Retzlaff (Samoa)
First Vice-President of the Fifty-second World Health Assembly

Armenia
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belize
Bhutan
Burkina Faso
Burundi
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Finland
Georgia
Grenada

Dr H. Nikogosian
H.E. Mr Salah Uddin Youssuf
Honourable H. Elizabeth Thompson
Honourable Servulo Baeza
Mr Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup
Mr Alain Ludovic Tou
Dr J.M. Kariburyo
Dr Wang Longde
Dr V. Galvis
Dr Rogelio Pardo Evans
Dr S. Sarita V.
Mr Edgar Rodas
Professor Ismail Sallam
Dr Eva Biaudet
Mr A. Gamkrelidze
Dr Clarice Modeste

- 17Guinea
Indonesia
Kuwait
Lithuania
Malta
Mauritius
Mozambique
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Pakistan
Peru
Senegal
Seychelles
Sri Lanka
Swaziland
Tonga
United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland
Viet Nam
Yemen

Dr Kandjoura Drame
Dr Farid Anfasah Moeloek
Dr Adel Khaled Al Sobeih
Mr M.L. Stankevicius
Dr Louis Deguare
MrN. Deerpalsingh
Mr A.A. Zilhao
Dr E. Borst-Eilers
Lie. Martha McCoy
H.E. Makhdoom Javed Hashmi
Dr A. Aguinaga Recuenco
Mr Assane Diop
Mr Jacquelin Dugasse
Mr Nimal Siripala de Silva
Dr Phetsile K. Dlamini
Dr V. Tangi
Right Honourable Frank Dobson

Professor Do Nguyen Phuong
Dr A.A.W. Nasher

Room XXIII

Discussion Group B

Chair:

Dr E.F. Ehluish (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya)
Second Vice-President of the Fifty-second World Health Assembly

Argentina
Bahamas
Botswana
Brazil
Cameroon
Canada
Cote d’Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Eritrea
Gabon
India
Jamaica
Jordan
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Mali
Norway
Panama
Paraguay
Russian Federation
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
United Arab Emirates
United Republic ofTanzania

Dr A.J. Mazza
Dr R. Knowles
Honourable C.J. Butale
Dr Jose Serra
Dr G.L. Monekosso
Mrs E. Caplan
Professor M. Kakou Guikahue
Professor Zeljko Reiner
Dr Carlos P. Dotres Martinez
Mr C. Solomis
Dr Choe Chang Sik
Dr Saleh S. Meki
Mr F. Boukoubi
Mr Dalit Ezhilmalai
Honourable John Junor
Dr Issaq Maraqah
Dr Ponmek Dalaloy
Mrs Diakite Fatoumata Ndiaye
Mr D. FIbybrJten
Dr Aida L. Moreno de Rivera
Dr Martin Chiola
Professor V.I. Starodubov
Mrs S.L. Flood
The Honourable St Clair Thomas
Mr H.A. Rahman Al Madfaa
Dr Aaron D. Chiduo

- 18Investment in hospitals: dilemmas faced by ministers

Chair:

Room XVIII

Dr T.J. Stamps (Zimbabwe)
Third Vice-President of the Fifty-second World Health Assembly

Algeria
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahrain
Bolivia
Brunei Darussalam
Cape Verde
Chad
Congo
Cook Islands
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dominica
Ghana
Guatemala
Iraq
Japan
Kenya
Kiribati
Latvia
Lebanon
Madagascar
Malaysia
Morocco
Myanmar
Niger
Nigeria
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Qatar
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Thailand
Zambia

Professor Yahia Guidoum
Dr B.S. Percival
Dr F.R. Al-Mousawi
Dr G. Cuentas Y.
Honourable Pehin Haji Abdul Aziz
Dr J.B. Ferreira Medina
Mr Kedella Younous Hamid
Dr A.L. Opimbat
Mr T. Faireka
Professor Mashala Mamba
Mrs D. Paul
Mr S. Nuamah Dionkor
Mr M. Tulio Sosa
Mr O.M. Mubarak
Dr T. Nemoto
Mr J.I. Kalweo
Honourable Baraniko Roranii Mooa
Mr Viktors Jaksons
Dr Karam S. Karam
Professor H. Ratsimbazafnnahefa Rahantalalao
Mr Mohamed Ali Mohd Rustan
Dr A. El Fassi
Major General Ket Sein
Mr Maman Sani Malam Maman
Professor Debo Adeyemi
Mr L. Mond
Dr A. Romualdez, Jr.
Dr H.A.H. Al-Binali
Dr Earl Asim Martin
Dr Deja Sukaromana
Honourable Nkandu Luo

Wednesday, 19 May
9h30 or
immediately after Plenary adjourns
Finding the money: dilemmas faced by ministers
Room XVII

Discussion Group A

Chair:

H.E. Mr S.U. Youssuf (Bangladesh)
Fourth Vice-President of the Fifty-second World Health Assembly

Andorra
Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Bhutan
Botswana
Colombia
Ecuador
Eritrea
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Gabon

Dr Josep M. Goicoechea
Dr R. Knowles
Dr F.R. Al-Mousawi
Honourable H. Elizabeth Thompson
Dr Igor Zelenkevich
Honourable Servulo Baeza
Mr Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup
Honourable C.J. Butale
Dr V. Galvis
Mr Edgar Rodas
Dr Saleh S. Meki
Dr Choe Chang Sik
Mr F. Boukoubi

- 19-

Ghana
Guinea
Indonesia
Iraq
Kiribati
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Lithuania
Madagascar
Maldives
Morocco
Nicaragua
Niger
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Tonga

Mr S. Nuamah Dionkor
Dr Kandjoura Drame
Dr Farid Anfasah Moeloek
Mr O.M. Mubarak
Honourable Baraniko Roranii Mooa
Dr Ponmek Dalaloy
Mr M.L. Stankevicius
Professor H. Ratsimbazafimahefa Rahantalalao
Honourable Ahmed Abdullah
Dr A. El Fassi
Lie. Martha McCoy
Mr Maman Sani Malam Maman
Dr Martin Chiola
Dr A. Aguinaga Recuenco
Dr A. Romualdez, Jr.
Dr V. Tangi

Room XXIII

Discussion Group B

Chair:

Honourable John Junor (Jamaica)
Fifth Vice-President of the Fifty-second World Health Assembly

Algeria
Antigua and Barbuda
Brunei Darussalam
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cape Verde
Cook Islands
Egypt
Guatemala
Hungary
Honduras
Lebanon
Malaysia
Malta
Mongolia
Myanmar
Papua New Guinea
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Senegal
Seychelles
Spain
Sri Lanka
United Republic of Tanzania
Uruguay

Professor Yahia Guidoum
Dr B.S. Percival
Honourable Pehin Haji Abdul Aziz
Mr Alain Ludovic Tou
Dr J.M. Kariburyo
Dr J.B. Ferreira Medina
Mr T. Faireka
Professor Ismail Sallam
Mr M. Tulio Sosa
Dr Arpad Gogi
Dr Plutarco Castellanos
Dr Karam S. Karam
Mr Mohamed Ali Mohd Rustan
Dr Louis Deguare
Dr S. Sonin
Major General Ket Sein
Mr L. Mond
Dr Earl Asim Martin
The Honourable St Clair Thomas
Mr Assane Diop
Mr Jacquelin Dugasse
Mr J.M. Romay-Beccaria
MrNimal Siripala de Silva
Dr Aaron D. Chiduo
Professor Dr. Raul Bustos Alonso

HIV/AIDS: strategies for sustaining an adequate response
to the epidemic

Chair:

Armenia
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Canada
Chad
Cote d’Ivoire

Dr Misa Telefoni Retzlaff (Samoa)
First Vice-President of the Fifty-second World Health Assembly
Dr H. Nikogosin
Mr Alain Ludovic Tou
Dr G.L. Monekosso
Mrs E. Caplan
Mr Kedella Younous Flamid
Professor M. Kakou Guikahue

Room XVIII

-20Cuba
Cyprus
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dominica
Dominican Republic
France
Georgia
Grenada
Kenya
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Mali
Poland
Qatar
Swaziland
Switzerland
Thailand
Uganda
United States of America
Zambia

Dr C.P. Dotres Martinez
Mr C. Solomis
Professor Mashalo Mamba
Mrs D. Paul
Dr S. Sarita V.
Dr B. Kouchner
Mr A. Gamkrelidze
Dr Clarice Modeste
Mr J.I. Kalweo
Dr E.F. Ehtuish
Mrs Diakite Fatoumata Ndiaye
Dr Jacek Piatkiewicz
Dr H.A.H. Al-Binali
Dr Phetsile K. DIamini
Dr T. Zeltner
Dr Deja Sukaromana
Dr C.W.C.B. Kiyonga
Dr D. Shalala
Honourable Nkandu Luo

WORLD

HEALTH

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR

ORGANIZATION

R
E
G
I
O
N
A

C
O
M
M
I
T
T
E
E
D
O
C
U
M
E
N
T

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

REGIONAL COMMITTEE

SEA/RC52/12

Fifty-second Session

4 September 1999

PROVISIONAL LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
1. Representatives, Alternates and Advisers

BANGLADESH

Representative

MrM.M. Reza

Secretary
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Alternates

Prof A.K. Azad Chowdhury
Vice-Chancellor
Dhaka University

Prof M.A. Quadri
Vice-Chancellor
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University
Prof A.K.M. Nurul Anwar
Director-General of Health Services

Dr A.S.M. Kama!
Director (Planning)
Directorate of Family Planning
Mr Khondaker Mizanur Rahman
Joint Secretary (Public Health and WHO)
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Dr A.S.M. Mashiur Rahman
Director (Planning)
Directorate General of Health Services
Major General Matiur Rahman
Chairman, HIV/AIDS Technical Committee
Prof A.K. Azad Khan
BIRDEM

Prof Rashid-e-Wahbub
President
Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons
Prof Anwara Begum
Dhaka Medical College

SEA/RC52/12
Page 2
Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury
Ambassador and Permanent Representative
Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in Geneva
Advisers

Prof M.Q.K. Talukder
Director
Institute of Children and Mother Health

Dr Shamsul Haque
Director (PHC & DC)
Directorate General of Health Services
Dr A.S.M. Zakir Hossain
Director
Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research
Directorate General of Health Services
Mr M.A. Malek
Director (In-Charge)
Directorate of Drug Administration
Ms Minoti Sharma
Director (In-Charge)
Directorate of Nursing

Dr Abdul Mannan Bangali
Deputy Programme Manager (Control of Tropical Disease)
Directorate General of Health Services

BHUTAN
Representative

Dr Sangay Thinley
Director of Health Division
Ministry of Health & Education

Alternate

Dr Kunzang Jigmi
Chief
Planning & Development Unit
Health Division
Ministry of Health and Education

DPR KOREA
Representative

Dr Kim Myong Dok
Director General
Science & Technology
Ministry of Public Health
Dr Pak Tong Choi
WHO National Programme Officer

SEA/RC52/12
Page 3
INDIA

Representative

Mr J.A. Chowdhary
Secretary (Health)
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Alternate

Ms K. Sujatha Rao
Joint Secretary (International Health)
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

INDONESIA

Representative

Dr Azrul Anwar
-—
Director-General of Community Health
Ministry of Health

MALDIVES

Representative

Dr Abdullah Waheed
Director-General of Health Services
Ministry of Health

MYANMAR

Representative

Dr Kyi Soe
Director-General
Department of Health Planning
Ministry of Health

Alternate

Professor Paing Soe
Director-General
Department of Medical Research (Lower Myanmar)
Ministry of Health

Adviser

Dr Saw Myint
Director (Planning)
Department of Health
Ministry of Health

NEPAL
Representative

Dr K.R. Pandey
Director-General
Department of Health Services
Ministry of Health

Alternate

Dr B.B. Karki
Chief
Policy, Planning, Foreign Aid and Monitoring Division
Ministry of Health

SEA/RC52/12
Page 4
SRI LANKA

Dr Y.D.N. Jayathilaka
Additional Secretary (Medical Services)
Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine

Representative

THAILAND

Dr Pakdee Pothisiri
Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health
Ministry of Public Health

Alternates

Dr Porntep Siriwanarangsun
Director of Health Policy and Planning Bureau
Office of the Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Public Health
Dr Suwat Kittidilokkul
Deputy Director
Health Policy and Planning Bureau
Office of the Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Public Health

Mrs Pamornrat Asavasena
Technical Disease Control Officer
Technical Coordinator Centre
Department of Communicable Disease Control
Ministry of Public Health
Miss Jaruwan Viriyahirunpiboon
Medical Scientist
Regional Medical Sciences Centre, Chiang Mai
Department of Medical Sciences
Ministry of Public Health

Chairman, 24th Session
of South-East Asia
Advisory Committee
on Health Research
(SEA/ACHR)

Prof Mathura Prasad Shrestha
Kathmandu
Nepal

2. Representatives from United Nations Agencies
Asian Development Bank

Dr Omkar L Shrestha
Deputy Resident Representative
Asian Development Bank
Bangladesh Resident Mission
BSL Office Complex, 2nd Floor
1 Minto Road, Dhaka, Bangladesh

United Nations Children’s
Fund (UNICEF-ROSA)

Dr Ellen Girerd-Barclay
Regional Adviser-Nutrition & Health
United Nations Children’s Fund
Lekhnath Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal

SEA/RC52/12
Page 5
United Nations Children’s
Fund (UNICEF)

Ms Shahida Azfar
UNICEF Representative
United Nations Children’s Fund
Dhaka, Bangladesh

United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP)

Mr David Lockwood
Resident Representative
United Nations Development Programme
IDB Bhaban, E/8A Begum Rokeya Sharani
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar
Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh

United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)

Mr Ansar Ali Khan
Director
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization
IDB Bhaban, E/8A Begum Rokeya Sharani
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh

United Nations Fund for
Population Activities
(UNFPA)

Mrs Tahera Ahmed
Assistant Representative
United Nations Fund for Population Activities
Dhaka, Bangladesh

3. Representatives from Inter-governmental Organizations

International Organization
for Migration

4.

Mr David G Whittlesey
Regional Representative
International Organization for Migration
Sub-Regional Office in Dhaka, House 33A, Road #50
Gulshan-2, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

Representatives from Non-governmental Organizations

Aga Khan Foundation

Dr Amir Ali
Chief Executive Officer
Aga Khan Foundation (Bangladesh)
SW (F), 3B, Road No.2, Gulshan POB 6025, Dhaka 12
Bangladesh

Global Crop Protection
Federation

Mr Azmal Hossain
Chairman
Pesticide Association of Bangladesh
C/o FMC International, Alico Building
18-20 Motijheel C/A, Dhaka 1000
Bangladesh

SEA/RC52/12
Page 6
International Association
for Maternal and Neonatal
Health

Prof (Dr) Syeda Firoza Begum
President
Bangladesh Association for Maternal and Neo- Natal Health
11 Shyamoli, Street No.2, Dhaka 1207
Bangladesh

International Association
of Agricultural Medicine
and Rural Health

Dr Ashok Patil
President-Elect, Pravara Medical Trust
Loni 413736, Dist Ahmednagar
Maharashtra, India

International Catholic
Committee of Nurses and
Medico-Social Assistants

Mrs T. Rebeiro
President
Bangladesh Catholic Nurses Guild
Green Herald School
Mahamadpur, Asad Avenue, Dhaka 1207
Bangladesh

Representative :
International Council for
Control of Iodine Deficiency Dr Chandrakant S Pandav
Regional Coordinator, ICCIDD
Disorders
South Asia & Pacific Region and Addl Professor
Centre for Community Medicine
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
New Delhi, India

Alternate:
Dr Quazi Salamatullah
ICCIDD Country Representative in Bangladesh
Institute of Nutrition & Food Science
University of Dhaka,
Dhaka, Bangladesh
International Council on
Social Welfare

Mr M.A. Rashid
Deputy Director
Bangladesh National Social Welfare Council
Ministry of Social Welfare, 131/2 New Eskaton
Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh

International Diabetes
Federation

Dr Fasihuddin Mahatab
Vice-Chairman SE Region, IDF
Diabetes Association of Bangladesh
Ibrahim Memorial Diabetes Centre
122 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Dhaka 1000
Bangladesh

International Federation of
Anti-Leprosy Associations

Dr Prabhakar Samson
Director for SE Asia, The Leprosy Mission
6001 Beach Road
08-66 Golden Mile Tower 199589
Singapore

SEA/RG52/12
Page 7
International Federation Of
Gynaecology and
Obstetrics

Dr Shahla Khatun
Prof, Dept of Obs & Gynae
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujh Medical University Shahbagh,
Dhaka, Bangladesh

International Federation Of
Oto-rhino-laryngological
Societies

Prof M. Jalisi
6A/5 West Street
Defense Society
Phase I, Karachi, Pakistan

International Federation of Mr Alain Aumonier
Pharmaceutical
Public and Pharmaceutical Affairs
Manufacturers Associations Hoechst Marion Roussel
Tour Hoechst Marion Roussel
1, terrasse Bellini
92910 Paris La Defense Cedex
France

International Medical
Parliamentarians
Organization

Prof (Dr) M.S. Akbar
Member of Bangladesh Parliament
C/o Parliament of Bangladesh
Dhaka, Bangladesh

International Organization
of Consumers Unions

Representative:
Dr Qasem Chowdhury
Executive Director

Alternate:
Dr Morshed Chowdhury
Savar Gonoshasthaya Kendra
PO Nayarhat, Via Dhamrai
Dhaka 1350, Bangladesh
International
Pharmaceutical Federation

Mr Pankaj R Patel
Cadila Healthcare Limited
Zydus Tower, Satellite Cross Roads Sarkhej
Ahmedabad 380015, India

International Planned
Parenthood Federation

Dr Ahmad Neaz
Director General
Family Planning Association
2 Naya Paltan, Dhaka 2, Bangaldesh

DrAinun Nishat
International Union for
Conservation of Nature and Country Representative
International Union for Conservation of
Natural Resources
Nature and Natural Resources
House No.3A, Road No.15
Dhanmondi Residential Area
Dhaka 1209, Bangladesh
Medical Women's
International Association

Representative:
Dr Tulsi Basu
10 Protapaditya Road
Calcutta 700026, India

SEA/RC52/12
Page 8
Alternate :
Dr Kamla Sengupta
Treasurer
Association of Medical Women
Mission Hospital, 33 Roy D Street
Calcutta 700 016, India

Soroptimist International

Mr Shamim Matin Chowdhury
House No.9, Road No.101
Gulshan Model Town
Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

The Population Council

Dr Sharif Mohammad Ismail Hossain
Program Officer
Population Council
P.O. Box No.6016
Gulshan, Dhaka 1212
Bangladesh

World Organization of
National Colleges,
Academies and Academic
Associations of General
Practitioners/Family
Physicians

Dr M. Nurul Islam
Regional Vice-President
The World Organization of National
Colleges, Academies and Academic
Associations of General
Practitioners/Family Physicians
3 DIT Market, 1st Floor
Narayanganj-1400
Bangaldesh

World Hypertension League Brig Prof Abdul Malik
Chairman, Hypertension Committee
World Hypertension League
Secretary General
National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh
Plot No.7/2, Section 2
Mirpur, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh
World Vision International

Dr R.G. Saha
Health Coordinator
World Vision of Bangladesh
House # 27, Road # 16 (New)
Dhanmondi, Dhaka
Bangladesh

5. Observers

Dhaka Community Hospital

Prof Mahmuder Rahman
Dhaka Community Hospital
190/1 Bara Moghbazar, Wireless Railgate
Dhaka 1217, Bangladesh

SEA/RC52/12
Page 9
Gonoshasthaya Kendra

Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury
Project Director
Gonoshasthaya Kendra
Road No.6, House 14E
Dhanmondi R/A
Dhaka, Bangladesh

Grameen Bank

Representative:
Mr Shaikh Abdud Dayian
Managing Director, Grameen Kalyan
Grameen Bank Bhaban
Mirpur-02, Dhaka 1216
Bangladesh

Alternate:
Dr B. Islam Khan
Assistant Manager
Grameen Bank Bhaban
International Organization for
Co-operation in Health Care

Dr (Mrs) Thelma Narayan
Community Health Cell
367 “Srinivasa Nilaya"
Jakkasandra, 1st Main
1st Block, Koramangala
Bangalore 560034, India

National Centre for Hearing and Prof M.N. Amin
Founder & Honorary Director
Speech for Children
National Centre for Hearing and Speech for Children
Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212
Bangladesh

World Federation of
Hydrotherapy and
Climatotherapy

Dr Nikolay Storozhenko
President
(also President of the National Spa Association of
Russia)
and
Mr Vadim Loginov
Interpreter, Coordinator of International Programmes of
National Spa Association of Russia
18 Kazakova Street
Moscow 103064

Position: 817 (9 views)