Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly
20–28 May 2013
Geneva
Daily notes on proceedings – Editor’s Excerpts

66th WHA – Notes: Monday, 20 May 2013
World Health Assembly opens with focus on the Post Millennium Development Goals Agenda
The Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly opened this morning with the election of  Dr Shigeru Omi, Special Assistant for International Affairs, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, as its new president. Five vice-presidents were also appointed from Angola, Haiti, Nepal, Oman, and Ukraine, representing their respective regions.

. Last 1,000 days for MDGs and the path forward
In his message, which was read by Mr Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon drew attention to the positive effect the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have had on the global health agenda. He noted that the Health Assembly will discuss a number of MDG-related issues, such as implementation of the Global Vaccine Action Plan and recommendations from the UN Commission on life-saving commodities for women and children. He described the pressing challenge presented by the rise in noncommunicable diseases, highlighting the role of universal health coverage in ensuring equitable access to health services. He emphasized the continuing need for WHO to handle unforeseen global health events, such as newly emerging viruses.

Dr Omi observed that reform of WHO, the topic of tomorrow’s plenary discussion, aims to make the Organization more relevant, more effective and more dynamic.
Watch the President’s speech on video
Streaming wmv, 00:12:44

. Opening address of the WHO Director-General
In her opening address, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan reiterated the importance of transparent reporting and vigilance in disease outbreaks, including recent cases of novel coronavirus and influenza H7N9, whilst at the same time maintaining the momentum made in addressing long-standing health issues such as tuberculosis, HIV, malaria; the emerging problem of noncommunicable diseases; and eradication of polio.

Dr Chan reiterated WHO’s refusal to work with the tobacco industry. However, she did not exclude the opportunity for cooperation with the food and beverage industry to address noncommunicable diseases, while supporting existing safeguards which ensure no conflicts of interest.

Read the Director-General’s address to the Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly

Watch the Director-General’s address
Streaming wmv, 00:31:48

66^th WHA – Notes: Wednesday, 22 May 2013
. Accelerating achievement of health-related MDGs: The Global Fund New Funding Model, implications for country level cooperation and WHO’s support
Technical briefing
Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO, applauded the contribution made by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to progress towards the MDGs at today’s lunchtime technical briefing on the Fund’s New Funding Model. Dr Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund, explained that the new approach builds on three core principles: working as a financing institution that partners with others to serve countries; providing predictability around resource availability; and creating a platform for broader public health support.

Ministers of Health from El Salvador, Myanmar and Zimbabwe, all of whom have made proposals using the new funding model, welcomed the changes enthusiastically and commended support provided by WHO and other technical partners. Other speakers praised the Fund’s closer alignment with country plans and willingness to provide more support for health systems as well as its readiness to learn from experience and to increase transparency.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/2013/wha66/journal/en/index3.html

66^th WHA – Notes: Thursday, 23 May 2013
. Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005)
Item 15.1 – documents A66/16 and A66/16 Add.1
Before the item was undertaken, delegates requested an update from the WHO Secretariat and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the recent emergence of MERS-CoV (previously known as Novel Coronavirus). The Secretariat and the Saudi Ministry of Health provided background information and a history of the emergence and response to the virus to date. The WHO presentation is attached. The discussion of the item will restart tomorrow.
Global overview of an emerging novel coronavirus
pdf, 741kb
Saudi Arabia’s response to novel coronavirus
pdf, 993kb
Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) (A66/16)
pdf, 178kb
Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) (A66/16 Add.1)
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/2013/wha66/journal/en/index2.html

66^th WHA – Notes: Friday, 24 May 2013
. Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005)
Item 15.1 – document A66/16 and A66/16 Add.1
The newly identified H7N9 and MERS-CoV outbreaks lent even greater relevance to discussions on the International Health Regulations. Delegates voiced widespread support for the IHR and acknowledgement of WHO’s role in assisting countries. The Director-General told delegates that WHO was committed to supporting countries affected by MERS-CoV and to helping “unpack the barriers” standing in the way of the full implementation of the IHR. She added newly emerging diseases are not just a country problem but a global problem and WHO and the IHR can help bring together “the assets of the world” to fight such threats. The Secretariat stressed the need for countries to provide the necessary resources to ensure IHR work can continue in countries and at WHO. Delegates noted a report updating progress in taking forward 15 recommendations that seek to further improve the effectiveness of the regulations. Countries that have not yet met their IHR obligations and are requesting an extension to the deadline beyond 2014, will be required to inform the WHO Director-General and explain why they have not been able to put IHR in place.
Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) (A66/16)
pdf, 177kb
Addendum (A66/16 Add.1)
pdf, 81.8kb
. Pandemic influenza preparedness: sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccine and other benefits
Item 15.2 – document A66/17
This is the first annual report of the pandemic influenza preparedness (PIP) framework which delegates were agreed to note. The report covers three main areas: virus sharing, benefit sharing, and governance.
It was noted that many countries still lack basic capacities. Laboratory and disease surveillance were highlighted by some countries. A similar concern was highlighted on the regulation and deployment of influenza vaccines during a pandemic.

Lengthy negotiations to conclude binding SMTA2s (Standard Material Transfer Agreement 2) are ongoing. Delegates called for an acceleration on the processes to enable agreements to be signed.

Delegates emphasized the need for transparency related to use of partnership contribution funds.
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework 2013 biennial report (A66/17)
pdf, 204Kb

. Poliomyelitis: intensification of the global eradication initiative
Item 15.3 – document A66/18
The World Health Assembly acknowledged the progress achieved in the past year in bringing polio to its lowest ever levels, thanks to actions of Member States in placing polio eradication on an emergency footing. Delegates endorsed the new Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018 to secure a lasting polio-free world and urged for its full implementation and financing.

At the same time, the Assembly received stark warning of the ongoing risk the disease poses to children everywhere, with confirmation of a new polio outbreak in the Horn of Africa (Somalia and Kenya)

Noting the generous pledges made to support polio eradication at the Global Vaccine Summit, delegates urged donors to rapidly convert these pledges into contributions. The WHA pointed out that this funding was critical for accelerated implementation of the Plan, given the complexity and scale of introducing inactivated polio vaccine worldwide.

Delegates condemned the deadly attacks on health workers in Pakistan (in December 2012) and Nigeria (in February 2013), and called on all governments to ensure the safety and security of frontline health workers.
Poliomyelitis: intensification of the global eradication initiative (A66/18)
pdf, 146kb
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/2013/wha66/journal/en/index1.html

66^th WHA – Notes: Saturday, 25 May 2013
. Global Vaccine Action Plan
Item 16.1 – document A66/19
Member States reiterated their support to the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) to prevent millions of deaths by 2020 through more equitable access to vaccines for people in all communities, and for the proposed Framework for Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability (which is linked to the Commission on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health).

Delegates also supported the independent review process to assess and report progress and acknowledged the leadership demonstrated by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization (SAGE) in this process. Speakers highlighted the need to mobilize greater resources to support low- and middle-income countries to implement the Plan and monitor impact; ensure that support to countries to implement the Plan includes a strong focus on strengthening routine immunization; and to facilitate vaccine technology transfer.
Global Vaccine Action Plan (A66/19)
pdf, 205kb
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/2013/wha66/journal/en/index.html