62nd World Health Assembly
Notes from day 5: Friday, 22 May 2009
Plenary
The Health Assembly drew to a close today having adopted 15 resolutions in the last two days. In the final session, resolutions adopted were the Medium Term Strategic Plan Including Proposed Programme Budget 2010-2011; Primary Health Care and Health System Strengthening; Traditional Medicine; and Reducing Health Inequalities Through Action on the Social Determinants of Health. Also adopted was a resolution on the Prevention and Control of Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis and Extensively Drug-resistant Tuberculosis.
The chairs of both committees spoke about their experiences during this year's session. Committee A Chairman, Dr F. Meneses González from Mexico, said discussions had been "complex and sometimes turbulent, but took place in a spirit of mutual respect and camaraderie." He remarked on how well all delegates respected the 3-minute speaking limit, which was particularly important considering the shortened length of this year's agenda.
Chairman of Committee B, Mr Stephen McKernan from New Zealand, said work had gone "smoothly and rapidly," allowing his committee to take on two items from Committee A. He was struck by the "determination and flexibility" members showed in trying to understand each other's perspective when issues were contentious. He concluded by quoting a Maori saying: "You ask me what is important. You say it is people, you say it is people, you say it is people."
Director-General Dr Margaret Chan characterized this year's Health Assembly as "exceptionally intense." She said Member States "gave the world a strong signal of enduring commitment to health programmes and national capacities that we need on a day-to-day basis, as well as during emergencies."
Mr Nimal Siripala De Silva from Sri Lanka, President of the 62nd World Health Assembly, said he was "happy to note the issue of financial crisis which was the main theme of the debate in the plenary has been addressed very seriously by the Member States and several innovative approaches emerged in the course of discussions."
Committees
Prevention and control of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis
The resolution endorsed strict quality standards for the provision of anti-TB drugs and efforts to limit their misuse. They also agreed to strengthen measures to make access universal to M/XDR-TB diagnosis and quality treatment. Research for new TB diagnostics, medicines and vaccines is prioritized under the resolution through support for extra financing. At the same time, WHO will also work with Member States to develop national TB response plans that will prevent more people from getting drug-resistant tuberculosis, and diagnose and treat those that do.
Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property
After intense debate, Member States adopted a final plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property which includes an agreed list of stakeholders who will be involved in the process, as well as a time frame and progress indicators by which to monitor progress. The plan of action aims, among other things, to foster innovation and improve access to medicines for diseases that disproportionately affect the poor.