Sixty-third World Health Assembly
Notes from day 1: Monday, 17 May 2010
OPENING SESSION
In the opening session, the 187 Member States of WHO in attendance elected the Minister of Health of Tunisia, Dr Mondher Zenaidi as President of the 63rd World Health Assembly; and elected Professor Mya Oo of Myanmar, Dr Maria Isabel Rodriguez of El Salvador, Dr Richard Sezibera of Rwanda, Mrs Gatoloaifaana Amataga Alesana Gidlow of Samoa and Professor Recep Akdag of Turkey as Vice-Presidents of the World Health Assembly.
Opening speech
In her address to the Health Assembly, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan:
- remembered successes achieved from previous investments in public health including the drop in under-five child deaths to below 9 million, the increase in the number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy for AIDS to more than 4 million, early signs that tuberculosis and malaria cases are declining, and the value of vaccines which currently prevent an estimated 2 to 3 million deaths each year;
- reviewed the decisions facing the Assembly this week to continue this type of progress such as actions to reduce deaths from pneumonia, the feasibility of measles eradication, prevention of hepatitis B, prevention of noncommunicable diseases including strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol and marketing to children, and an aggressive new strategic plan to complete polio eradication; and
- relayed the urgency in the homestretch for reaching MDGs: scale up delivery of interventions, while also strengthening fundamental capacities needed to do so.
Technical briefing
Health reform experiences from Brazil, the People's Republic of China, and the Netherlands
Ministers for Health from the countries presented experiences in national health reform. Each country had different starting points, different health system histories, different economic and social contexts, and different cultural traditions, but their ultimate objectives are very similar. All three aim to move towards universal health coverage, and all note the importance of ensuring that "the patient is the winner". All spoke about the need to enhance equity; assure quality and safety of services; and maximize efficiency, while improving health outcomes.
Common themes included the need for robust financing mechanisms, based on pooled prepayment, and avoidance of user fees. The importance of effective regulatory frameworks was also highlighted, as was the value of focussing on health promotion and disease prevention - not least for financial reasons. All the countries represented said they were emphasizing "grassroots" and primary care, noting that this requires a shift in relationships between hospitals and primary care facilities.
Countries were frank about the challenges they face. China and Brazil are not only confronting urbanization issues, but also have to provide services across vast rural areas. Ageing, and lifestyle-related health problems are common to all three, as are issues of fiscal sustainability. Above all, populations have increasingly high expectations in terms of what a health system can and should deliver. The road forward is far from easy, requiring simultaneous progress on multiple fronts - within and beyond health ministries.
Committees
Pandemic influenza preparedness: sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits
Members States expressed strong support for the continuing efforts of the Open-Ended Working Group to further global pandemic influenza preparedness by strengthening the sharing of influenza viruses and of benefits such as vaccines. Member States spoke on the progress made at the recent intergovernmental meeting (held 10-12 May 2010) and characterized the interaction as transparent, substantive, collaborative and an important foundation for future negotiation in this area. The role of industry as a stakeholder in the process to increase global capacity for vaccine production, increased technology transfer to developing countries, and access to supplies of vaccine and medicines at affordable prices for resource-limited countries were among issues raised. A number of countries urged the collaboration to move forward to increase pandemic preparedness and protect global public health. Having considered the report of the Open-Ended Working Group (15 April 2010), the draft resolution was passed:
- to request the Director-General to continue to support the effort and undertake any technical consultations and studies as necessary; and
- to decide that the group will report through the Executive Board to the Sixty-fourth World Health Assembly.
Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005)
The first report of the of the review committee assessing the functioning of the International Health Regulations (IHR) during pandemic influenza was discussed and the chair, Dr Harvey Fineberg thanked Member States for their input so far in the committee's work.
But the IHR covers more work than the pandemic. Delegates stressed that the IHR play a vital role in global public health and their countries fully support IHR implementation. Delegates detailed activities that their countries are carrying out to implement the Regulations at national and regional levels.
Member States underscored the need for individual, country-based capacity strengthening, learning from past lessons, the importance of flexibility and of reaching out beyond the health sector to all hazards. They further expressed their appreciation of the IHR training and awareness raising activities supported by WHO and stressed the importance of monitoring IHR implementation. They also emphasized the need for strong communication and partnerships.
Evening event
30 years of smallpox eradication commemorated
On the sidelines of the 63rd World Health Assembly public health leaders unveiled a statue at WHO headquarters to commemorate 30 years of smallpox eradication. At an emotional and moving ceremony overlooking the bronze statue designed and crafted by Welsh artist Martin Williams, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan was joined by many people who played a key role in this epic story. The statue depicts "a global family" being vaccinated against smallpox and shows the bifurcated needle which together with the vaccine and tens of thousands of health workers, was instrumental in eradicating this disease.
Dr Halfdan Mahler, WHO Director-General during the period when the disease was eradicated; Dr Donald Henderson, former Director of the WHO Smallpox Eradication and Dr Jean Roy, Director of Smallpox Eradication Commemoration 2010 all spoke of the tremendous innovation, creativity, and dedication which helped end a 3,000 year-old disease which left death, blindness and disfigurement behind and marginalized those who survived.
Dr Chan pointed out that the statue commemorates a time of great idealism that attracted talent and inspired commitment and personal sacrifice. "Above all, it stands as a reminder of the power of international health cooperation to do great and lasting good," she said.
A new generation of public health workers, including those working on eradicating diseases such as polio and measles, looked on at the ceremony as veteran public health experts were reunited after three decades since smallpox eradication.