The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO. It is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.

The Executive Board is composed of 34 technically qualified members elected for three-year terms. The annual Board meeting is held in January when the members agree upon the agenda for the World Health Assembly and the resolutions to be considered by the Health Assembly.

WHO’s work remains firmly rooted in the basic principles of the right to health and well-being for all people, as outlined in our 1948 Constitution. The Constitution was adopted by the International Health Conference held in New York 1946 and entered into force on 7 April 1948.

The appointment of the next WHO Director-General will take place at the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly in May 2022 (WHA75). The election process begins when Member States, through a circular letter sent by the WHO Secretariat, are invited to submit proposals for candidates for the Director-General position. The World Health Assembly will appoint the next Director-General by secret ballot.