EB134 Jan 2014

The 134th meeting of WHO's Executive Board is scheduled for 20-25 Jan 2014 (see preliminary timetable). PHM and the rest of the WHO Watch network will be there.   

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PHM Pre-EB Comment

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Provisional Agenda

1. Opening of the session and adoption of the agenda (Provisional, Annotated)
     Proposal by Finland for additional item
Finland proposes additional item (see EB134/1 Add.1) as follow up to 8th Global Conf on Health Promotion (HIAP).
(See PHM Call to Action at the 8th Global Conference on Health Promotion. See also the Alternative Civil Society Declaration at the Rio Conference on Social Determinants of Health.)
     Proposal from Brazil for additional item
Brazil proposes an additional item to be entitled: “Follow-up of the Recife Political Declaration on Human resources for Health: renewed commitments towards universal health coverage”. The proposal  is accompanied by a draft resolution.
See EB134/1 Add.2 (includes draft resolution)

2. Report by the Director-General
3. Report of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board
The Board will receive at the opening of its session the report of the nineteenth meeting of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee, which is scheduled to be held on 16 and 17 January 2014.See documents for 18th Meeting 16-17 May 2013
4. Reports of the regional committees to the Executive Board (EB134/4)
5.1 Reform implementation plan and report (EB134/5)
The Secretariat will report to the Board on the status of implementation of WHO’s reform process, and describe the approach to be taken to strengthen implementation of WHO reform in the 2014–2015 biennium in the context of the findings of the second stage evaluation on WHO reform. (See Secretariat Report to WHA66 A66/4)
5.2 Options for improved decision-making by the governing bodies (EB134/6, EB134/6 Add.1)
The Secretariat will report on the options for criteria for inclusion, exclusion or deferral of items on the provisional agenda of the Board, as well as the outcome of the in-depth study conducted to ensure coherence between the proposed amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the governing bodies and the existing Rules of Procedure. In addition, information on the work undertaken to minimize the use of paper documents by the governing bodies and further proposals will be presented.
5.3 Streamlining national reporting and communication with Member States (EB134/7)
In decision EB132(12), the Executive Board requested the Director-General to advance the work on streamlining national reporting and communication with Member States, taking into account the division of health responsibilities at national and subnational levels, and to report on progress in implementation, including relevant financial information. The Board is requested to note the report (EB134/7).
5.4 Framework of engagement with non-State actors (EB134/8)
In response to the request made in decision EB133(2), the Director-General presents a report on the development of a framework of engagement with non-State actors, following the informal consultation held in October 2013. The Board is requested to note the report (EB134/8) and provide further guidance.
5.5 Financing dialogue.(EB134/9)
The Secretariat presents a report on the progress and outcomes to date of the financing dialogue.
5.6 Strategic resource allocation (EB134/10)
Decision WHA66(9) requested the Director-General to propose a new strategic resource allocation methodology in WHO, starting with the programme budget for 2016‒2017, utilizing a robust, bottom-up planning process and realistic costing of outputs, and based on clear roles and responsibilities across the three levels of WHO. The Secretariat’s paper reports on progress and seeks broad guidance for further work by the Secretariat. The Board is requested to note the report and provide further guidance. 
 
5.7 Financing of administrative and management costs (EB134/11)
In May 2013 Member States considered the findings of the study by an external consultant on management and administrative costs at WHO, and on how those costs are financed (EBPBAC18/3).  The report to the Board describes the approach proposed to Member States in relation to those findings and the consequent recommendations. The Board is requested to provide its views on this proposal, prior to its consideration by the Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly.
6. Communicable diseases
6.1 Global strategy and targets for tuberculosis prevention, care and control after 2015 (EB134/12)
Following extensive consultation, the Director-General presents a comprehensive review of the global tuberculosis situation to-date, as well as new multisectoral strategic approaches and international targets for the post-2015 period. The Board is invited to consider the draft strategy and targets and to provide further guidance.
6.2 Global vaccine action plan (EB134/13)
In line with resolution WHA65.17, a summary report is provided on the progress made towards the achievement of the global immunization targets, using the monitoring and accountability framework approved by the Sixtysixth World Health Assembly and including the recommendations of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization, which met in November 2013.
7. Noncommunicable diseases
7.1 Follow up to the Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly
on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (EB134/14)
The Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly, in resolution WHA66.10, requested the development of draft terms of reference for a global coordination mechanism through a consultation process and a formal Member State meeting, as well as a similar process for the development of a limited set of action plan indicators to inform reporting on progress. The report contains a summary of the actions taken and the next steps, and provides as annexes the outcome reports of the two formal meetings held. The report includes in addition an account of the progress made in implementing the global action plan for prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2008–2013, in accordance with resolution WHA61.14, and the global action plan for the prevention of avoidable blindness and visual impairment 2009–2013.
The Board is requested to note the progress made, to consider the reports of the formal meetings and to give further guidance prior to the submission of the terms of reference and action plan indicators to the Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly.
7.2 Maternal, infant and young child nutrition (EB134/15)
This report describes progress made in relation to the comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young child nutrition, the global strategy for infant and young-child feeding; and the status of national measures to give effect to the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes; as well as on progress in consideration of matters referred to Codex Alimentarius for action. The Board is requested to note the report and to provide further guidance.
7.3 Disability (EB134/16)
In resolution WHA66.9 the Director-General was requested, inter alia, to prepare a comprehensive WHO action plan with measurable outcomes. The Board is requested to consider the action plan.
8. Promoting health through the life-course
8.1 Monitoring the achievement of the health-related Millennium Development Goals (EB134/17, EB134/17 Add.1)
A summary is presented of progress towards achievement of the health-related Millennium Development Goals 1, 4, 5 and 6 and their specific targets. In addition, the report describes progress towards reducing child mortality through the prevention and treatment of pneumonia and diarrhoea, reducing perinatal and neonatal mortality; prevention and management of birth defects; achieving universal coverage of maternal, newborn and child health care, and progress achieved in the follow-up of the recommendations of the Commission on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health. Document EB134/17 Add.1, presents a draft for review by the Board of Every Newborn: an action plan to end preventable deaths – a plan that will take forward the United Nations’ Secretary General’s Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health by identifying actions for improving survival, health and development.
Health in the post-2015 development agenda (EB134/18)
In line with resolution WHA66.11, the Secretariat will provide a consolidated account of actions taken to date as well as of the discussions on health in the post-2015 UN development agenda by the WHO regional committees in 2013.See also MMI thematic guide www.bit.ly/mmi-beyond2015guide
8.2 Multisectoral action for a life course approach to healthy ageing (EB134/19)
The report outlines the challenges and the opportunities of population ageing, and the current lack of an adequate global public health response. Effective action will need to take account, not only of changing demographics, but also concurrent changes in social determinants and interrelationships with other major global trends. Proposals for action will be presented.
8.3 [Healthand well being of people who identify as LGBTorQ] (EB134/20)
In decision EB133(1) Deletion of agenda item, the Executive Board decided:
(1) to delete item 6.3 from its provisional agenda;
(2) to request the Director-General to hold informal consultations with Member States from all regions with a view to reaching consensus on the title and content of that item;
(3) to include an item in the draft provisional agenda of the Executive Board at its 134th session, with no title and a footnote referring to the present decision, on the understanding that the final title and content of the item will reflect the outcome of the informal consultations by the Director-General.
See PHM Detailed Report of EB133 Discussions 
See PHM comment on provisional EB133 agenda item 6.3 Health and well being of LGBTQ
8.4 Addressing the global challenge of violence, in particular against women and girls (EB134/21)
At the request of Member States, recognizing the crucial role of national ministries of health and the public health community in advocating, inspiring, and guiding multisectoral action to prevent violence and mitigate its consequences at global and national levels; and the repeated calls for the elimination of violence against women, the Secretariat will provide a summary of the current status of action in this area and an account of future needs. The Board is invited to note the report and provide further guidance.
8.5 International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management (EB134/22)
At the request of the Director-General of FAO, and in order to complete the process for issuance of the joint report by FAO, WHO and UNEP, the Board is invited to note the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management.
8.6 Public health impacts of exposure to mercury and mercury compounds: the role of WHO
and ministries of public health in the implementation of the Minamata Convention (EB134/23)
At the request of Member States, the Secretariat provides information on the public health implications of the Minamata Convention on Mercury as well as on other chemicals of major public health concern. The Convention is the first multilateral environment agreement to include an article (Article 16) dedicated to health aspects. The Board is invited to note the report.
9. Health systems
9.1 Traditional medicine (EB134/24)
A updated global strategy on traditional medicine for the period 2014–2023 has been prepared through extensive consultation based on countries’ progress and current new challenges in the field of traditional medicine and in line with resolution WHA62.13.
9.2 Substandard/spurious/falsely-labelled/falsified/counterfeit medical products (EB134/25)
The second meeting of the Member State mechanism for Substandard/spurious/falsely-labelled/falsified/counterfeit medical products was scheduled to be held 28–29 November 2013. The Director-General will transmit the report of the meeting to the Board.
See WHO Watch Report:
IP and affordability, quality, safety and efficacy: a chronology of WHO debates from 2003-2013
9.3 Follow-up of the report of the Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development: Financing and Coordination (EB134/26 and EB134/27)
In resolution WHA66.22 the Health Assembly endorsed a strategic work plan to improve monitoring and coordination of and to ensure sustainable funding for health research and development, in line with the global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property. The Secretariat report provides the outcome of a review of existing coordination mechanisms, as well as information on the evaluation of mechanisms that could be used to manage voluntary contributions to health research and development. It also reports on progress in establishing a global health research and development observatory within the Secretariat in order to monitor and analyse relevant information on health research and development. The Board is invited to note the report and to provide further guidance on future strategic directions and activities.
In a second report, the Director-General will present a report of the technical consultative meeting, which proposes a few demonstration projects for health research and development for the consideration of the Board.See WHO Watch Report: IP, innovation and public health: a chronology of WHO consideration from 2003-2013
9.4 Strengthening of palliative care as a component of integrated treatment throughout the
life course (EB134/28)
At the request of a Member State, an analysis is provided of the current status globally of palliative care, and measures critical to the development of palliative care with a public health approach.
9.5 Regulatory system strengthening (EB134/29)
At the request of a Member State, an analysis is provided of the need to strengthen national regulatory capacity, as well as to enhance regulatory collaboration and networking at subregional, regional and global levels. The challenges and solutions are explored.
9.6 Health intervention and technology assessment in support of universal health coverage (EB134/30)
At the request of a Member State, the Secretariat provides an account of the role of health intervention and technology assessment in strengthening the capacity of Member States to decide on funding of technologies and interventions in health care, and to set priorities in health systems funding within the broader context of working towards universal health coverage. The current situation and the need for enhanced, evidence-based priority setting and decision making in health are explored.
9.7 Access to essential medicines (EB134/31)
At the request of a Member State, the current status globally of access to essential medicines is examined both in relation to the Millennium Development Goals as well as to the ongoing work on noncommunicable diseases; an analysis is made of challenges faced and lessons learnt by countries in increasing access to essential medicines in support of universal health coverage, and on the ways countries have implemented the essential medicines concept; best practices in expanding access to essential medicines are identified.
10. Preparedness, surveillance and response
10.1 Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) (EB134/32)
In line with resolution WHA65.23
the Director-General reports on progress made by States Parties and the Secretariat.
10.2 Pandemic influenza preparedness: sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits (EB134/33)
In accordance with the provisions of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework for the sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits, the Director-General provides a report to the Board on the distribution among companies of the 2013 partnership contribution. In addition, the Director-General transmits to the Board, for its information, a summary of key points discussed by the PIP Advisory Group at its meeting in October 2013 and a synopsis of its second annual report.
10.3 Smallpox eradication: destruction of variola virus stocks (EB134/34)
In line with the request by the Sixty-fourth World Health Assembly (Decision 64(11)
) the Secretariat provides the full report of the WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research, which held its fifteenth meeting in September 2013. The report combines the annual review of the virus stocks held in the repositories, the research undertaken and proposals submitted with a consideration of the research conducted over the past three years and the need of variola virus for further research on public health measures. In addition, the report will be provided of the Advisory Group of Independent Experts to review the smallpox research programme (AGIES), which was reconvened in order to consider the recommendations and decisions of the Committee.
10.4 Poliomyelitis: intensification of the global eradication initiative (EB134/35)
The report summarises progress and risks in achieving the objectives of the new Polio Endgame Plan, and provides an overview of the programmatic and risk management priorities for 2014.
10.5 Hepatitis (EB134/36)
The current epidemiological situation of viral hepatitis, the challenges and the expected responses are outlined, in order to improve the health of patients infected with viral hepatitis.
10.6 Antimicrobial drug resistance (EB134/37)
In view of the threat posed by growing antimicrobial drug resistance to the long-term sustainability of the public health control of many infectious diseases, and the substantial related health-economic and economic costs, the Secretariat provides an outline of the current situation, the response, and the need for further global action.
11. Management, financial and legal matters
11.1 Evaluation (EB134/38 and EB134/39)
The Secretariat presents its evaluation update report and proposed Organization-wide evaluation work plan 2014–2015 in line with the mandate of decision EB131(1)
11.2 Amendments to the Financial Regulations and Financial Rules (EB134/40)
In line with resolution WHA66.3, the Executive Board is invited to confirm the amendments of an editorial nature made by the Director-General to Financial Rule III, in order to align it with the agreed changes to the Financial Regulations.
11.3 Real estate: update of the Geneva buildings renovation strategy (EB134/41)
The report provides an update on the progress made in the development of a comprehensive refurbishment strategy. Further studies will be necessary in order to provide validated plans and the expected costs of the proposed strategy
11.4 Hosted health partnerships (EB134/42)
In decision EB132(10)
the Executive Board requested the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board to ensure that the arrangements for hosted health partnerships are regularly reviewed on a case-by-case and timely basis in respect of their contributions to improved health outcomes, WHO’s interaction with individual hosted partnerships, and the harmonization of their work with the work of WHO.
11.5 Follow-up of the report of the Working Group on the Election of the Director-General of
the World Health Organization (EB134/43)
In line with resolution WHA66.18
, the Director-General provides a consolidated description of the overall process for the election of the Director-General in a single draft reference document, with a view to the consideration of the matter by the Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly. The Board is invited to consider the report.
11.6 Reports of committees of the Executive Board
• Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations (EB134/44)
During its session the Board will receive the report of the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations, which contains, inter alia, the Committee’s recommendations on requests from organizations for admission into official relations with WHO, and the review of collaboration between WHO and one third of the organizations in official relations during the period 2011–2013.
• Foundations and awards (EB134/45)
The Board will consider the reports of the selection panels for the following prizes to be awarded in 2014: the Ihsan Dogramaci Family Health Foundation, the Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation, the United Arab Emirates Health Foundation, the Jacques Parisot Foundation Fellowship, and the Dr Lee Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health. The Board is invited to approve the report of the Dr A.T. Shousha Foundation Committee.
11.7 Provisional agenda of the Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly and date and place of
the 135th session of the Executive Board (EB134/46)
12. Staffing matters
12.1 Appointment of the Regional Director for South-East Asia (EB134/47)
12.2 Appointment of the Regional Director for the Western Pacific (EB134/48)
12.3 Statement by the representative of the WHO staff associations
12.4 Human resources (EB134/49 and EB134/INF./2)
The annual report by the Secretariat on human resources is presented, describing the latest developments and achievements at WHO. Statistics are provided on the staffing situation as at 31 July 2013 as a preview to the final report to be presented to the Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly. The report also includes information on the staffing situation as regards those working in polio eradication. An additional document will be provided that outlines the new human resources strategy for the Organization.
12.5 Report of the International Civil Service Commission (EB134/50)
12.6 Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules (EB134/51)
Amendments to the Staff Rules made by the Director-General are submitted for confirmation by the Board in accordance with Staff Regulation 12.2. Proposed amendments to the Staff Regulations are presented for consideration by the Board for submission to the Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly.
13. Matters for information
13.1 Reports of advisory bodies (EB134/52)
• Expert committees and study groups
13.2 Progress reports (EB134/53)

Communicable diseases
A. Global health sector strategy on HIV/AIDS, 2011–2015 (resolution WHA64.14)
B. Eradication of dracunculiasis (resolution WHA64.16)

Noncommunicable diseases
C. Child injury prevention (resolution WHA64.27)

Promoting health through the life course
D. Reproductive health: strategy to accelerate progress towards the attainment of international development goals and targets (resolution WHA57.12)
E. Female genital mutilation (resolution WHA61.16)
F. Youth and health risks (resolution WHA64.28)
G. Implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children (resolution WHA66.7)
H. Climate change and health (resolution EB124.R5)
See also EB124/11

Health systems
I. Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property (resolution WHA62.16)
J. Availability, safety and quality of blood products (resolution WHA63.12)
K. Human organ and tissue transplantation (resolution WHA63.22)
L. WHO strategy on research for health

Preparedness, surveillance and response
M. WHO’s response, and role as the health cluster lead, in meeting the growing demands of health in humanitarian emergencies (resolution WHA65.20)

Corporate services/enabling functions
N. Multilingualism: implementation of action plan (resolution WHA61.12)

14. Closure of the session