World Association of Societies of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (WASPaLM)
World Health Organization
World Health Organization, Executive Board 113th Session January 19th-January 24th 2004
Report of Dr. U. P. Merten, WASPaLM NGO Representative to WHO
The meeting took place in the large, windowless and wood-panelled room situated next to the main WHO Building.
The room hosted 32 officials and diplomats as primary delegates with more than 100 assistants from voting countries. In addition representatives from non-voting countries and officials from ADG (Assistance Director General) and DGO (Director General Office) filled the lower floor. There are two balconies on which representatives from NGOs (Non Governmental Organisations) with official relationship to WHO, representatives from news - agencies and delegates from “member states” are seated, reaching approximately 500 persons being present during the meetings.
HIV/AIDS and the WHO “3 by 5” target
The opening session Monday morning begun with regular “political” speeches. During the afternoon an interesting discussion on HIV/AIDS started and the strategic framework for reaching a “3 by 5” target which was launched on World AIDS Day 1st December 2003. WHO intends to take extraordinary measures to change the present situation where only about 300 000 of the five to six million people in the advanced stages if HIV had access to antiretroviral therapy in developing countries. The delegates supported strongly the report of the secretariat to reach the target of at least three million people in developing countries receiving this therapy by 2005. (EB113/4) ( http://www.who.int/gb/EB_WHA/PDF/EB113/eeb1134.pdf)
Draft global strategy on diet, physical activity and health
On Tuesday started an intensive discussion on “Integrated prevention of non - communicable diseases – Draft global strategy on diet, physical activity and health” (EB113/44 ff), “Health promotion and healthy lifestyles” (EB113/7 ff) and especially on a draft resolution proposed by Iceland and ten other members of the board being supported by a number of other states. A controversial discussion had entered newspapers (The Washington Post Jan 16,2004 and others) concerning the political influence of sugar industry on the Bush administration. This discussion let to a vote leaving the main resolution to be accepted during the WHA in May 2004 open for action by delegates until February 29th 2004. (http://www.who.int/gb/EB_WHA/PDF/EB113/eeb1133.pdf)
World Health Organization, Executive Board 113th Session January 19th- 24th 2004 - Report of U.P.Merten, WASPaLM representative
- 2 -
In - official Meeting
On Tuesday noon the WASPaLM representative met Dr. Steffen Groth (WHO-Director of essential health technologies) and Dr. Gaby Vercauteren (WHO-Blood safety and clinical technology). This meeting was suggested by Prof. Dr. C. Heuck earlier in January on occasion of a meeting between Prof. Reinauer, Prof. Heuck and Dr. Merten in Duesseldorf, Germany.
Dr. Groth. Dr. Vercauteren and Dr. Merten discussed possible ways of cooperation between WHO and WASPaLM. ( see attachment 1)
Further technical and Health Matters
In the afternoon and the next day, the Bureau discussed on “Road safety and health” (a major world-wide WHO project EB113/9), “Family health” (113/45) and “Reproductive health” (EB113/15 following resolution WHA55.19) . For further details go to WHO website: www.who.int and click on “governance” to reports of World Health Assembly ( WHA 57) and Executive Board (EB 113) official records . Resolutions will soon be entered into the website. (http://www.who.int/gb/EB_WHA/PDF/EB113/eeb1139.pdf)
Matters for information
Further reports from expert committees and study groups were presented concerning SARS, smallpox - destruction of variola virus stocks, eradication of poliomyelitis and of measles. Most of the discussion was uneventful. Even a passage in the report on “Quality and safety of medicines, including blood products” (Document EB 113/10) which stated “It is estimated that half all medicines are inappropriately prescribed, dispensed or sold and that half all patients do not follow instructions for their use” was accepted without extensive discussion.
Policy for relations with nongovernmental organisations
Interesting was a discussion on “policy for relations with nongovernmental organisations” (Document WHA 56/2003/REC/1,decision WHA56(10) und Document EB113/24) (http://www.who.int/gb/EB_WHA/PDF/EB113/eeb11324.pdf)
The document will be presented at the next WHA for decision. If approved WASPaLM will have to apply again for official relationship which will be called “accreditation”. As the new rules are quite similar to the former situation there seem to be little problems. (the new accreditation policy states who is eligible for accreditation to the World Health Assembly, Executive Board and committees and conferences convened under WHO authority).
World Health Organization, Executive Board 113th Session January 19th- 24th 2004 - Report of U.P.Merten, WASPaLM representative.
- 3 -
Summary:
WHO is a highly political organization. Secretaries or Ministers of Health are representing their nation at World Health Assemblies (WHA) and during Executive Board Meetings voting as delegates for their country. At this Executive Board Meeting the Secretary of Health and Human Services from the United States of America Mr. T.G. Thomsen was present on two days, his Special Assistant Dr. W. Steiger on five days.
It seems that “health-matters” are too important to be left to doctors and medical personal. Therefore NGOs will have an increasing influence only as “specialists” but only if regularly present and active. To give an example if a resolution has a commercial impact - as this January in case of the resolution on global strategy on diet, physical activity and health - interested groups as sugar industry may ask national delegates to intervene and avoid negative influence on their commercial future. In this case an NGOs as “non - political society” may be contacted for support . If a representative of a NGO regularly attending meetings is willing to support he/she may speak up on behalf of his/her organisation.
NGO are necessary for support of certain resolutions and reports. It becomes necessary and useful to have a permanent representative at EB-Meetings in January and WHA-Meetings in May each year. WHO working papers and reports are studied and official statements of WASPaLM may be prepared, consented by the WASPaLM Bureau and delivered at the meetings. WASPaLM working papers, resolutions form the Bureau or Commissions and Committees can be entered into WHO working process either through national delegates or through Dr. Steffen Groth (WHO-Director of essential health technologies) and Dr. Gaby Vercauteren (WHO-Blood safety and clinical technology).
According to present and future rules for NGOs this is possible and a WASPaLM representative may apply and present a statement for approximately three minutes to the delegates at Executive Board Meetings or World Health Assembly Meetings..
January 31st. 2004
Dr. Utz P. Merten
Past President
World Association of Societies of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
WASPaLM -representative to World Health Organisation
- back -
