World Health Organization (WHO): Reform for a Healthy Future
WHO is reforming to be better equipped to address the increasingly complex challenges of the health of populations in the 21st century. From persisting problems to new and emerging public health threats, WHO has recognized that there is need to be flexible enough to respond to this evolving environment. The process of reform, which is Member State-driven and inclusive, has as goal improved health outcomes, with an emphasis on:
- refocusing core business to address the 21st century health challenges facing countries;
- reforming the financing and management of WHO to address health challenges more effectively;
- transforming governance to strengthen global health.
Consultation with Member States on the reform agenda resumed during the 130th session of the Executive Board held 16–23 January 2012. The consultation followed up on the dialogue from the Board's special session on reform (1–3 November 2011). Member States have also been participating in an ongoing web-based consultation on the reform agenda.
One of the Executive Board's decisions at its 130th session was that the reform of programmes and priority setting would be discussed in a Member State-driven process, which will include a meeting, open to all Member States, to be held at WHO headquarters in Geneva on 27 and 28 February (preceded on 26 February by a presentation and information session with the Secretariat). The Director-General invited Member States to send comments on the current proposals on programmes and priority setting through a dedicated web-based consultation.
In line with the Board's decision, arrangements have also been made for a web-basedconsultation for NGOs in official relations with WHO to present their views on programmes and priority setting according to the scope of work and for them toobserve the presentation on 26 February. NGOs in official relations with WHO have been invited to provide their comments, which upon review by the Secretariat, will then be posted for public viewing.
The Board's decisions, related proposals and documents on the reforms can be accessed through the following links:
http://www.who.int/dg/reform/en/index.html
http://www.who.int/dg/reform/consultation/eb_chair_summary_who_reform.pdf
http://apps.who.int/gb/e/e_eb130.html
http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB130/B130_DIV3-en.pdf