Resolutions and highlights from the 2011 World Health Assembly

An interesting synopsis of key resolutions, decisions and highlights from the 2011 World Health Assembly, courtesy of World Health Advocacy.  The World Health Assembly, held in Geneva Switzerland, started May 16th and closed today.

This year’s World Health Assembly saw an unprecedented social engagement, with updates and discussions being shared via twitter, facebook and other media. The global discussion was significant enough to cause Dr. Chan to comment on it in her closing speech – “tweets about events over the past several days, on topics ranging from the reform agenda for WHO to pandemic influenza preparedness, reached more than three million people.”

More than 2700 delegates, including Health Ministers and senior health officials from 192 WHO Member States, NGOs and civil society groups attended the World Health Assembly in person. Following a week’s worth of discussions, the following are some of the key resolutions and highlights:

Non-communicable diseases

Countries unanimously approved a resolution on the preparations for the United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases being held this September. Some 47 countries and 16 observers, including civil society, commented on the resolution, which urges heads of state and governments to attend the UN meeting in New York and calls for steps against the NCD challenge through an action-oriented outcome document.

Read the WHO report.

Working together to stop HIV/AIDS

The Global Health Sector Strategy on HIV/AIDS, 2011-2015 was approved, and will guide actions by WHO and governments around the world to dramatically increase innovation, integration and efficiencies of HIV programmes. If all countries implement these guidelines, at least 4.2 million new HIV infections could be prevented and 2 million lives saved between 2011-2015.

Global immunization vision and strategy

In a great show of support, many delegates and global health partners in Committee A spoke in favour of the Global Immunization Vision and Strategy. Delegates applauded strides in saving lives around the world through vaccines, noting key challenges such as eradicating polio and increasing measles vaccination coverage to prevent dangerous outbreaks.

Read the report and strategic direction for the Decade of Vaccines.

The final mile in polio

Delegates described significant advances in polio eradication over the past year. In India and Nigeria, polio cases plummeted by 95% between 2009 and 2010. Highlighting the necessity of routine immunization, delegates pointed to the funding gap of US$ 665 million, and warned that a lack of resources could lead to dangerous backslide. Several delegates called for political and financial commitments, noting that low-income countries could save US$ 40-50 billion over the next 25 years.

Maternal, infant and young child nutrition

More than 100 million children under five were underweight in 2010. Additionally, more women are becoming overweight, increasing the risk of birth complications. Delegates in Committee B discussed a progress report on a plan to tackle problems of poor nutrition through awareness campaigns, and policies involving health, education and agriculture.

Resolutions and reports support health-related MDGs

Health-related MDGs received support with resolutions and reports on immunization strategy, infant and young child nutrition, child injury prevention, safe management of drinking water, malaria, and the presentation of the final report of the Commission on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health.

Cholera: mechanism for control and prevention

Delegates agreed that cholera is a public health threat for many countries and the incidence is on the rise. They expressed the urgent need for effective public health interventions, such as solid surveillance systems, improved environmental management, access to clean water and proper sanitation, and the adequate use of cholera vaccines as a complementary measure. Cholera was recognized as a clear marker of environmental management. Member States underscored the need to revitalize the Global Task Force on Cholera Control and emphasized the need to scale up advocacy measures.

Annual report on the eradication guinea-worm disease

The delegates adopted a resolution paving the way for an annual report on the eradication of dracunculiasis (more commonly known as guinea-worm disease) to be presented every year beginning with the next Health Assembly. Dracunculiasis is the second disease which is approaching eradication (the first being smallpox) and it occurs only after people drink contaminated water. Previously it was responsible for millions of infections across Africa and Asia. The disease mainly occurs in remote poverty-stricken areas, with limited or no access to safe drinking water.

Sources:

• Sixty-fourth World Health Assembly: daily notes on proceedings
• Historical agreements at the Sixty-fourth World Health Assembly

World Health Assembly adopts resolutions on NCDs and child injury

A report from the UN Daily News about resolutions adopted by the 64th World Health Assembly on non-communicable diseases and child injury.

UN HEALTH ASSEMBLY ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS ON CHILD INJURY AND NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Delegates at a United Nations health gathering today adopted resolutions on preventing child injury and preparing for the forthcoming General Assembly high-level conference on non-communicable diseases.

The resolution on child injury prevention adopted by the ongoing 64th World Health Assembly (WHA) of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) creates a platform designed to prevent injuries, which are the leading cause of death for children over the age of five. The resolution has to be adopted in the WHA plenary.

Delegates to the WHA said child injuries represented a major child survival issue that required more attention and resources. More than 830,000 children die each year from road traffic crashes, drowning, burns, falls and poisoning.

Countries also unanimously endorsed the resolution on preparations for the General Assembly’s high-level meeting on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which will be held in September.

Non-communicable diseases, primarily heart and lung diseases, cancers and diabetes, have become leading causes of death, according to the WHO global status report on NCDs. In 2008, 36.1 million people died from conditions such diseases, including 9 million who died prematurely before the age of 60. Some 8 million of those premature deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

Millions of deaths can be prevented by stronger implementation of measures that exist today, Ala Alwan, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for NCDs and Mental Health, told a news conference in Geneva. The measures include policies that promote government-wide action against NCDs; stronger anti-tobacco controls and promoting healthier diets, physical activity, and reducing harmful use of alcohol; and improving people’s access to essential health care.

The resolution recognized WHO’s leading role as the primary specialized agency for health and reaffirmed its leadership in promoting global action against NCDs.

The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO and brings together delegations from all WHO Member States to determine the policies of the Organization and its approve proposed programme budget.

Patients must set the agenda on non-communicable diseases

The International Alliance of Patient Organizations (IAPO) yesterday held a side meeting at the World Health Assembly in Geneva in regards to the role of patients in preventing and managing non-communicable diseases.  The press release from this event is attached below.  More updates from the World Health Assembly can be followed on twitter via #worldhealthassembly, #NCDs or #globalhealth — or for updates of interest follow @whonews, @globalhealth, @whadvocacy or @NCDAlliance.

Patients must set the agenda on non-communicable diseases

Geneva, Switzerland, 17 May 2011 – Patient advocates have called for a stronger role in setting the agenda in the design and delivery of strategies to prevent and manage non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and chronic diseases more broadly. This call was made at a Side Meeting to the World Health Organization (WHO) World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting was hosted by the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO) and two of its member patient groups; Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) and attended by over 50 participants including member state representatives, health professionals and WHO representatives.

Speakers from Africa, Latin America and Europe highlighted, with practical examples, how patient advocates are contributing knowledge, experience and resources to support efforts to tackle chronic disease. Across the world in high, middle and low income countries, patient groups routinely provide health information and training to patients and health professionals. These have been shown to support prevention strategies and effective disease management to ensure that patients’ needs are met. Interventions like these and many others are driven from within the communities they serve, reflecting their needs and preferences and ensuring that they are relevant to the context in which they are being implemented. For these to be most effective there needs to be a greater focus on, and commitment to, policy-making that involves the users of care. As the United Nations High-level Meeting on Non-communicable Diseases approaches, it is vital that discussions and outcomes reflect the fundamental changes that are needed to strengthen and adapt healthcare systems to involve and address the health and quality of life needs of patients with chronic disease.

Patient advocates stressed a need for a greater focus on disease management, including reducing severity and promoting quality of life, in addition to prevention. They called a greater role for patients’ organizations in every stage of NCD policy and program design along with implementation at all levels. It was also stressed that it was important that the work undertaken to address NCDs strengthens health systems ability to respond to all chronic conditions.

A participant, Jose M. Martin-Moreno, Director, Programme Management of WHO Regional Office for Europe said ‘Policy-making in health matters should involve the patient voice for the benefit of all. Within health systems we should not compete but ensure that we prevent the preventable, diagnose early, take care of those with a disease and give dignity to those at the end of life. Patients have an important role to play in achieving these goals.’

World Health Assembly – Day 1

The following summary of discussion from day 1 of the 64th World Health Assembly is from the World Health Organization’s media centre.

WHO kicks-off World Health Assembly and chooses president

The 64th World Health Assembly opened this morning, with remarks pointing to tremendous achievements in recent years, and the need to remain vigilant and committed to reaching our targets for healthier communities worldwide. The delegates appointed the Assembly’s president, Dr. Christos Patsalides, Director of the Ministry of Health for Cyprus, as well as five vice presidents from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Trinidad and Tobago, representing their respective regions.

WHO Director-General urges partners in global health to “remember the people”

In her address, Dr. Chan highlighted unprecedented progress, such as under-five childhood deaths at their lowest in more than 60 years, and a 60 percent drop in maternal mortality in two regions. Dr. Chan spoke of difficulties stemming from the global financial crisis and skyrocketing food and fuel prices. She commended UN agencies, countries and public and private partners for their hard work in saving lives from preventable and treatable diseases in the face of these challenges. Urging her colleagues to keep up their momentum Dr. Chan stated “any form of complacency at this point would be deadly.” She also announced that WHO is embarking on the most extensive administrative, managerial, and financial reforms in its 63-year history.

63rd World Health Assembly – outcomes and resolutions

The 63rd World Health Assembly concluded at the end of last week, with delegates adopting proposed resolutions on a number of global health issues, including:

Counterfeit medical products
The World Health Assembly resolved that the WHO should convene an intergovernmental working group on counterfeit medical products, participation in which is to be open to all Member States.

This group will examine WHO’s:

• role in ensuring availability of good-quality, safe, efficacious and affordable medicines
• relationship with the International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT)
• role in prevention and control of substandard/spurious/falsely-labelled/falsified/counterfeit medical products.

The group’s mandate is to focus on public health issues only – IP and trade issues will not be considered. Recommendations will be presented at the 64th World Health Assembly, in 2011.

Treatment and prevention of pneumonia
WHO Member States adopted a resolution on the treatment and prevention of pneumonia — the number one killer of children under five years globally. The resolution makes it clear that intensified efforts to address pneumonia are imperative if the achievement of Millennium Development Goal 4 is to be achieved.

Polio
On the topic of polio eradication, Member States welcomed the new Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Strategic Plan 2010-2012, developed over the past 24 months at the request of the Assembly.  The delegates expressed serious concern that insufficient financing for the new Plan is compromising its full implementation, as US$1.3 billion is still needed for the period 2010-2012.

Global eradication of measles
Member States endorsed a series of interim targets set for 2015 as milestones towards the eventual global eradication of measles.  Success in achieving the measles 2015 targets is a key issue if the Millennium Development Goal 4 to reduce child mortality is to be reached.

Public health, innovation and intellectual property: global strategy and plan for action
A new consultative working group will examine the way to take this work forward and is expected to report back to the 65th Health Assembly in 2012.

Discussions on other global health issues at the 63rd WHA were summarized in a previous Patients and Patents posting.

Additional information on the resolutions is available at the World Health Organization site.

63rd WHA – update on discussions

The sixty-third World Health Assembly is coming to a close later today.  Some of the key issues raised at this year’s meeting included progress towards the Millenium Development Goals, counterfeit medicines, prevention of non-communicable diseases and the Global Strategy on public health, innovation and intellectual property.  The following is a brief overview from these discussions.

Millenium Development Goals (MDGs)

Experts from WHO, member countries and the Global Fund provided a progress update on the health-related MDGs and highlighted key challenges remaining.

Noting the impact of the financial crisis on health, participants emphasized the importance of sustaining investments in health.

Speakers highlighted the need for better coordination of funding mechanisms, global financing aligning with local priorities and national health plans, and mutual accountability for both the donors and the receiving governments.

Participants called for renewed action to achieve the health-MDGs.

Prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)

NCDs cause 60% of all deaths worldwide, with 80% occurring in low and middle-income countries.

Noncommunicable diseases – mainly cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes – kill nearly 35 million people per year. Almost 90% of fatalities before the age of 60 occur in developing countries and are largely preventable.

Highlighted the changing health profiles of countries and the need to focus attention on the emerging priority of NCDs and their burden on the population and health care spending.

Counterfeit Medicines

The proliferation of potentially lethal or harmful counterfeit medicines has been on the rise, particularly with the increased usage of the Internet worldwide.

WHO will not drop use of the term ‘counterfeit’ to describe fake medicines despite generic producing nations complaints about possible confusion over the term.

“With substandard medicines, drug regulatory authorities know who to go to when a quality problem is discovered,” said Hans Hogerzeil, the director of the WHO programme on Medicines Policy and Standards. “But with counterfeit, false or fake medicines the identity of the producer is not known, and they easily cross national borders, so normal regulatory approaches cannot be used.”

“Every honest industry is interested in stopping this,” said Hogerzeil, as is every government because counterfeiting harms both patients and the legitimacy of the health system.”

Public health, innovation and intellectual property

Delegates discussed a global strategy and plans of action for public health, innovation and intellectual property. The debate focused on financing issues, including the rational use of funds, and conducting research through regional networks.

The item will be taken up for discussion later in the week.

Global eradication of measles

Approximately 20 delegates took the floor and endorsed targets set for 2015 as milestones towards the eventual global eradication of measles.

Success in achieving the measles 2015 targets is essential if the MDG 4 – reduce child mortality – is to be reached.

Food Safety

Many countries noted that diseases can be caused by unsafe food, that national food production systems are susceptible food safety problems and that more food is traded across borders then ever before.

WHO was encouraged to continue working directly with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to strengthen public health, support economic development, and continue joint risk assessments through WHO/FAO expert bodies, and establish standards through the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission.

WHO – Counterfeit drugs on the rise, pose global threat

As reported yesterday by Reuters (Counterfeit drugs on rise, pose global threat: WHO), World Health Officials warned that the production and sale of counterfeit drugs is on the rise in rich and poor countries, with more unwary consumers buying them over the Internet.

The WHO experts added that fake or substandard versions of medicines are often hidden in cargos taking circuitous routes to mask their country of origin as part of criminal activity worth billions.

WHO begins 63rd World Health Assembly – focus on disease prevention, MDGs and patient safety

Sixty-third World Health Assembly

Date: 17–21 May 2010
Location: Geneva, Switzerland

The 63rd session of the World Health Assembly began today in Geneva and will continue through to the 21 st of May. At this session, the Health Assembly will discuss a number of technical and public health issues, including:

• Monitoring of the achievement of the health-related Millennium Development Goals;
• Prevention and control of non-communicable diseases;
• Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005);
• Public health, innovation and intellectual property:  global strategy and plan of action;
• WHO’s role and responsibilities in health research;
• Infant and young child nutrition; and
• Counterfeit medical products.

The Health Assembly will also discuss the programme budget, administration and management matters of WHO.

Source:  from Global Health Progress

Patient safety and counterfeit medicines

Discussions around counterfeit medicines – and the definition thereof — are heating up again prior to the start of the World Health Assembly.  While this has become a contentious issue, all sides can agree that counterfeit medicines pose a global public health risk, leading to resistance to treatment, illness, disability and even death.

A series of principles on counterfeit medicines were recently released by IFPMA to refocus attention on this important public health issue.  Key points included:

• Medicine counterfeiting is first and foremost a crime against patients.
• Counterfeit medicines threaten the full spectrum of legitimate medicines.
• Government regulatory and enforcement authorities must be fully vested with the proper power and adequately resourced to fight counterfeits.
• Global cooperation is needed.
• The leadership of the World Health Organization is crucial.

Stopping the international trade in counterfeit medicines is vital.   As the leader on global health matters, and particularly with respect to threats to public health in developing countries, the World Health Organization has a key role to play.

The bottom line is that patients – in developed and developing countries – need to be protected.

Update from the World Health Assembly – May 20

Live Twitter updates from the 62nd World Health Assembly:  www.twitter.com/patientspatents

Discussions on issues of public health and innovation have been further delayed.  They were to be discussed yesterday, but have been rescheduled for later today.  With other issues such as climate change, social determinants of health and pandemic influenza preparedness also on the agenda, it seems likely this could be further delayed.

This morning, delegates in the Committee A meeting endorsed a resolution on the prevention of avoidable blindness and visual impairment, which will be brought to the attention of the full Assembly.

The revised meeting schedule is available on the WHO site.