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NNA BRIEFINGS

138th Session of the WHO Executive Board

The 138th Session of the WHO Executive Board (EB) took place in Geneva from 25-30

January 2016 under the Chairmanship of Malebona Precious Matsoso. The EB is comprised

of representatives from 34 WHO Member States (MS) and is mandated to implement the

decisions and policies of the World Health Assembly (WHA), to advise it and to facilitate its

work. The EB meets twice a year.

Opening remarks by the WHO Director-General

In her opening address, WHO Director-General (DG), Dr Margaret Chan, acknowledged the

monumental achievements made by Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone in their response to

the Ebola virus outbreak but warned that the outbreak is not officially over and that vigilance

is still needed. The DG expressed determination in changing the way WHO responds to

outbreaks and emergencies, and reaffirmed commitment to implementing a single

programme for health emergency management. She noted the ongoing threats to global

health including the Zika virus, MERS CoV, antimicrobial resistance, climate change and

ongoing armed conflicts and protracted crises. The DG highlighted the need for universal

health coverage and its underpinning of the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals

agenda. The speech was concluded by highlighting the need to focus on people and their

needs as the driving force in the commitment to improving health.

The full speech is available at: http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB138/B138_2-en.pdf

http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB138/B138_2-en.pdf

HIGHLIGHTS OF IMPORTANT AGENDA ITEMS

Non-communicable diseases

Maternal, infant and young child nutrition

The report describes the progress made towards the global nutrition targets but notes that

49% of countries still do not have enough nutrition data to track progress. One hundred and

twelve countries have made progress in implementing the International Code of Marketing of

Breast-milk Substitutes, but MS noted that strong advertising for food substitutes poses

problems. Countries will have to show more ambition if they want to achieve the targets, and

the Secretariat offered support to come up with ways for countries to achieve their national

targets before 2030. The draft resolution endorses the draft guidance document on ending

the inappropriate promotion of foods for infants and young children. The Secretariat

willorganise informal consultations with MS to discuss the text of the draft resolution prior to

the 69th WHA.

ICN’s intervention on maternal, infant and young child nutrition can be found in Annex 1.

Draft global plan of action on violence

The report presented the draft global plan of action to strengthen the role of health systems

to address violence in particular against women and girls and against children

(www.who.int/topics/violence/draft_one_gpav_3_08_3015_sep1.pdf?ua=1). This draft was

the result of the further work on the document based on discussions during the Formal

Meeting of MS. The Secretariat noted the important role of all sectors as violence is cross-

cutting. The health sector is often the first point of entry for victims of violence therefore

capacity of action of this sector needs to be strengthened. Several MS discussed how to

strengthen national health systems against violence. Having considered the report on the

draft global plan of action, the EB adopted the resolution to be submitted to WHA for

adoption.

Preparation for the high-level meeting of the United Nation General Assembly (UNGA)

on the progress achieved in prevention and control of NCDs in 2018

The report provides an update on the preparation for a comprehensive review at UNGA in

2018 of the progress achieved in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases.

The EB was invited to consider the draft resolution which, among other things, urges MS to

accelerate the implementation of the road map of national commitments in preparation for

the third High-level Meeting. One MS noted that the resolution overemphasizes the time-

bound commitments and proposed an amendment to note other key commitments such as

developing and strengthening surveillance systems and promoting gender-based

approaches in the prevention of NCDs. The EB adopted the resolution.

Promoting health throughout the life course

Monitoring achievement of MDGs and Health in the 2030 SDG agenda

MS called upon WHO to look at the SDG agenda in an integrated way. The report highlights

this and notes that determinants of health are influenced by other non-health related goals.

To this end, the Secretariat will link all sectors to its actions and not just the health sector.

http://www.who.int/topics/violence/draft_one_gpav_3_08_3015_sep1.pdf?ua=1

The report noted that health systems are central to the new agenda and the EU region called

for strong, integrated health systems in order to achieve the targets of SDG 3. The African

region noted that the MDGs remain an unfinished agenda and that the SDGs offer an

opportunity to achieve these. Many MS called for a clear strategy and plan for helping their

countries achieve the SDGs. Discussion between MS around how to migrate from MDGs to

SDGs took place which was encouraging for the Secretariat as it noted that action is required

now and there is no time to waste. The EB noted the reports.

ICN’s intervention on health in the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development can be found

in Annex 2.

Operational plan to take forward Global Strategy on Women’s, Children’s, and

Adolescent’s health

The report highlights key aspects of the global strategy with particular focus on country

leadership and implementation. The EB noted that the strategy now includes adolescent

health, cross-sectoral collaboration and health in humanitarian settings. The EB urged MS to

involve youth in national and global assessments. The Secretariat will provide a framework

specific to adolescent health and hopes to strengthen countries’ knowledge base in this area.

WHO will produce a special issue bulletin capturing lessons learned from looking back at

efforts to achieve MDG 4 and 5. Work will continue on accountability and on strengthening

measurement and indicators.

Draft global strategy and plan of action on ageing and health

The EB agreed on the importance of having a plan of action for the rapidly ageing global

population. Several countries spoke on how they have only recently put in place such plans

which will affect their capacity in the future. The EB and other MS highlighted the importance

of supporting the autonomy of elderly individuals. The Secretariat will look at how mental

health issues and disability can be included in the strategy. The Secretariat noted that WHO

is working with limited resources as there are very few advisors on ageing in the WHO

regions and only a small team at WHO headquarters. The EB noted the report and

recommends the global strategy and plan of action’s endorsement by the 69th WHA.

The World Medical Association (WMA) delivered a joint intervention on behalf of the World

Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) which can be found in Annex 6.

Health and the environment

Air pollution links to many of the subjects contained in the EB agenda. Most MS would like to

see the draft road map for an enhanced global response to the adverse health effects of air

pollution adopted at the 69th WHA. The EB supported the four categories in which the map is

organised but requested greater clarity and specificity of its components. The EB noted the

report.

Preparedness, surveillance and response

Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

AMR is once again viewed as a top priority issue for WHO. The report is short as it was only

completed recently and much has transpired since. It notes the options to hold a high-level

meeting of the UNGA and a high-level side event in 2016. The EB and MS support the

meeting and call for coordinated high-level action across all sectors and at all levels and a

strong political will. The DG special representative for AMR recognised the need for

socialisation of the issue and the need for political engagement and support for the action

plan to move forward. The EB noted the report.

ICN’s intervention on the global action plan on antimicrobial resistance can be found in

Annex 3.

Promoting the health of migrants

The report summarizes the current global context and the health challenges associated

with migrants and refugees, describes the Secretariat’s actions at the global and regional

levels to address them, and briefly outlines priority actions. MS requested that acute

problems and economic migration have a longer-term planning frame. It was noted that

barriers are not unique to host countries and that barriers in origin and host countries need to

be addressed and grounded in the universal right to health. The EB expressed the need for a

global framework and reaffirmed that the report, which contains elements of what this might

look like, is going in the right direction. Work on gaps will include making sure long term, non-

acute issues are more evident; emphasizing the wider determinants of health; prioritizing

mental health of migrants; putting evidence and best practice at the heart of policy, planning

and capacity work; and coordinating with others including the new WHO emergency

programme. The EB noted the report.

Communicable diseases

Ebola virus disease outbreak

The report provides an update on the reforms to the work of the WHO in emergencies with

health consequences. Much of the discussion was around the new emergency programme.

The EB and MS requested several key elements: a single and unified programme with clear

lines of responsibility for rapid response; clarity on role and responsibilities of the three WHO

levels to avoid duplication of work and delays in response; strong commitments to

partnerships; a single cadre of experienced and competent staff; and an independent

oversight group that reports to the EB. WHO will develop a road map and prioritize the

actions with timelines spanning the next year. WHO is committed to transforming to be fit for

purpose and strong to lead and coordinate in health crises in the interest of the people but

urges MS to provide political support, encouragement to WHO, and financing. The EB noted

the report.

ICN’s intervention on 2014 Ebola virus disease outbreak and issues raised can be found in

Annex 4.

HIV, viral hepatitis, STI strategies

The reports invited the EB to consider the draft global health sector strategy on HIV, viral

hepatitis and STIs respectively and to recommend their endorsement by the 69th WHA. The

EB appreciates that UHC is used as a framework for all three strategies. The three strategies

were, for the first time, developed together which allows the three issues to be addressed

more broadly and allows them to work together to reach the targets. This is the first ever

global strategy for viral hepatitis. MS expressed concern about the price of hepatitis C

treatment which the Secretariat acknowledged and will look to develop comprehensive price

reduction strategies which will be finalised in the draft strategy review. The strategy on HIV

will be helpful in the high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS planned for June 2016. The EB noted

the reports.

Global vaccine action plan (GVAP)

The report noted that the performance against key immunisation targets remains off track

and the need for leadership and accountability systems at all levels to put GVAP progress

back on track. Despite the lack of progress there have been some success stories. Africa

has not had any cases of wild polio in over a year, the Americas region has eliminated

rubella, and India has eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus. The EB noted the report.

Health systems

Substandard/spurious/falsely-labelled/falsified/counterfeit (SSFFC) medical products

The EB took note of the report of the 4th Meeting of the MS Mechanism on SSFFC.

Through WHO monitoring and surveillance, there are almost 1,000 documented cases of

SSFFC. WHO has trained people in more than 100 countries to use a surveillance tool and

many counties are contributing to the reporting. MS are taking an active stand and are

leading most of the work stream in the agreed prioritized plan of action. The steering

committee of the mechanism will meet again in March. The EB noted the report.

WHPA’s intervention on Substandard/spurious/falsely-labelled/falsified/counterfeit (SSFFC)

medical products can be found in Annex 7.

Health workforce and services

Draft global strategy on human resources for health: workforce 2030

Having considered the report, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, USA, Zambia,

Zimbabwe, and EU member states co-sponsored draft resolution EB138/CONF./5 on 27

January 2016. USA continues to support the nursing and midwifery contributions to

interprofessional education and collaborative practice in primary care as the country strives

for UHC for all. New Zealand supports development of a workforce that strengthens the work

of nurses and health care workers in the delivery of PHC. African region MS recommended

that the draft more clearly reference the occupational health and safety of HCWs and

employee wellness programmes as part of creating better conditions to attract HCWs and

prevent migration. Co-sponsor countries agreed that further revisions to the draft resolution

are needed and requested the secretariat to put in place a process to finalize the strategy in

the resolution prior to 69th WHA.

The secretariat noted several requests that the draft resolution be fine-tuned and committed

to doing so with MS before 69th WHA. The EB agreed that the draft resolution on the global

strategy on HRH (http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB138/B138_CONF5-en.pdf) would

benefit from informal consultations among MS before the 69th WHA. The EB noted the

secretariat support contained in the report on the draft global strategy on HRH and requested

the secretariat to take expressed views into account in preparation for 69th WHA.

Framework on integrated, people-centred health services

The report notes that improvements in health and life expectancy have been unequal among

and within countries and that an integrated, people-centred approach is crucial to

development of health systems that will allow progress to be made toward achieving SDG 3

and specifically in improving access to health services. The report contains a summary of the

draft framework (http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB138/B138_37-en.pdf) that

proposes five strategies for health services to become more integrated and people-centred.

MS noted that the draft global strategy on HRH and the framework on integrated people-

centred health services are complementary and should be promoted together. The EB noted

the report considering recommendation for review by the 69th WHA.

ILO’s intervention encouraged MS to consider ratification of the Nursing Personnel

Convention 149 to further strengthen the nursing workforce and nursing services.

ICN’s intervention on health workforce and services can be found in Annex 5.

WHPA’s intervention on health workforce and services can be found in Annex 8.

WHO reform

Framework of engagement with non-State actors (FENSA)

Significant progress on the document has been achieved but there are still outstanding

issues including engagement during emergencies, secondment and conflict of interest. The

EB agreed that the document is not finalised and negotiations between MS must be

concluded before implementation. All MS agreed that finalizing the document represents an

important step in the WHO reform process and that the document must be adopted at the

69th WHA. The EB endorsed the request of the open-ended intergovernmental meeting to

extend its mandate for a final session in April 2016 in order to submit a consensus text for

the framework and a draft resolution. Implementation of FENSA is an issue for all MS and

the EB requested a report on this issue in time for the April meeting. The EB agreed to this

way forward.

WHPA’s intervention on the framework of engagement with non-State actors can be found in

Annex 9.

http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB138/B138_CONF5-en.pdf


World Health Assembly (WHA)

The 69th WHA will take place 23-28 May 2016 in Geneva. The draft provisional agenda and

preliminary timetable can be found at:


All official documents can be found at: http://apps.who.int/gb/e/e_eb138.html


http://apps.who.int/gb/e/e_eb138.html

Annexes: ICN and WHPA interventions at the 138th Session of the WHO Executive Board. ICN interventions

Annex 1: Maternal, infant and young child nutrition

Annex 2: Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Annex 3: Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance

Annex 4: 2014 Ebola virus disease outbreak and issues raised: follow-up to the Special Session of the Executive Board on the Ebola Emergency (resolution EBSS3.R1) and the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly (decision WHA68(10))

Annex 5: Health workforce and services

WHPA interventions

Annex 6: Multisectoral action for a life-course approach to healthy ageing: draft global strategy and plan of action on ageing and health Annex 7: Substandard/spurious/falsely-labelled/falsified/counterfeit medical products

Annex 8: Health workforce and services

Annex 9: Framework of engagement with non-State actors

EE/February/2016

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations representing the millions of nurses worldwide. Operated by nurses and leading nursing

internationally, ICN works to ensure quality nursing care for all and sound health policies globally.

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Copyright © 2016 by ICN - International Council of Nurses,

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Annex 1

International Council of Nurses Intervention

EXECUTIVE BOARD

138th session

Provisional agenda item 6.1

Maternal, infant and young child nutrition

January 2016

Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the International Council of

Nurses. ICN is concerned with the increasing trend of overweight among children

under 5 years of age and the low rate of exclusive breastfeeding among infants

under 6 months of age.

Overweight and obesity are risk factors of noncommunicable diseases. Ensuring

health of future mothers before and during the pregnancy is equally important as

maternal overweight and obesity can affect the risk of developing obesity in later life

in the infant. Obtaining healthy lifestyle behaviours early in life is key to improving

maternal, infant and young child nutrition.

In this regard, we wish to highlight the role of nurses in health promotion and disease

prevention and their expertise and strength in life course approach especially in

primary health care. Helping future mothers, including adolescent girls, maintain their

health before and during pregnancy, supporting mothers to exclusively breastfeed,

providing parents and other caregivers with information and support on optimal infant

and young child feeding, and school nurses helping young children acquire healthy

life style behaviours are some examples of nurses’ life course approach

interventions.

ICN stresses the need to strengthen health systems, promote universal coverage

and principles of primary health care, as proposed to Member States under Action 2

of the comprehensive implementation plan. Nurses are the largest group of health

professionals and make significant contributions in primary health care in

collaboration with colleagues in health and non-health sectors. The global targets

cannot be achieved without an adequate number of appropriately prepared nurses.

In order to optimise nurses’ contributions, ICN requests governments to invest in

nursing development as an integral part of strengthening health systems and fully

involve nurses in planning and development of relevant policies and strategies.

Thank you.

Annex 2

International Council of Nurses Intervention EXECUTIVE BOARD

138th session


Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development January 2016


Nurses. We would like to applaud governments and WHO for the progress made

towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals and the efforts to ensure that

health remains central to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

ICN is pleased to see the integrated and multisectoral approach with a strong focus

on equity and human rights. We agree that health contributes to many of the SDGs

and strongly support the recognition that the health workforce is central to the new

Agenda.

As being discussed under the agenda item 10.1 Health workforce and services,

strengthening human resources for health (HRH) is a foundational strategy for the

successful achievement of the SDGs. Nursing and midwifery development

significantly contributes to achieving the objectives of the HRH Strategy.

At the same time, investing in nursing, which is a predominantly female occupation,

also has a potential to benefit other SDGs including ending poverty and hunger,

ensuring gender equality, ensuring education, promoting economic growth,

productive employment and decent work, and reducing inequality.

In addition to nurses’ essential contributions to achieving Goal 3 – Ensure healthy

lives and promote well-being for all at all ages – nurses contribute to many of the

targets under non-health SDGs including those related to nutrition, access to sexual

and reproductive health, violence, water and sanitation, disaster preparedness and

risk reduction, climate change and birth registration.

Further, ICN supports the intersectoral actions for health. Nurses are the frontline

responders to a range of health problems as a result of factors that are beyond

health sector control. Protecting the health of the population is the responsibility of

governments. Therefore we strongly support the commitments of governments to

address social and environmental determinants of health and call for use of health

indicators for non-health goals.

Thank you.

Annex 3


EXECUTIVE BOARD

138th session


Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance

January 2016


Nurses and the millions of nurses around the world.

ICN considers antimicrobial resistance as a serious public health threat and

appreciates WHO’s efforts to bring the issue to a high-level meeting this year. As

relevant targets are not included in the Sustainable Development Goals, it is

important to generate global momentum and commitment to ensure effective

implementation of the global action plan on antimicrobial resistance. The high-level

meeting should encourage Member States to fulfill their commitment to have in place

a national action plan by the Seventieth World Health Assembly.

As the global action plan notes, healthcare workers have a vital role in preserving the

power of antimicrobial medicines. As frontline healthcare workers, nurses play a

critical role, especially in the following four areas:

1. Rational use of antibiotics including responsible prescribing by nurses,

supporting physician prescribing, and supporting patients in treatment

adherence.

2. Monitoring treatment efficacy and early detection and reporting of

antimicrobial resistance.

3. Educating patients, families, the public and colleagues on prevention and

control of infections and on antimicrobial resistance.

4. Implementing infection control measures and supporting healthcare

colleagues to comply with the procedures.

Nurses also advocate for patients to have a sufficient stock of antimicrobial

medicines so that patients can take the correct amount for a correct duration as

prescribed.

The success of the global efforts to fight antimicrobial resistance largely depends on

the extent to which millions of nurses around the world are mobilised and diligent. In

order to optimise nurses’ contributions, ICN requests governments to ensure

appropriate workforce planning and education as an integral part of strengthening

health systems and full involvement of nurses in planning and development of

relevant policies and strategies.

Thank you.

Annex 4


EXECUTIVE BOARD

138th session


2014 Ebola virus disease outbreak and issues raised: follow-up to the Special Session of the Executive Board on the Ebola Emergency (resolution EBSS3.R1) and the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly (decision WHA68(10))

January 2016


Nurses and the millions of nurses around the world.

ICN is pleased to see the substantial progress that has been made and would like to

thank WHO Member States, sister NGOs and other partners in their commitment and

solidarity in bringing the outbreak close to the end.

However, the decreased incidence of Ebola does not mean the end to our

commitment. We must work together to end the outbreak and to create a health

infrastructure ready and able to respond to future threats.

Protection of nurses and other health workers, who have put their lives at risk to care

for others, is essential. According to WHO, health workers are 21-32 times more

likely to be infected with Ebola than are adults in the general population. More than

half of health workers who were infected by Ebola were nurses. Two thirds of the

health workers who have been infected have died. There is an essential need for

significant strengthening of safety policies, and the provision of adequate protective

equipment and appropriate training.

Ebola infections among health workers have had devastating effects on health

systems, including depletion of the much needed healthcare workforce and distrust in

the health system. We urge WHO and governments to include longer-term health

workforce planning and continuing education of health professionals as a foundation

for health system recovery and resilience plans.

Finally, ICN views the Ebola crisis as a human tragedy. Those health workers

responding to the needs of the affected populations have been hit hard. Children

have been left without parents, and those who were affected by contracting the

disease have also been subject of stigma. ICN calls on WHO and Members States to

address such social consequences in the recovery process.

Thank you.

Annex 5


EXECUTIVE BOARD

138th session


Health workforce and services

January 2016


Nurses.

ICN appreciates the secretariat reports and welcomes the draft Global Strategy on

Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030 and the draft framework on integrated

people-centred health services. We believe that strengthening health systems can

only be achieved through investing in nursing and midwifery as part of strengthening

human resources for health (HRH), which is a foundational strategy for the

successful achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The HRH Strategy is of utmost importance to ICN and the millions of nurses

worldwide, who constitute the largest health professional group and the providers of

over 80% of healthcare services. Given this, nurses will play critical roles in the

development, provision and supervision of new initiatives.

The HRH Strategy forms the basis from which the provision of primary health care

can be successfully achieved. ICN strongly supports the strategy to reorient health

systems towards primary health care. Nurses play a critical role in health promotion

and disease prevention, which must be strengthened if we are to be truly people-

centred. The coordination role of nurses in the healthcare team and the focus of

nursing care on people-centeredness, continuity of care, and comprehensiveness

and integration of services are essential contributions of nurses to integrated people-

centred health services.

Neither SDG 3 nor the HRH Strategy objectives will be achieved without urgent and

increased investment in nursing and midwifery development. Therefore, as an

integral part of achieving the HRH Strategy objectives, we urge WHO and

governments to ensure that nurses are involved in every aspect of the policy making

agenda, and implement actions proposed in the strategic directions for nursing and

midwifery development 2016-2020. ICN affirms its commitment to continue working

with WHO and governments to strengthen health systems through HRH

strengthening capacity.

Thank you.

Annex 6

World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) joint intervention on agenda item 7.4 on Multisectoral action for a life-course approach to healthy ageing: draft global strategy and plan of action on ageing and health

Honourable Chairperson, Distinguished Delegates,

Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the international organisations

representing the worlds physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and physical

therapists which together form the World Health Professions Alliance WHPA,

representing over 26 million health professionals in 130 countries.

As healthcare professionals, we have a major role in health promotion and

prevention to support “autonomy”, “quality of life” and “health life years” in an ageing

society. Ageism can, however, be an issue in health care. Health professionals may

unconsciously rationalize their treatment strategies based on age primarily rather

than patient/client needs. We would like therefore to state a few core principles:

Healthcare settings should be accessible to elderly and therefor age-friendly;

Education on ageing issues at undergraduate level is key, with support from

age-friendly work policies;

Essentially, a physically active citizen is less costly to the state and has the

capacity to contribute economically to society and is this more likely to live the

life he/she values. Here is long standing consensus on the beneficial effects

of exercise throughout the life course, and more recently, there is evidence of

beneficial effects of moderate exercise on health in older people with co-

morbidities;

The oral health of the elderly patient is essential for their autonomy,

maintaining the ability to chew and avoid issues such as malnutrition;

Elderly patients usually have multiple medication, their responsible use

supported by interprofessional collaborative practice is a necessity for

achieving healthier life as well as substantial savings.

With current demographic trends, the need for effective primary healthcare

services and nursing home facilities will only grow and the demand for a

health workforce capable of handling other patients will increase as well.

Thank you for your attention.

Annex 7

WHPA joint intervention on agenda item 10.4 on Substandard/spurious/falsely-labelled/falsified/counterfeit medical products

Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of WMA, ICN, FIP, FDI and WCPT,

which together form the World Health Professions Alliance WHPA, representing over

26 million healthcare workers in 130 countries.

We welcome the list of prioritised activities and we hope that they will be supported

by adequate funding within the programme budget for 2016-2017.

WHPA has for many years worked to support the combat against SSFFC medical

products through a series of activities aligned with the report. We therefore

encourage the WHO to also consider activities developed by civil society.

For instance, for Activity A, our alliance developed last year training materials for

health care professionals entitled “All you need to know about spurious medicines”, in

cooperation with the Indian health care professions. The guidelines covered

prevention, detection, and response to SSFFC medical products.

The detection of counterfeits is facilitated through improved vigilance, empowering

patients, increased competencies of regulators and health care professionals, and

educating the public through new technologies. Detection only leads to protection

when cases are shared. We therefore appreciate WHO efforts to share cases of

SSFFC medicines via a global database and information systems.

Concerning Activity E, “to develop effective risk communication and awareness

campaigns”, a number of national health-care-professions-led campaigns are

available on our website at: www.whpa.org/counterfeit_campaign.htm and could

inspire future activities.

Finally, we recommend that appropriate consideration is also given to situations

facilitating intrusion of SSFFC medicines in the legitimate supply chain, such as

medicines shortages (also discussed at Agenda item 10.5). Please be assured of the

continuous support of health care professionals to fight this threat to the safety and

health of patients.

Thank you.

Annex 8

WHPA joint intervention on agenda item 10.1 on Health workforce and services

Honourable Chairperson, Distinguished Delegates,

Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of WMA, ICN, FIP, FDI and WCPT,

which together form the World Health Professions Alliance WHPA, representing over

26 million healthcare workers in 130 countries.

The WHPA welcomes the Draft Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health,

recognizing the crucial role of the health workforce (HW) in preparing health care

system to manage the challenges of the future and achieve the newly adopted

Sustainable Development Goals.

The actual demographic trend indicates a high demand in HW and at the same time

the existing HW gets older and retires. These changes on the supply and demand

side will aggravate the actual shortage of the HW.

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) requires a strong HW, which is educated to

address the Social Determinant of Health. UHC must be embedded in a holistic

health care system with a focus on primary health care with close links to prevention,

secondary, tertiary care and rehabilitation, as described in the WHO report 2008. The

increased incidence of cancer is a good example that different health professions

with various degrees of specialisation are needed.

WHPA echoes the statement made in the WHO strategy that investment in HRH has

a growth- inducing effect and health care itself is a strong pillar of any economy. A

strong health care system, not only delivers better health for the people, but also

offers secure jobs, helps the country to better overcome economic crises and be

prepared to respond to catastrophes.

With the trend of growing violence against the HW, WHPA highlights the importance

of the right of health care workers to safe and decent working environments, free

from discrimination, coercion and violence.

Thank you.

Annex 9

WHPA Joint Intervention on Agenda item 5.3 on Framework of engagement with non-State actors 138th WHO EXCECUTIVE BOARD Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the World Medical Association,

the International Council of Nurses, the International Pharmaceutical Federation, the

World Dental Federation and the World Confederation for Physical Therapy, which

together form the World Health Professions Alliance.

NSAs in official relations with WHO have already been invited to disclose publically

the information on their financing, membership, governance, relationship to other

industries and areas of our collaboration with the WHO. We are looking forward to

receiving a report on the outcome of this comprehensive process, to strengthen the

confidence in the value of this exercise.

We agree with the accreditation criteria 64bis A-E and G-I listed at page 21.

However, the point F stating “the Membership of an NGO should not contain

individuals associated with private sector entities or philanthropic foundations and

academic institutions not at arm’s length with private sector” is unrealistic to fulfil for

individual membership-based NGOs. It will either lead to a major workload to assess

systematically conflicts of interest for all their members, or it will force them to

proactively exclude large number (in hundreds or thousands) of members who are for

example active employees, researchers or academics with some links with private

sector. We believe that there is no value for this process, as these individual

members may not be seating at the Board of the NGOs, nor interacting with the

WHO. Instead, it would make more sense that such conflict of interests management

is done at the Board level of the NGOs and with individuals interacting with WHO.

This question deserves a proper consultation with NGOs.

Finally, we would also welcome more information on the process of evaluation of the

implementation of the Framework scheduled for 2018.

Thank you.

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