kiri

Saatja: <[email protected]> Saadetud: 04.12.2023 10:34 Teema: WHO: C.L.44.2023 (EB154) Dear Member States of the World Health Organization,Please find attached, in the six official languages, C.L.44.2023 regarding the 154th session of the Executive Board, which will be convened on Monday, 22 January 2024, commencing at 09:30 (CET) at WHO headquarters, Geneva.Best regards,Department of Governing BodiesWorld Health Organization 20, AVENUE APPIA – CH-1211 GENEVA 27 – SWITZERLAND – TEL CENTRAL +41 22 791 2111 – FAX CENTRAL +41 22 791 3111 – WWW.WHO.INT Ref.: C.L.44.2023 The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) has the honour to communicate to Members of the Organization, in accordance with Rules 5 and 8 of the Rules ... of Procedure of the Executive Board, the provisional agenda and provisional annotated agenda for the 154th session of the Executive Board, which will be convened on Monday, 22 January 2024,1 commencing at 09:30 (CET) at WHO headquarters, Geneva. The Executive Board will be held in person. There is no limitation applying to the number of persons registering as part of Member States and Associate Members’ delegations. However, in view of the space restrictions in connection with ongoing renovations in WHO headquarters two persons per each Member State delegation for Executive Board members and one person per each Member State delegation for non-EB members may be present in the meeting room where the Executive Board is convened. Registration can be initiated as of 18 December 2023 by going to the following link: https://indico.un.org/e/EB154. Registration should be completed by 8 January 2024. In accordance with resolution WHA49.9 (1996), and to support the aim of achievement of SDG 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls), the Director-General invites Member States to consider that gender balance be applied to their delegations. Documents for the 154th session of the Executive Board can be accessed on the Internet through the WHO website (https://apps.who.int/gb/gov/) as they become available and practical ... information for delegates is attached. Member States are reminded that, as agreed by the Executive Board at its 143rd session, governing body meetings are paperless. The Director-General of the World Health Organization takes this opportunity to renew to Members of the Organization the assurance of his highest consideration. GENEVA, 27 November 2023 1 See Executive Board decision EB153(9), 31 May 2023. ... ENCLS.: (3)  REGISTRATION Online registration is required to participate in the Executive Board which will be held in person. Registration can be initiated as of 18 December 2023 by going to the following link: https://indico.un.org/e/EB154 and should be completed by 8 January 2024. Before each meeting, an invitation will be sent to Member States indicating a link to access the electronic Registration System (INDICO). Each participant is invited to register her/himself. The WHO Department of Governing Bodies will verify the information received which will then be submitted into the registration system to generate the meeting badges and the list of participants. CREDENTIALS The credentials shall be issued by the Head of State, the Head of Government, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Health, or any other appropriate authority, i.e. Permanent Missions and senior government officials, such as Directors-General for Health. A copy of the credentials will have to be uploaded and submitted through the online registration system before the opening of the 154th session of the Executive Board. Credentials should include the following information for each participant: LAST NAME (in capital letters), first name, title, function, institution, city, gender (unless indicated in title). ACCESS TO WHO HEADQUARTERS Members of the delegations should register through INDICO in order to collect their badge and access WHO. In view of the space restrictions in connection with ongoing renovations at WHO, please note the following arrangements: ₋ Up to two members of each delegation of EB Member States may be present at a time in the meeting room. ₋ One member of each delegation of non EB Member States may be present at a time in the meeting room. ₋ One member of each delegation of Observers, United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations and non-State actors in official relations with WHO may participate in person. VISAS Attention is drawn to the strict provisions in force regarding entry into Switzerland – those not having the required visa will be refused entry. As of 13 December 2008, Switzerland has applied the Schengen visa regulations. Therefore, certain nationalities travelling to WHO headquarters to participate in meetings will require a Schengen visa in order to enter Switzerland. EB154/ENCL./1  Since that date, it is no longer sufficient for a participant to present the invitation letter in order to obtain a visa. A visa support letter prepared by WHO/HQ is now required. Before requesting a visa support letter, participants are advised to contact their nearest Swiss embassy or consulate to determine whether or not they require a visa. Member States requiring the assistance of WHO to obtain a Swiss Schengen visa are kindly invited to do so when they register for the meeting through INDICO. EB154/ENCL./1 EXECUTIVE BOARD EB154/1 154th session 16 November 2023 Geneva, 22–27 January 2024 Provisional agenda 1. Opening of the session and adoption of the agenda Documents EB154/1 and EB154/1 (annotated) 2. Report by the Director-General Document EB154/2 3. Report of the regional committees to the Executive Board Document EB154/3 4. Report of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board Document EB154/4 5. Report of the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Document EB154/5 Pillar 1: One billion more people benefiting from universal health coverage 6. Universal health coverage Document EB154/6 7. Follow-up to the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases Document EB154/7 8. Draft global action plan for infection prevention and control Documents EB154/8 and EB154/8 Add.1 9. Immunization Agenda 2030 Document EB154/9 EB154/1 10. End TB Strategy Document EB154/10 11. Road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 Document EB154/11 12. Acceleration towards the Sustainable Development Goal targets for maternal health and child mortality Document EB154/12 13. Antimicrobial resistance: accelerating national and global responses Document EB154/13 Pillar 2: One billion more people better protected from health emergencies 14. WHO’s work in health emergencies Documents EB154/14 and EB154/15 15. Implementation of resolution WHA75.11 (2022) Document EB154/16 16. Global Health and Peace Initiative Document EB154/17 17. Poliomyelitis • Poliomyelitis eradication Document EB154/18 • Polio transition planning and polio post-certification Document EB154/19 18. Smallpox eradication: destruction of variola virus stocks Document EB154/20 Pillar 3: One billion more people enjoying better health and well-being 19. Social determinants of health Document EB154/21 2  EB154/1 20. Maternal, infant and young child nutrition Document EB154/22 21. Well-being and health promotion Document EB154/23 22. Climate change, pollution and health • Impact of chemicals, waste and pollution on human health Document EB154/24 • Climate change and health Document EB154/25 23. Economics and health for all Document EB154/26 Pillar 4: More effective and efficient WHO providing better support to countries 24. Budget and finance matters 24.1 Financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2022–2023 and outlook on financing of the Programme budget 2024–2025 Document EB154/27 24.2 Draft fourteenth general programme of work Documents EB154/28 and EB154/INF./1 24.3 Sustainable financing: WHO investment round Document EB154/29 24.4 Amendments to the Financial Regulations and Financial Rules [if any] 25. Management and governance matters 25.1 Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment Document EB154/30 25.2 Evaluation: update and proposed workplan for 2024–2025 Document EB154/31 3 EB154/1 25.3 Matters emanating from the Agile Member States Task Group on Strengthening WHO’s Budgetary, Programmatic and Financing Governance Documents EB154/32, EB154/33, EB154/33 Add.1, EB154/33 Add.2, EB154/33 Add.3, EB154/34, EB154/34 Add.1 and EB154/35 25.4 Engagement with non-State actors • Report on the implementation of the Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors Document EB154/36 • Non-State actors in official relations with WHO Documents EB154/37 and EB154/37 Add.1 25.5 Nomination and appointment of Regional Directors Document EB154/38 26. Provisional agenda of the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly and date and place of the 155th session of the Executive Board Documents EB154/39 and EB154/40 27. Committees of the Executive Board 27.1 Independent Expert Oversight Advisory Committee: membership renewal Document EB154/41 27.2 Foundation committees and selection panels Document EB154/42 28. Staffing matters 28.1 Appointment of the Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Document EB154/43 28.2 Appointment of the Regional Director for South-East Asia Document EB154/44 28.3 Appointment of the Regional Director for the Western Pacific Document EB154/45 4  EB154/1 28.4 Statement by the representative of the WHO staff associations Document EB154/INF./2 28.5 Report of the Ombudsperson Documents EB154/INF./3 and EB154/INF./4 28.6 Human resources: update Documents EB154/46 and EB154/47 28.7 Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules Documents EB154/48 and EB154/48 Add.1 28.8 Report of the International Civil Service Commission Document EB154/49 29. Report on meetings of expert committees and study groups • Expert advisory panels and committees and their membership Documents EB154/50 and EB154/50 Add.1 30. Closure of the session = = = 5 EXECUTIVE BOARD EB154/1 (annotated) 154th session 27 November 2023 Geneva, 22–27 January 2024 Provisional agenda (annotated) 1. Opening of the session and adoption of the agenda 2. Report by the Director-General 3. Report of the regional committees to the Executive Board The Board will be invited to consider the recommendations and comments of the regional committees in the reports submitted pursuant to decision WHA65(9) (2012). 4. 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 thirty-ninth meeting of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee, which is scheduled to be held from 16 to 19 January 2024. 5. Report of the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response The Board will receive the report of the third meeting of the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response, which was held on 13 and 14 September 2023. Pillar 1: One billion more people benefiting from universal health coverage 6. Universal health coverage The Director-General will submit a report that summarizes the present situation for universal health coverage and the outcomes of the seventy-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly, with the release of the global monitoring report for 2023, published jointly with the World Bank, and the second High-level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage, with the adoption of a new political declaration on universal health coverage. The report will highlight the commitments made to achieve universal health coverage by reorienting health systems and investments to a primary health care approach. The Board will be invited to note the report and identify ways to implement the political declaration before the third high-level meeting scheduled to be held in 2027. 7. Follow-up to the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases In response to decisions WHA72(11) (2019) and WHA75(11) (2022), as well as to resolutions WHA66.10 (2013), WHA74.4 (2021) and WHA74.5 (2021), the Director-General will submit a consolidated report on the progress on the follow-up to the political declaration across several priority areas. Annexed to the report will be a baseline report on the implementation of the Global oral health action plan 2023‒2030 and a report on the WHO’s global cancer status report 2025, with a primary focus on childhood cancer and cervical cancer elimination. The Board will be invited to note the report and its annexes and provide further guidance. EB154/1 (annotated) 8. Draft global action plan for infection prevention and control In response to a request in resolution WHA75.13 (2022) on the global strategy on infection prevention and control, the Director-General will submit a draft global action plan to translate the WHO global strategy, adopted in decision WHA76(11) (2023), into an action plan, including a framework for tracking progress with clear measurable targets, for consideration by the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly, through the Executive Board at its present session. The Board will be invited to note the report and consider a draft decision to adopt the action plan. 9. Immunization Agenda 2030 In decision WHA73(9) (2020) endorsing the Immunization Agenda 2030 the Health Assembly requested the Director-General to continue to monitor progress and to report biennially as a substantive agenda item to the Health Assembly, through the Executive Board, on the achievements made in advancing towards the global goals of the Immunization Agenda 2030. This second report on achievements will summarize the progress towards the goals and targets of the Immunization Agenda 2030. The Board will be invited to note the report and provide further guidance. 10. End TB Strategy In resolution WHA73.3 (2020) the Health Assembly adopted the global strategy for tuberculosis research and innovation. In response to a request in the resolution, the Director-General will submit a report on progress in respect of the End TB Strategy, including implementation of the global strategy for tuberculosis research and innovation, for consideration by the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly, through the Executive Board. The Board will be invited to note the report and provide further guidance. 11. Road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 The Director-General will submit a report in response to decision WHA73(33) (2020), in which the Health Assembly endorsed the road map and requested biennial reports, through the Executive Board, on the implementation of the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030. The Board will be invited to note the report and provide further guidance. 12. Acceleration towards the Sustainable Development Goal targets for maternal health and child mortality Progress to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100 000 live births by 2030 (SDG target 3.1) stagnated between 2016 and 2020;in addition, 54 countries are off track to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age by the same year (SDG target 3.2), and achieve the target of lowering neonatal mortality to at least 12 per 1000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least 25 per 1000 live births). The Board will be invited to note the report and provide further guidance. 13. Antimicrobial resistance: accelerating national and global responses In line with resolution WHA72.5 (2019) and in preparation for the high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on antimicrobial resistance, scheduled to be held in September 2024, the Director-General will submit a report on WHO’s strategic and operational priorities to address drug-resistant bacterial infections, for the period 2025–2035. The Board will be invited to note the report and provide further guidance. 2  EB154/1 (annotated) Pillar 2: One billion more people better protected from health emergencies 14. WHO’s work in health emergencies The Director-General will submit a report that provides updates on all public health emergencies of international concern, Grade 3 and United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee level 3 emergencies in which WHO took action in 2023 (up to 30 September) and on the progress made to improve research and development for potentially epidemic diseases. A second report will describe the work that WHO is undertaking at global, regional and country levels in order to strengthen health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience. The Board will be invited to note the reports and provide further guidance. 15. Implementation of resolution WHA75.11 (2022) The Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly adopted decision WHA76(8), requesting the Director-General to report to the subsequent Health Assembly in 2024, through the Executive Board at its 154th session, on the implementation of resolution WHA75.11 (2022), including an assessment of the direct and indirect impact of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine on the health of the population of Ukraine, as well as related regional and wider than regional health impacts including its adverse effect on the attainment of the objective and functions of WHO. The Board will be invited to note the report and provide further guidance. 16. Global Health and Peace Initiative The Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly took note of the road map for the Global Health and Peace Initiative. Pursuant to decision WHA76(12) (2023), the Director-General will submit a report through the Executive Board to the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly on progress made on strengthening the road map. The report will outline the work that the Secretariat has undertaken towards that goal as well as the outcome of consultations that have taken place. The Board will be invited to note the report and provide further guidance. 17. Poliomyelitis • Poliomyelitis eradication The Director-General will submit a report on the implementation of the Polio Eradication Strategy 2022–2026, including progress on interrupting transmission of both wild poliovirus and circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses, with an update on the financing situation at the end of 2023. The Board will be invited to note the report and to focus its discussions on concrete ways to ensure the full implementation and resourcing of the Polio Eradication Strategy 2022–2026. • Polio transition planning and polio post-certification Pursuant to decision WHA70(9) (2017), the Director-General will provide a status update on the implementation of WHO’s Strategic Action Plan on Polio Transition (2018–2023), with a focus on lessons learned and the proposed strategic direction for the period beyond 2023. The Board will be invited to note the report and provide guidance on the post-2023 strategic direction. 18. Smallpox eradication: destruction of variola virus stocks In resolution WHA60.1 (2007), the Health Assembly authorized retention of variola virus in two repositories for time-limited research and associated activities for development of diagnostics, antiviral agents and vaccines for smallpox, in order to reach global consensus on a date for destruction of remaining virus stocks. The Director-General will submit a report that provides an overview of these activities in line with WHO’s Thirteenth Global Programme of Work (2019‒2025) to better protect people from health emergencies. The Board will be invited to note the report and provide further guidance. 3 EB154/1 (annotated) Pillar 3: One billion more people enjoying better health and well-being 19. Social determinants of health The upcoming World Report on Social Determinants of Health Equity presents an update on the situation of health equity and its social determinants, progress made so far in addressing them and recommendations for further action. The report submitted for the consideration of the Executive Board previews the World Report and notes the impacts of the pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and other interlinked crises and social transitions impacting health equity and highlights the increased importance of addressing social determinants across sectors. The Board will be invited to note the report submitted by the Director-General and to provide further guidance. 20. Maternal, infant and young child nutrition This biennial report will update progress on the realization of the comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young child nutrition and on implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. The Board will be invited to note the report and provide further guidance. 21. Well-being and health promotion The Director-General will submit a report on the implementation of resolution WHA75.19 (2022), including on the development of a framework for achieving well-being. The Global Well-being Framework comprises six strategic directions to promote societal well-being based on key determinants of health (namely, environmental, social and economic), equitable universal health coverage, digital transformation and measurement of progress, tying them together with suggested effective policy orientations drawn from country-level experiences. The Framework lays the foundation for improved coherence and coordination of policies and programmes to create healthy and resilient societies. The Board will be invited to note the report and provide further guidance. 22. Climate change, pollution and health • Impact of chemicals, waste and pollution on human health The Director-General will submit a report on the implementation of resolution WHA76.17 (2023), which called upon Member States to support the Secretariat in engaging with two initiatives by the United Nations Environment Assembly: the establishment of a science-policy panel to contribute to the sound management of chemicals and waste and prevent pollution; and the development of an internationally-binding instrument on ending plastic pollution. The report will present options for WHO’s involvement. The Board will be invited to note the report and provide further guidance. • Climate change and health The Director-General will submit a report that describes the increasing health impacts of climate change, the opportunities to protect and enhance health through climate action, the necessary actions by the global health community, and the unique role of WHO in leading, informing, guiding and implementing the health response to climate change. The Board will be invited to note the report and provide further guidance. 23. Economics and health for all The Director-General will submit a report that summarizes the activities and recommendations of the WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All. It will also provide information to support an approach for policy- and decision-making that enables a better balance between the economy and health and which recognizes that achieving health for all requires sustained economic and fiscal investments that are multisectoral and long-term. The Board will be invited to note the report and to provide guidance on the proposed way forward. 4  EB154/1 (annotated) Pillar 4: More effective and efficient WHO providing better support to countries 24. Budget and finance matters 24.1 Financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2022–2023 and outlook on financing of the Programme budget 2024–2025 The Director-General will submit a report on the financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2022–2023 and provide an update on the financing of the Programme budget 2024–2025. The Board will be invited to note the report and provide further guidance. 24.2 Draft fourteenth general programme of work The Director-General will submit for the Board’s consideration the draft fourteenth general programme of work (2025‒2028). Building on the Thirteenth General Programme of Work (2019‒2025), WHO’s Transformation Agenda and the WHO Results Framework and incorporating lessons learned, the draft fourteenth general programme of work sets a health and well-being agenda for all health players, with the overarching goal of promoting, providing and protecting health and well-being for all people, everywhere. The Board is invited to note the report and provide further guidance for finalizing the draft programme of work. In a separate document, the Evaluation Office will provide an evaluation of the implementation of the Thirteenth General Programme of Work for the Board’s information. 24.3 Sustainable financing: WHO investment round In response to the request in decision WHA76(19) (2023), the Director-General will provide a full plan, with modalities and expected costs and efficiencies, for the WHO investment round. The plan has been developed through multiple consultations with Member States and includes proposed next steps. The Board is invited to consider the report and provide further guidance. 24.4 Amendments to the Financial Regulations and Financial Rules [if any] 25. Management and governance matters 25.1 Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment The Director-General will provide an update on the progress in implementing WHO’s three-year strategy for preventing and responding to sexual misconduct (2023‒2025), along with challenges and opportunities for Member States’ engagement and guidance. The Board will be invited to note the report and provide further guidance. 25.2 Evaluation: update and proposed workplan for 2024–2025 The report submitted by the Evaluation Office will describe progress in implementing the evaluation workplan for 2022–2023. The Office will also submit the proposed costed evaluation workplan for 2024–2025, which has been developed through consultation at senior management level across the Organization and discussed with the Independent Expert Oversight Advisory Committee. It further describes activities to strengthen the evaluation function and use. The Board will be invited to note the report and approve the proposed workplan. 5 EB154/1 (annotated) 25.3 Matters emanating from the Agile Member States Task Group on Strengthening WHO’s Budgetary, Programmatic and Financing Governance The Director-General will submit a set of reports, covering some of the mandates given and requests made by the governing bodies in response to the work of the Task Group and the Secretariat’s implementation plan for reform. He will also transmit two reports from the former co-facilitators of the Task Group The Board will be invited to note the reports, provide further guidance and consider the relevant draft decision. 25.4 Engagement with non-State actors • Report on the implementation of the Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors In accordance with resolution WHA69.10 (2016) and the Framework of Engagement with Non‑State Actors (subparagraph 68(a)), the Director-General will submit the eighth annual report on WHO’s implementation of the Framework, illustrating engagements with entities and reporting on the different aspects of the implementation of the Framework at the three levels of the Organization. The Board will be invited to note the report. • Non-State actors in official relations with WHO In line with the provisions of the Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors, the Executive Board is mandated, through its Programme, Budget and Administration Committee, to consider applications for admittance of non-State actors into official relations and to review collaboration with one third of the non-State actors in official relations in order to decide whether to maintain, defer the review or discontinue their official relations. The Board will be invited to note the report and to consider a draft decision. 25.5 Nomination and appointment of Regional Directors A document will be submitted on the legal framework applying to the processes for the election of Regional Directors with proposals for new measures to strengthen the transparency, integrity and accountability of future processes for such elections. The Board will be invited to note the report and provide guidance on next steps. 26. Provisional agenda of the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly and date and place of the 155th session of the Executive Board The Board will consider a draft decision on the date and place of the 155th session of the Executive Board. 27. Committees of the Executive Board 27.1 Independent Expert Oversight Advisory Committee: membership renewal The Board will be invited to note a report by the Director-General on the membership of the Independent Expert Oversight Advisory Committee and consider a draft decision. 27.2 Foundation committees and selection panels The Director-General will submit reports summarizing the outcomes of the meetings of the selection panels for the prizes to be awarded in 2024. 6  EB154/1 (annotated) 28. Staffing matters 28.1 Appointment of the Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean The Regional Committee’s proposal for the appointment of the Regional Director will be transmitted to the Board for its consideration. The Board will be invited to consider a draft resolution. 28.2 Appointment of the Regional Director for South-East Asia The Regional Committee’s proposal for the appointment of the Regional Director will be transmitted to the Board for its consideration. The Board will be invited to consider a draft resolution. 28.3 Appointment of the Regional Director for the Western Pacific The Regional Committee’s proposal for the appointment of the Regional Director will be transmitted to the Board for its consideration. The Board will be invited to consider a draft resolution . 28.4 Statement by the representative of the WHO staff associations In a statement to the Board, the representative of the staff associations of WHO, IARC, PAHO and UNAIDS will highlight the views of their members on issues currently seen as of great importance for the Organization. 28.5 Report of the Ombudsperson Since 2018, all ombudsmen across WHO have issued a combined annual report of their activities to the Board. The Ombudsman will present a report drafted after consultation with regional ombudsmen that will outline the most relevant systemic issues identified during that period and provide recommendations to address the matters raised. A separate report will provide both an update on the administration’s response to the recommendations made in the previous report of the Ombudsman and comments on the recommendations from the current report. 28.6 Human resources: update The Director-General will submit an update to the human resources annual report for 2022 noted by the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly in May 2023. The report will summarize workforce data and describe activities conducted under the human resources strategy and within the major transformation workstreams. The Board will be invited to note the report. In response to resolution WHA74.8 (2021) and as requested by the Executive Board at its 146th session,1 the Director-General will present a report describing the progress WHO has made on the implementation of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy from 2019 to mid-2023. The Board will be invited to note the report. 28.7 Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules Amendments to the Staff Rules made by the Director-General will be submitted for confirmation by the Board in accordance with Staff Regulation 12.2. Proposed amendments to the Staff Regulations will be submitted to the Board for its consideration and for further submission to the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly. The Board will also be invited to consider three draft resolutions. 28.8 Report of the International Civil Service Commission The Director-General will transmit the Commission’s report and recommendations to the Board. The Secretariat will provide the Board with a verbal summary of the salient points. The Board will be invited to note the report. 1 Document EB146/2020/REC/2, summary record of the first meeting. 7 EB154/1 (annotated) 29. Report on meetings of expert committees and study groups • Expert advisory panels and committees and their membership In compliance with Regulation 4.23 of the Regulations for Expert Advisory Panels and Committees, the Director-General will submit a report on meetings of expert committees and study groups, including a summary of the recommendations contained in the reports of expert committees and observations on their significance for public health policies and implications for the Organization’s programmes. The Board will be invited to note the report. In addition, the Director-General will provide details of both meetings and membership in respect of expert committees that met in 2023. 30. Closure of the session Note:1 1. The Officers of the Executive Board met with the Director-General on 6 October 2023. The meeting was organized using a hybrid format, with some participants physically present in Geneva and others attending virtually by means of video conference technology. The Vice-Chairs from Japan, Timor-Leste and Paraguay were unable to attend. PURPOSE OF THE MEETING 2. In accordance with Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board, the meeting would review the existing draft Provisional agenda of the 154th session of the Board, to be held in January 2024, together with proposals received for additional items, in order to prepare the Provisional agenda. 3. The meeting opened with a welcome from the Director-General to the Chair and other Officers. 4. The Chair of the Executive Board chaired the meeting. In her opening comments, she welcomed the Officers. She also noted that Regional Coordinators had been invited to attend as observers. 5. The Officers agreed to the proposed method of work. At the proposal of the Chair, they also agreed to discuss together the items on (i) the prioritization of proposals for the Provisional agenda of the 154th session of the Executive Board and (ii) the preparation of that agenda. PROVISIONAL AGENDA OF THE 154TH SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD 6. The Chair informed the Officers that 20 proposals for new agenda items had been received by the deadline of 20 September 2023. 7. The Chair reminded Officers of the template, requested by the Executive Board at its 144th session, which invited the Officers to consider several elements, including whether the proposed items addressed a global public health issue, a new subject within the scope of WHO, or an issue representing a significant public health burden. 1 See the Note for the Record of the meeting of the Director-General with the Officers of the Executive Board on 6 October, 2023 (https://apps.who.int/gb/gov/assets/NFR-06-10-2023-en.pdf). 8  EB154/1 (annotated) 8. The Chair proposed that, following their review, the Officers should decide between five options: Option 1: accept the proposal as a new agenda item Option 2: combine the proposed item with an existing item Option 3: defer the proposed item to a later session Option 4: refer the proposal to another governing body, such as the regional committees or the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board Option 5: exclude the proposal. 9. The Officers of the Board agreed to make the recommendations set forth below: Pillar 1: One billion more people benefiting from universal health coverage • notwithstanding the importance of the subject, that the item proposed by the Government of the State of Qatar – entitled “Sport for health” – should be excluded on the basis that the Health Assembly in endorsing WHO’s global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030, through resolution WHA71.6 (2018), had already provided a mandate for work in that area, with implementation ongoing and reports on progress due in 2026 and 2030; and that the Secretariat would work with the proponents to enable them, should they so wish, to submit a draft resolution to the Executive Board at its 154th session under an existing agenda item; • that the item proposed by the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia on accelerating towards the Sustainable Development Goal targets for maternal health and child mortality should be accepted onto the provisional agenda of the 154th session of the Board, bearing in mind that efforts to achieve universal health coverage had fallen behind, with maternal mortality rates rising, in particular; • that the item proposed by the Government of the Republic of Iraq on nutrition for patients at Iraqi hospitals, which essentially involved the important matter of country-level implementation, should be referred to the regional committees, noting that implementation would in any case be discussed at the forthcoming Executive Board under existing items; • that the item proposed by the Government of Malaysia and the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal – entitled “Strengthening access to services for refractive error in the health sector and beyond through multisectoral cooperation” – should be excluded as mandates for work in that area had already been provided by the Health Assembly in resolution WHA73.4 (2020) and decision WHA74(12) (2021), with implementation under way, and with a specific report on progress due in 2024, followed by related input as part of wider biennial reporting on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution WHA69.11 (2016)); • that the item proposed by the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on behalf of a group of Member States – entitled “Antimicrobial Resistance: accelerating national and global responses” – should be accepted onto the provisional agenda of the 154th session of the Board in view of the fact that efforts in that area were lagging behind; • that the item proposed by the Government of the Republic of Mauritius – entitled “Better Structure Policy/Decision Making Process” – should be excluded as the subject of evidence-based health care planning was already scheduled to be discussed at the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly in 2024; 9 EB154/1 (annotated) • notwithstanding the importance of the subject, that the item proposed by the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Government of Malaysia – entitled “Request for Global Strategy and Action Plan on Integrated Emergency, Critical and Operative care (ECO)” – should be excluded as a mandate for action already existed through resolution WHA76.2 (2023), with reports on progress due in 2024, 2027 and 2029; • that the item proposed by the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand – entitled “Trade and health policy coherence to support universal health coverage and health security” – should be excluded as a broader mandate for action already existed through the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property, the timeframe of which had been extended from 2022 to 2030 through resolution WHA75.14 (2022); • that the item proposed by the Government of the Kingdom of Spain on human cell, tissue and organ transplantation should be excluded as the Health Assembly, through decision WHA75(17) (2022), had decided to continue biennial reporting on the implementation of resolution WHA63.22 (2010) on human organ and tissue transplantation; • that the item proposed by the Government of the Dominican Republic on behalf of a group of Member States on embedding mental health into universal health coverage should be excluded, bearing in mind that mental health was currently included in reporting under the mandate for comprehensive annual reporting on noncommunicable diseases in line with decision WHA72(11) (2019); • that the item proposed by the Government of the Togolese Republic on tackling the burden of skin diseases should be excluded as there was already a mandate for action in that area through the roadmap for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030, endorsed by the Health Assembly in decision WHA73(33), with biennial reports on progress to the Health Assembly through the Executive Board already due in 2024 and 2026, to be followed by reports to the Health Assembly only in 2029 and 2031; • that the item proposed by the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco on haemophilia and other hereditary coagulation disorders should be excluded as the subject could already be discussed under the mandate for comprehensive annual reporting on noncommunicable diseases in line with decision WHA72(11) (2019), while related mandates had been conferred by resolution WHA59.20 (2006) on sickle-cell anaemia and resolution WHA63.12 (2010) on availability, safety and quality of blood products, with reports to the Health Assembly on progress in respect of the latter resolution due in 2024 and every two years thereafter until 2030; • that the item proposed by the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco on promoting the health of refugees and migrants should be excluded as resolution WHA76.14 (2023) had extended the WHO global action plan on promoting the health of refugees and migrants, 2019–2023 to 2030, with reports to the Health Assembly on progress due in 2025, 2027 and 2029; • that the item proposed by the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia – entitled “Global action plan on self-care interventions for the period 2023–2030” – should be excluded as work was already ongoing in that area within the Secretariat (evidenced by the recent updating of guidance on self-care, WHO guideline on self-care interventions for health and well-being, 2022 revision);1 and since the subject of well-being and health promotion had been discussed at the last two sessions of the Health Assembly and was already on the agendas of the governing bodies in 2024; 1 WHO guideline on self-care interventions for health and well-being, 2022 revision. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022. 10  EB154/1 (annotated) • that an item proposed by the Chair on universal health coverage should be accepted onto the provisional agenda of the 154th session of the Board as efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal target 3.8 (Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all) were not on track and there was currently no opportunity for Member States to have a broad discussion of universal health coverage; moreover, the subjects covered by certain proposals excluded from the agenda were linked to universal health coverage, meaning that any related draft resolutions could be tabled and therefore could also be raised under a dedicated item on that subject; • that the Secretariat’s proposal to change the title of existing agenda item 7 to read “Draft global action plan for infection prevention and control,” be accepted in order to align with the actual title of the document that the Executive Board would be considering; Pillar 2: One billion more people better protected from health emergencies • notwithstanding the importance of the subject, and while the Officers highlighted the importance of implementation and country work, that the item proposed by the Government of the Republic of Iraq on emergency medical services should be excluded as resolution WHA72.16 on the specific subject had been adopted by the Health Assembly in 2019 with a report on progress submitted to the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly in 2021, while further related mandates existed on emergency preparedness, through multiple other governing bodies resolutions; Pillar 3: One billion more people enjoying better health and well-being • that the item proposed by the Government of the Republic of Guatemala on drinking water, sanitation, hygiene and other aspects of environmental health should be excluded as work was already under way in that area as part of the implementation of the WHO water, sanitation and hygiene strategy 2018–2025, which was already slated to be discussed at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly in 2025, while a further mandate existed through resolution WHA72.7 (2019), in respect of which progress reports had been submitted recently to the Health Assembly (in 2021 and 2023); • that the item proposed by the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on behalf of a group of Member States, on climate change and health, should not be a standalone item as it had been discussed recently; but, given the urgency of the matter, that it should be combined with the existing item on the impact of chemicals, waste and pollution on human health, with bullets to be added under an overarching title, one on the impact of chemicals, waste and pollution on human health, the other on climate change and health; • that, while timely, the item proposed by the Government of the Republic of Mauritius – entitled “Supporting Countries in the Southern Hemisphere/Africa in their quest to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Healthcare Industry” – should be excluded as broad mandates existed through decision WHA73(28) (2020), in which the Health Assembly had endorsed the global strategy on digital health (2020–2025) and a related report would be considered by the Health Assembly in 2025, at which moment the specific matter could be discussed, while the Secretariat had also issued a publication on the subject, Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health: WHO guidance, 1 in 2021; • that the item proposed by the Government of the Republic of Finland on behalf of a group of Member States – entitled “Economics and health for all” – should be accepted onto the provisional agenda of the 154th session of the Board as no specific mandate existed for action in that area and discussion by 1 Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health: WHO guidance. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. 11 EB154/1 (annotated) the governing bodies of this matter could open doors for greater cross-government involvement in health, with the Officers stressing the challenges to health financing in respect of current pandemics and the importance of WHO showing leadership on the matter; Pillar 4: More effective and efficient WHO providing better support to countries • that, although the importance of focussing on implementation was recognized, the item proposed by the Government of the Republic of Iraq – entitled “Authorizing the country office to implement the health programme budgets according to the country priorities” – should be excluded as budget and finance matters were already on the agenda of every Executive Board; • that an item proposed by the Chair on the nomination and appointment of Regional Directors be accepted onto the provisional agenda of the 154th session of the Board, with the Director-General welcoming the fact that at least two candidates’ forums would have been organized as part of the current round of elections. NEXT STEPS 10. The Secretariat indicated that the draft Note for the Record of the meeting would be shared with the Officers for comment in a timely manner, together with a revised Provisional agenda. Following the Officers’ review, the Note for the Record would be communicated to Member States and the Provisional agenda posted on the web. The Secretariat also gave an assurance that, as always, it would liaise with the Member States that had made proposals, on the basis of the Officers’ recommendations, and would give them appropriate future support. 11. It was noted that, although the meeting had been productive, further improvements in ways of working could still be made in respect of both the consultations of the Officers of the Executive Board and the sessions of the Board itself. The Officers expressed their willingness to continue supporting such improvements, including through discussions at the forthcoming informal Executive Board in December 2023. = = = 12