Invitation

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.10.2023 The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) presents his compliments to Member States and Associate Members and has the honour to convene the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly at 14:00 on Sunday, 21 May 2023, at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. The Health Assembly will be held in person and will close no later than Tuesday, 30 May 2023. Online registration is required to participate in the Health Assembly. Registration can be initiated as of 17 April 2023 by going to the following link: https://indico.un.org/e/WHA76. Registration should be completed by 8 May 2023. There is no limitation applying to the number of persons registering as part of Member States and Associate Members’ delegations. 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. In accordance with the call for meaningful youth engagement of the UN Youth Strategy to scale up global, regional and national actions to meet young people’s needs, realize their rights and tap their possibilities as agents of change, the Director-General invites Member States to consider the inclusion of young people, in particular those whose activities and efforts are commendable and impactful at national level within the health sector and its determinants. Member States are also encouraged to include Parliamentarians in their delegation. The provisional agenda for the Health Assembly, as prepared by the Secretariat following the decision of the Executive Board at its 152nd session, and the preliminary daily timetable are ... enclosed. The provisional agenda and the preliminary daily timetable are subject to approval by the Health Assembly. Practical information for delegates and information concerning arrangements for the ... conduct of discussion in plenary meetings are enclosed. The debate this year will focus on the theme “WHO at 75: Saving lives, driving health for all”. ... ENCLS: Documents A76/1 and Preliminary timetable WHA76/ENCL./1 and WHA76/ENCL./2  Page 2 C.L.10.2023 Documents for the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly can be accessed on the Internet through the WHO website (https://apps.who.int/gb/gov/), as they become available. Delegates 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 Member States and Associate Members the assurance of his highest consideration. GENEVA, 24 March 2023  PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR DELEGATES PARTICIPATING IN THE HEALTH ASSEMBLY REGISTRATION PROCESS Online registration is required to participate in the World Health Assembly, which will be held in person. Registration can be initiated as of 17 April 2023 by going to the following link: https://indico.un.org/e/WHA76. Before each meeting, an invitation will be sent to Member States and Associate Members 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 for in-person meetings and the list of participants. CREDENTIALS The credentials shall be issued by the Head of State, 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. Member States will be represented at the Assembly by not more than three delegates. Alternates and advisers may accompany delegates. A copy of the credentials will have to be uploaded and submitted through the online registration system before the opening of the World Health Assembly (WHA). 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). TRAVEL EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT In accordance with resolution WHA50.1 (1997), special consideration will be given to delegates whose countries are classified as least developed countries by the United Nations. WHO will cover the cost of an economy/tourist airfare by the most direct route to Geneva for one delegate of such countries. However, following the rules set forth by the World Health Assembly, WHO will not be able to provide per diem or any other non-airfare expenditures. Please note that reimbursement will be made in Geneva, upon presentation of the air ticket and the invoice. 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. Since that date, it is no longer sufficient for a participant to present the invitation letter 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. WHA76/ENCL./1  ACCESS TO THE PALAIS DES NATIONS Members of the delegations should register through INDICO in order to collect their badge at WHO headquarters to access the Palais des Nations. In view of the space restrictions in connection with ongoing renovations at the Palais des Nations, please note the following arrangements: ₋ Up to two members of each delegation of Member States and Associate Members may be present at a time in each room where official meetings of the Health Assembly are convened; there is no restriction to the number of delegates forming part of the delegation, and all delegation members of Member States and Associate Members would be issued with a badge to access the Palais des Nations. ₋ Up to one member of each delegation of Observers and United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations may be present at a time in each meeting room where the plenary and main committees are convened; a maximum of six badges would be issued for individual delegates of each delegation of Observers and United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations to access the Palais des Nations. ₋ Non-State actors in official relations with WHO would be able to access the floor of the meeting rooms where the main committees are convened for purposes of delivering a statement under relevant agenda items; a maximum of six badges would be issued for individual delegates of each non-State actor in official relations with WHO to access the Palais des Nations. SIDE-EVENTS AT WHA76 There will be no official side-events held at the Palais during WHA76 due to ongoing renovations and related space constraints. However, Member States are welcome to organize their own side-events at locations of their choice. Member States may share information about the side-events they may organize offsite with [email protected]. A list will include the information received on the GBS website. Strategic Roundtables will take place during WHA76 on a daily basis (Monday, 22 May through Saturday, 27 May 2023 at lunch time) on key themes of relevance. The Strategic Roundtables will be indicated in the WHA76 Journal. WHA76/ENCL./1  ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONDUCT OF DISCUSSION IN PLENARY MEETINGS Resolution WHA52.21 (1999) on reform of the Health Assembly requested the Director-General to make appropriate arrangements for a shortened plenary meeting and, to this end, encouraged group or regional statements in plenary debate. Delegates are requested to limit to three minutes their individual statements in this debate. Group or regional statements may last up to four minutes. Theme of general debate: “WHO at 75: Saving lives, driving health for all”. Tips for speakers in a multilingual meeting Whether you are chairing or participating in a multilingual meeting it is useful to think about how your message gets across through interpretation. The interpreters are there to help the meeting proceed as if everyone was speaking the same language. • Speak your mother tongue wherever possible • Speak at a reasonable pace • Speaking is better than reading • If you have to “read” your speech, make sure the Secretariat has a copy of your text in advance. It will be treated as confidential • For guidance, four minutes are roughly equivalent to 440 words • Quote document references • State figures and names clearly • Explain acronyms WHA76/ENCL./2 SEVENTY-SIXTH WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY A76/1 Geneva, Switzerland 24 March 2023 21–30 May 2023 Provisional agenda1,2 PLENARY 1. Opening of the Health Assembly 1.1 Appointment of the Committee on Credentials 1.2 Election of the President 1.3 Election of the five Vice-Presidents, the Chairs of the main committees, and establishment of the General Committee 1.4 Adoption of the agenda and allocation of items to the main committees Document A76/1 2. Report of the Executive Board on its 151st and 152nd sessions, and on its Sixth special session Document A76/2 3. Address by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General Document A76/3 4. Invited speaker(s) 5. Admission of new Members and Associate Members [if any] 6. Executive Board: election 1 In accordance with Rules 3 and 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the World Health Assembly, the provisional agenda (providing document numbers) will be dispatched, together with the notice of convocation, not less than 60 days before 21 May 2023. 2 The sequencing of agenda items differs from document EB152/41 and is proposed in order to correct an administrative error. A76/1 7. Awards Document A76/INF./1 8. Reports of the main committees 9. Closure of the Health Assembly COMMITTEE A 10. Opening of the Committee1 Pillar 1: One billion more people benefiting from universal health coverage 11. Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016–2030) Document A76/4 12. Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board 12.1 Universal health coverage • Reorienting health systems to primary health care as a resilient foundation for universal health coverage and preparations for a high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on universal health coverage Documents A76/5 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decisions EB152(3), EB152(4), EB152(5) and EB152(6) 12.2 Political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, and mental health • Draft updated menu of policy options and cost-effective interventions for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases Documents A76/6 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(11) 12.3 Substandard and falsified medical products Document A76/6 12.4 Strengthening rehabilitation in health systems Documents A76/6 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(10) 1 Including election of Vice-Chairs and Rapporteur. 2  A76/1 12.5 Draft global strategy on infection prevention and control Documents A76/6 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(7) 12.6 Global road map on defeating meningitis by 2030 Documents A76/6 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(8) 12.7 Standardization of medical devices nomenclature Documents A76/6 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(9) Pillar 2: One billion more people better protected from health emergencies 13. Public health emergencies: preparedness and response 13.1 The Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme Document A76/7 13.2 Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) Document A76/8 14. Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board 14.1 Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies • Strengthening the global architecture for health emergency preparedness, response and resilience Document A76/9 • Strengthening clinical trials to provide high-quality evidence on health interventions and to improve research quality and coordination Document A76/6 14.2 WHO’s work in health emergencies Document A76/10 • Implementation of resolution WHA75.11 (2022) Document A76/11 14.3 Global Health for Peace Initiative Document A76/6 3 A76/1 14.4 Poliomyelitis • Poliomyelitis eradication Document A76/12 • Polio transition planning and polio post-certification Document A76/13 Pillar 3: One billion more people enjoying better health and well-being 15. Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board 15.1 Well-being and health promotion Document A76/6 15.2 Ending violence against children through health systems strengthening and multisectoral approaches Document A76/6 15.3 Social determinants of health Documents A76/6 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(12) 15.4 The highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities Document A76/6 15.5 United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016−2025) Documents A76/6 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(13) 15.6 Behavioural science for better health Documents A76/6 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(23) COMMITTEE B 16. Opening of the Committee1 17. Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan Document A76/14 1 Including election of Vice-Chairs and the Rapporteur. 4  A76/1 Pillar 4: More effective and efficient WHO providing better support to countries 18. Budget and finance matters 18.1 Results Report 2022 (Programme budget 2022–2023: performance assessment) and Financial report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022 Documents A76/15, A76/16 and A76/INF./2 and A76/INF./3 18.2 Financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2022–2023 and outlook on financing of the Programme budget 2024–2025 Documents A76/17 and A76/18 18.3 Proposed programme budget 2024–2025 Documents A76/19 and A76/19 Add.1 18.4 Scale of assessments for 2024–2025 Documents A76/6 and EB152/2023/REC/1, resolution EB152.R3 18.5 Amendments to the Financial Regulations and Financial Rules Documents A76/6, A76/20 and EB152/2023/REC/1, resolution EB152.R3 18.6 Status of collection of assessed contributions, including Member States in arrears in the payment of their contributions to an extent that would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution Document A76/21 18.7 Special arrangements for settlement of arrears [if any] 18.8 Assessment of new Members and Associate Members [if any] 19. Audit and oversight matters 19.1 Report of the External Auditor Document A76/22 19.2 Report of the Internal Auditor Document A76/23 19.3 External and internal audit recommendations: progress on implementation Document A76/24 5 A76/1 19.4 Appointment of the External Auditor Document A76/25 20. Staffing matters 20.1 Human resources Documents A76/26 and EB152/2023/REC/1, resolution EB152.R5 20.2 Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules Documents A76/6 and EB152/2023/REC/1, resolution EB152.R7 20.3 Report of the International Civil Service Commission Documents A76/6 and A76/27 20.4 Reform of the global internship programme Document A76/28 20.5 Report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board Document A76/29 20.6 Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee Document A76/30 21. Review and update on matters considered by the Executive Board Management, legal and governance matters 21.1 Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment Document A76/6 21.2 Matters emanating from the Working Group on Sustainable Financing: • Report of the Agile Member States Task Group on Strengthening WHO’s Budgetary, Programmatic and Financing Governance Documents A76/6 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(15) • Secretariat implementation plan on reform Documents A76/31 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(16) 6  A76/1 • Sustainable financing: feasibility of a replenishment mechanism, including options for consideration Document A76/32 21.3 Global strategies and plans of action that are scheduled to expire within one year • WHO global action plan on promoting the health of refugees and migrants, 2019–2023 Documents A76/6 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(17) • WHO traditional medicine strategy 2014–2023 Documents A76/6 and EB152/2023/REC/1, decision EB152(18) 22. Update on the Infrastructure Fund • Geneva buildings renovation strategy Document A76/6 • Update on information management and technology Document A76/33 23. Participation of Member States in WHO meetings • Voluntary Health Trust Fund for small island developing States (terms of reference) Document A76/34 • Current practices for funding participation of Member States in WHO meetings Document A76/35 24. Agreements with intergovernmental organizations [if any] 25. Collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental organizations Document A76/36 26. Matters for information 26.1 Progress reports Document A76/37 Pillar 1: One billion more people benefiting from universal health coverage A. Strengthening local production of medicines and other health technologies to improve access (resolution WHA74.6 (2021)) 7 A76/1 B. Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution WHA69.11 (2016) and decision WHA70(22) (2017)) C. Global action on patient safety (resolution WHA72.6 (2019) and decision WHA74(13) (2021)) D. Antimicrobial resistance (resolution WHA72.5 (2019)) E. Eradication of dracunculiasis (resolution WHA64.16 (2011)) Pillar 2: One billion more people better protected from health emergencies F. The World Together: Establishment of an intergovernmental negotiating body to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (decision SSA2(5) (2021)) G. Smallpox eradication: destruction of variola virus stocks (resolution WHA60.1 (2007)) Pillar 3: One billion more people enjoying better health and well-being H. The role of the health sector in the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management towards the 2020 goal and beyond (decision WHA74(25) (2021)) I. WHO global strategy on health, environment and climate change: the transformation needed to improve lives and well-being sustainably through healthy environments (decision WHA74(24) (2021)) J. Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020–2030 (decision WHA73(12) (2020)) K. Water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities (resolution WHA72.7 (2019)) L. Prevention of deafness and hearing loss (resolution WHA70.13 (2017) and decision WHA74(17) (2021)) M. Plan of action on climate change and health in small island developing States (decision WHA72(10) (2019)) and paragraph 29 of document A72/16 N. Global action plan on the public health response to dementia (decision WHA70(17) (2017)) Pillar 4: More effective and efficient WHO providing better support to countries O. Global strategy on digital health (decision WHA73(28) (2020)) P. Eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (resolution WHA72.15 (2019)) = = = 8  Preliminary daily timetable for the Seventy-Sixth World Health Assembly May 2023 Plenary Committee A Committee B Other Sunday 21 14:00 1. Opening of the – – – Health Assembly 1.1 Appointment of the Committee on Credentials 1.2 Election of the President 1.3 Election of the five Vice-Presidents, the Chairs of the main committees, and establishment of the General Committee 14:30 High-level segment – – – Upon closure of General high-level Committee segment Monday 22 09:00 – Presidential – – – and address 14:30 1.4 Adoption of the agenda and allocation of items to the main committees 2. Report of the Executive Board on its 151st and 152nd sessions, and on its Sixth special session 3. Address by the Director-General – General discussion Upon commencement of the General discussion 10. Opening of the Committee Pillar 2 14. Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board 14.2 WHO’s work in health emergencies 14.1 Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies  May 2023 Plenary Committee A Committee B Other • Strengthening the global architecture for health emergency preparedness, response and resilience 13. Public health emergencies: preparedness and response 13.1 The Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme 13.2 Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) 14:00 Committee on Credentials Tuesday 23 09:00 – Report of Pillar 2 and Committee on 14. Review of and update on 14:30 Credentials matters considered by the 5. Admission of new Executive Board Members and (continued) Associate Members 14.2 WHO’s work in health [if any] emergencies (continued) 4. Invited speaker(s) 3. Address by the • Implementation of Director-General resolution WHA75.11 – General discussion (2022) 14.1 Strengthening WHO (continued) preparedness for and response to health emergencies (continued) • Strengthening clinical trials to provide high-quality evidence on health interventions and to improve research quality and coordination 14.3 Global Health for Peace Initiative 2  May 2023 Plenary Committee A Committee B Other Wednesday 24 09:00 Pillar 1 16. Opening of the and Committee 11. Global strategy for 14:30 17. Health conditions Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health in the occupied (2016–2030) Palestinian 12. Review of and update on territory, matters considered by the including east Executive Board Jerusalem, and in 12.1 Universal health coverage the occupied Syrian Golan • Reorienting health systems to primary Pillar 4 health care as a resilient 18. Budget and foundation for universal finance matters health coverage and 18.1 Results Report preparations for a high- 2022 level meeting of the (Programme United Nations General budget Assembly on universal 2022–2023 health coverage performance 12.2 Political declaration of the assessment) and third high-level meeting of Financial report the General Assembly on and audited the prevention and control financial of non-communicable statements for the diseases, and mental health year ended 31 • Draft updated menu of December 2022 policy options and cost- 18.2 Financing and effective interventions implementation for the prevention and of the control of Programme noncommunicable budget diseases 2022–2023 and outlook on financing of the Programme budget 2024–2025 18.3 Proposed programme budget 2024–2025 17:30 General Committee (list for election, Executive Board) 3  May 2023 Plenary Committee A Committee B Other Thursday 25 09:00 Pillar 2 Pillar 4 and 14. Review of and update on 18. Budget and 14:30 matters considered by the finance matters Executive Board (continued) (continued) 18.4 Scale of 14.4 Poliomyelitis assessments • Poliomyelitis 2024–2025 eradication 18.5 Amendments to • Polio transition the Financial planning and polio Regulations and post-certification Financial Rules 18.6 Status of Pillar 1 collection of 12. Review of and update on assessed matters considered by the contributions, Executive Board including (continued) Member States in 12.3 Substandard and falsified arrears in the medical products payment of their 12.4 Strengthening contributions to rehabilitation in health an extent that systems would justify 12.5 Draft global strategy on invoking infection prevention and Article 7 of control the Constitution 18.7 Special arrangements for settlement of arrears [if any] 18.8 Assessment of new Members and Associate Members [if any] 19. Audit and oversight matters 19.1 Report of the External Auditor 19.2 Report of the Internal Auditor 19.3 External and internal audit recommendations: progress on implementation Friday 26 09:00 7. Awards Pillar 1 20. Staffing matters and 6. Executive Board: 12. Review of and update on 20.1 Human resources 14:30 election matters considered by the 20.2 Amendments to Executive Board the Staff (continued) Regulations and 12.6 Global road map on Staff Rules defeating meningitis by 20.3 Report of the 2030 International 12.7 Standardization of medical Civil Service devices nomenclature Commission 4 May 2023 Plenary Committee A Committee B Other Pillar 3 20.4 Reform of the 15. Review of and update on global internship matters considered by the programme Executive Board 20.5 Report of the 15.1 Well-being and health United Nations promotion Joint Staff 15.2 Ending violence against Pension Board children through health 20.6 Appointment of systems strengthening and representatives to multisectoral approaches the WHO Staff Pension Committee 21. Review of and update on matters considered by the Executive Board (continued) 21.1 Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment 21.2 Matters emanating from the Working Group on Sustainable Financing: • Report of the Agile Member States Task Group on Strengthening WHO’s Budgetary, Programmatic and Financing Governance • Secretariat implementati on plan on reform • Sustainable financing: feasibility of a replenishment mechanism, including options for consideration 5  May 2023 Plenary Committee A Committee B Other Saturday 27 09:00 Pillar 3 21. Review of and and 15. Review of and update on update on matters 14:30 matters considered by the considered by the Executive Board Executive Board (continued) (continued) 15.3 Social determinants of 21.3 Global strategies health and plans of 15.4 The highest attainable action that are standard of health for scheduled to persons with disabilities expire within one year • WHO global action plan on promoting the health of refugees and migrants, 2019–2023 • WHO traditional medicine strategy 2014–2023 22. Update on the Infrastructure Fund • Geneva buildings renovation strategy • Update on information management and technology 23. Participation of Member States in WHO meetings • Voluntary Health Trust Fund for small island developing States (terms of reference) • Current practices for funding participation of Member States in WHO meetings 24. Agreements with intergovernmental organizations [if any] 6  May 2023 Plenary Committee A Committee B Other Monday 29 09:00 Pillar 3 19. Audit and and oversight matters 15. Review of and update on 14:30 19.4 Appointment of matters considered by the the External Executive Board Auditor (continued) 25. Collaboration 15.5 United Nations Decade of within the United Action on Nutrition Nations system (2016−2025) and with other 15.6 Behavioural science for intergovernmental better health organizations 26. Matters for information 26.1 Progress reports Tuesday 30 09:00 8. Reports of the main – Finalization of resolutions/ – Finalization of and committees decisions and reports resolutions/ 14:30 9. Closure of the decisions and Health Assembly reports = = = 7 Saatja: <[email protected]> Saadetud: 31.03.2023 18:25 Teema: WHO: C.L.10.2023 (WHA76) Manused: C.L.10.2023 WHA76 (Arabic).pdf; C.L.10.2023 WHA76 (Chinese).pdf; C.L.10.2023 WHA76 (English).pdf; C.L.10.2023 WHA76 (French).pdf; C.L.10.2023 WHA76 (Russian).pdf; C.L.10.2023 WHA76 (Spanish).pdf Dear Member States of the World Health Organization, Please find attached, in the six official languages, C.L.10.2023 regarding the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly (21-30 May 2023). Best regards, Department of Governing Bodies World Health Organization ***DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL. YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A REPLY***