The 62nd World Health Assembly, which brought together health ministers and senior health officials from WHO's Member States, closed today with the adoption of resolutions on a variety of global health issues including primary health care, the prevention and control of multidrug- resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, public health, innovation and intellectual property and pandemic influenza preparedness. The Health Assembly also passed the Programme Budget for 2010 -2011.
WHO Member States had earlier agreed to shorten the Health Assembly from nine to five days in order to allow senior officials to return to their home countries to help oversee preparedness for a possible influenza pandemic.
The President of the 62nd World Health Assembly, Mr Nimal S. De Silva, Minister for Healthcare and Nutrition of Sri Lanka, noted that despite the fact that the session had been curtailed to five days, delegates could be proud of the fact that they had deliberated and agreed on pressing issues on the world health agenda. "The cooperation and flexibility that the delegations had shown in agreeing on contentious issues is commendable," he said.
In her remarks, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan referred to calls made during a high-level consultation on the new influenza A(H1N1) virus, to consider criteria other than geographical spread when evaluating the phases of influenza pandemic alert. She said, "The decision to declare an influenza pandemic is a responsibility that I take very, very seriously."
Dr Chan further stated that her decision would consider the scientific information available, and would be supported by advice from the Emergency Committee, a body of international experts established in compliance with the International Health Regulations.
The Director-General outlined what might be seen, based on current knowledge, as the virus continues to spread over the coming weeks and months.
She called for close monitoring of the virus as cases begin to appear in the southern hemisphere, where the new virus will have opportunities to mingle with other currently circulating influenza viruses as the winter seasonal influenza epidemics begin.
The Director-General noted that in cases where the H1N1 virus was widespread and circulating in the general community, countries must expect to see more cases of severe and fatal infections, even though a sudden and dramatic jump was not expected at present. She again reminded the international community of the particular vulnerability of populations in the developing world.
As she noted, detection of the virus and tracking of its spread require intensive laboratory testing, as the virus is not presently causing readily visible signals, such as large numbers of people needing medical care or entering hospitals. Laboratory testing, contact tracing, and investigation of cases are disruptive and resource-intensive measures, raising questions about sustainability. Referring to a dilemma, she noted that such efforts have already yielded important clues at the scientific, clinical, and epidemiological levels, though much remains to be learned.
The Health Assembly passed 15 resolutions. Among them are:
Prevention and control of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis
The resolution endorsed strict quality standards for the provision of anti-TB drugs and efforts to limit their misuse. They also agreed to strengthen measures to make access universal to M/XDR-TB diagnosis and quality treatment. Research for new TB diagnostics, medicines and vaccines is prioritized under the resolution through support for extra financing. At the same time, WHO will also work with Member States to develop national TB response plans that will prevent more people from getting drug-resistant tuberculosis, and diagnose and treat those that do.
Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property
After intense debate, Member States adopted a final plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property which includes an agreed list of stakeholders who will be involved in the process, as well as a time frame and progress indicators by which to monitor progress. The plan of action aims, among other things, to foster innovation and improve access to medicines for diseases that disproportionately affect the poor.