WORLD ASSEMBLY OF WHO (2015)

Abstract

The sixty-eighth World Health Assembly (1) was held in Geneva from 18 to 26 May 2015. At the end of the meetings and consultations it adopted several resolutions and highlighted various projects, after electing the new President, Dr Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda (India) as well as five vice-Presidents (from Afghanistan, Barbados, China, San Marino and Senegal) (2). It brought together over 3000 delegates from the WHO’s 194 member states – a high proportion of whom were health ministers. The main points debated concerned resolutions and decisions about antimicrobial resistance, Ebola, epilepsy, the International Health Regulations, malaria, nutrition, polio, public health, innovation and intellectual property, the quality of medical products, surgical care and anaesthesia. Moreover, they examined various progress reports, in particular the issue of WHO’s response in severe, large-scale emergencies (an acute issue because of the Ebola epidemic). Lastly the delegates approved the Organisation’s planned budget and programme of work for 2016-2017.