World Health Organization
 
Regional Committee
 
Fifty-fifth Session
11-13 September 2002

 
29 August 2002

Annotated Provisional Agenda

1. OPENING OF THE SESSION

Representatives of all Member Countries of the Region, UN and other agencies, nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WHO and observers will attend the Regional Committee.

The session will be inaugurated by a high-level dignitary of the host government (Indonesia).

The business session is opened by the Chairman of the previous session. In his/her absence, the Vice-Chairman opens the business session.

2. SUB-COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS

A Sub-committee on Credentials, consisting of representatives from selected Member Countries, will be appointed. It examines the credentials submitted by representatives from the Member Countries. If the credentials are found to be in order, the representatives are entitled to take part in the work of the Regional Committee.

3. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN

The Committee will elect a representative from one of the Member Countries as Chairman to conduct the business of the session, and a Vice-Chairman to carry on the business in the absence of the Chairman.

4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA AND SUPPLEMENTARY AGENDA, IF ANY

The Committee will review the provisional agenda (document SEA/RC55/1 Rev.1) and adopt it with modifications, if any.

5. THE WORK OF WHO IN THE SOUTH-EAST ASIA REGION – REPORT OF THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR THE PERIOD 1 JULY 2001 – 30 JUNE 2002

The Regional Director’s report for the previous year (documents SEA/RC55/2 and Corr.1, and Inf.1, Inf.2 and Inf.3) describes the work of WHO in the SEA Region. It highlights WHO’s contribution and partnership with the Member Countries of the Region in improving the health of the people in different areas of work. The Regional Director, in his introduction of the report, will highlight significant health developments in the Region. A multi-media presentation will complement the Regional Director’s introductory remarks.

6. ADDRESS BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL

The Director-General addresses the Regional Committee.

7. PROGRAMME BUDGET 2004-2005

As in the previous biennium, Programme Budget 2004-2005 will be presented and reviewed in two parts. Part I (Draft PPB/2004-2005) consists of the global programme budget. In a significant move from the previous biennia, PB 2004-2005 provides indicative estimates of planned country expenditures for all areas of work providing a sharper focus on WHO’s country programmes.

Part II (document SEA/RC55/10) responds to specific regional priorities. It outlines the issues and challenges facing the Region and programme strategies for the countries of the Region as a whole.

8. PROGRAMME EVALUATION

Based on the policy guidance provided by the previous session of the Regional Committee, a joint evaluation of the supplementary intercountry programme was undertaken in three countries of the Region. The report on the evaluation (document SEA/RC55/14 and Corr.1) assesses the achievements, identifies problems and summarizes the lessons learnt in overall intercountry collaboration and makes specific recommendations.

In addition, the Regional Committee will select an intercountry programme or content area for evaluation during 2003 (document SEA/RC55/11). The findings of this evaluation will be reported to the fifty-sixth session of the Committee in 2003.

9. TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS

Recommendations arising out of the Technical Discussions held during the 39^th meeting of CCPDM, prior to the RC session, on a topic selected by the previous session of the Regional Committee, will be presented under this agenda item. The topic for this year’s Technical Discussions is "Management of decentralization of health care". The Regional Committee will consider the recommendations arising out of the Technical Discussions and make its comments and observations. It may thereafter adopt a resolution on the subject.

The Committee will select a subject for Technical Discussions during the 40^th meeting of CCPDM in 2003 (document SEA/RC55/9).

10. TECHNICAL UPDATES

Technical Updates will be presented on four topics on which the Regional Committee had adopted resolutions in its previous sessions. These are: Regional mechanism for bulk purchase of selected quality essential drugs (document SEA/RC55/12), Prevention and control of dengue, Japanese encephalitis and kala-azar (document SEA/RC55/7), Deliberate use of biological and chemical agents to cause harm (document SEA/RC55/6), and WHO strategy for traditional medicine 2002-2005 (document SEA/RC55/13).

The bulk purchase scheme for selected quality essential drugs requires discussion, evaluation and decisions by the Member Countries on its future direction. To be prepared against any harm by deliberate use of biological and chemical agents, Member Countries of the Region will be urged to strengthen their disease surveillance system, to enhance their national capacity in epidemiology, laboratory diagnoses, toxicology and case management, and share information on the management of incidents in order to rapidly contain potential events and mitigate its effects. The WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy provides a comprehensive framework for collaboration with the countries in traditional medicine. It will provide guidance to the Member Countries in describing therapies and products and in assessing the reliability of the methodologies used in collecting data.

The Regional Committee will review the updates and provide guidance. If found appropriate, the Committee will adopt resolution(s).

11. REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE DECISIONS AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE FIFTY-FIFTH WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY AND THE 109^TH AND 110^TH SESSIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AND REVIEW OF THE DRAFT PROVISIONAL AGENDA OF THE 111^TH SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

The working paper on this topic (document SEA/RC55/8 and Add.1) provides, in tabular form, information from the operative paragraphs of the decisions and resolutions as well as actions proposed for Member Countries and WHO. The subject is dealt with in detail by the 39^th meeting of CCPDM. Its comments, observations and recommendations, if any, are reviewed by the Regional Committee.

12. SPECIAL PROGRAMMES

Currently, Bangladesh, India and Thailand are members of JCB from the Region (document SEA/RC55/3). A representative who attended the previous session of JCB will report to the 39^th meeting of CCPDM on the deliberations of the session, on behalf of JCB members from the Region. CCPDM’s comments and observations will be noted by the Committee.

At present, Bangladesh, India and Indonesia are members of PCC (document SEA/RC55/4). A representative who attended the previous session of PCC will report to the 39^th meeting of CCPDM on the deliberations of the session, on behalf of PCC members from the Region. The comments and observations of CCPDM will be noted by the Regional Committee.

In addition, the Committee will nominate a member in place of Bangladesh whose term expires on 31 December 2002. Countries except India, Indonesia and Nepal are eligible for nomination.

13. TIME AND PLACE OF FORTHCOMING SESSIONS OF THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE

The Committee will reiterate its earlier decision to hold the 56^th session of the Regional Committee in 2003 at the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia in New Delhi, India (document SEA/RC55/5). The Committee will take note of the confirmation of invitation of the Government of the Republic of Maldives to host the 57^th session in Maldives in 2004 and consider any proposal from Member Countries to host the 58^th session in 2005.

14. ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE FIFTY-FIFTH SESSION OF THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE

The Committee will adopt resolutions, as appropriate, and the draft report of the fifty-fifth session with amendments, if any.

15. CLOSURE OF THE SESSION

The Chairman declares the session closed after remarks by the representatives from Member Countries and concluding remarks by the Regional Director.