Qatar is participating in the meetings of the 148th Session of the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which began its work via videoconferencing and will run until Jan 26.

Qatar's delegation is chaired by HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari.

The meetings discuss key topics, including the first three pillars: 1bn more people benefiting from universal health coverage, 1bn more people better protected from health emergencies and 1bn more people enjoying better health and well-being.

The meetings review global action on patient safety, the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, oral health, and the expansion of access to treatment for cancer and rare or neglected diseases, including medicines, vaccines, medical devices, diagnostics, supporting products, cellular and genetic therapy and other medical technologies.

The meetings will also review global strategy and action plan on public health, innovation and intellectual property, antimicrobial resistance, low-quality and counterfeit medical products, as well as standardisation of medical device naming, immunisation plan 2030, integrated and individual-focused eye healthcare services, including preventable blindness and visual impairment.

The meetings also discuss public health emergencies: preparedness and response, response to Covid-19, WHO's work in strengthening health emergency preparedness including implementation of global health emergencies (2005), strengthening WHO preparedness and response to global emergencies, and health preparedness and response to mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic, the effects of the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on public health, polio eradication, polio eradication progress plan and polio post-eradication phase, social determinants of health, as well as enhancing the WHO's efficiency and effectiveness in providing better support for countries.

Other discussion topics on the meeting agenda include: global strategies and action plans expected to expire within one year, the WHO's disability action plan 2014-2021: improving the health of all people with disabilities, global health sector strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections for the period 2016-2021 and the process of electing the Director-General of the WHO. The WHO Executive Board is responsible for giving effect to the decisions and policies of the Health Assembly, to advise it and generally to facilitate its work.

Related Story