The Sultanate represented by the Ministry of Health (MOH) took part in the resumed sessions of the 73rd session of the World Health Assembly via video conferencing from Geneva, Switzerland, which began today and lasts till 14 November.

           Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Saidi, Minister of Health headed the Sultanate’s participating delegation in the meeting, in the presence of Dr. Fatima bint Mohammed Al-Ajmi, MOH’s Undersecretary for Administrative, Financial, and Planning Affairs.

     Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General started his speech with tribute to all participants for their standing support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic along side with supporting the WHO in specific during this critical time.

      He added: “the meeting is gathering all nations to confront the defining health crisis of our time; ‘We come in grief for those we have lost, with concern for those still fighting for their lives, with determination to triumph over this common threat; and with hope for the future.’”

     The current resumed session addresses a number of documents, mainly public health emergency and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework for the sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits, as well as discussing the biennial reporting on implementation.

      The meeting is highlighting further the guidance of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases, and the global process to gather input on the development of the draft road map from Member States and stakeholders, and develop a draft road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030.

        The meeting also examines multiple technical and administrative documents such as the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel, the Report of the WHO Expert Advisory Group on the Relevance and Effectiveness of the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel.

     It should be noted that the World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of the WHO. It is held annually and attended by delegations from all WHO Member States as it focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.ONA