66th World Health Assembly Update

FInal update: Major victory at WHA for NCDs, agreement on the foundations of the global NCD architecture

Geneva, 27 May 2013 - In 2011 the NCD Alliance made history with the adoption of the UN Political Declaration on NCDs. In 2012 they set the world on course with the adoption of a global target to reduce NCD mortality by 25% by 2025. And now, in 2013, they have secured the foundations of the global NCD architecture to accelerate progress.

On Monday afternoon at the 66th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Member States unanimously adopted and supported an omnibus resolution on NCDs. This groundbreaking resolution fulfills commitments made in the UN Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of NCDs, and signals consensus on the three pillars of the global NCD architecture - action, accountability and coordination. 
 
The key decisions in the resolution are:

• To endorse the WHO global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs 2013–2020;
• To adopt the global monitoring framework on NCDs, including the 9 global targets and 25 indicators;
• To develop a global coordination mechanism by the end of 2013 to coordinate activities and promote engagement of all actors in the global NCD response.

The importance of these three decisions should not be underestimated. As WHO Assistant-Director General, Dr Oleg Chestnov stated at WHA, “the adoption of the global action plan moves the process from the political to the practical realm”. With the adoption of the global monitoring framework and the ambitious 9 global targets and 25 indicators, for the first time all governments are accountable for progress on NCDs. And the global coordination mechanism will provide a vehicle to convene and mobilise relevant actors (including multilateral and bilateral agencies, governments, NGOs, and the private sector where appropriate) to accelerate progress on NCDs.
 
It was thanks to the initiative of Australia, Canada, China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Russian Federation, Singapore and the USA that we have secured these landmark decisions for NCDs this week. After an intense week of negotiations, the resolution was co-sponsored by an impressive 41 countries and unanimously adopted by all countries, reinforcing the growing political commitment on NCDs across all regions.
 
These achievements are the outcome of lengthy and complex consultations, many of which were initiated in 2011 as follow-up the UN Summit on NCDs. The NCD Alliance and their global network has been engaged, has agitated, and has informed the process every step of the way. Their efforts in the lead up to WHA helped make the way for these bold decisions, and the undaunted efforts of the NCD advocates in Geneva this week to keep pushing right to the last moment played a critical part.

In addition, the resolution encompasses other notable recommendations and outlines a number of follow-up processes mandated to WHO, including:

• to develop the terms of reference for the global coordination mechanism through informal consultations with Member States, UN agencies, NGOs and relevant private sector, followed by a formal Member State consultation in November 2013;
• to develop action plan indicators to inform progress reporting on NCDs and are capable of application across the six objectives of the action plan, to be submitted to WHA in 2014, through the Executive Board for approval;
• to update Appendix 3 of the global action plan in light of new scientific evidence, to be considered by the World Health Assembly through the Executive Board;
• to report on progress in implementing the action plan in 2016, 2018 and 2021, and on progress achieved in attaining the 9 global targets in 2016, 2021. 2026; 
• to provide technical support to Member States to implement the global action plan, establish or strengthen national surveillance, and engage/cooperate with non-health government sectors and non-state actors;
• to recommend the formalisation of a United Nations Task Force on NCDs in July 2013 to intensify a joint UN response and to galvanise global support for NCDs.

Read the NCD Alliance statement that was given at WHA here. For the full resolution, click here and for the corrigendum of Appendix 3 in the action plan click here. These were the documents that were circulated in Committee A this morning. We understand that three additional countries were added to the list of co-sponsors. The resolution was unanimously adopted and supported by all Member States in Committee A, recommending the Health Assembly to adopt the resolution in plenary later this afternoon.

The NCD Alliance will be sending further information on the WHA resolution, the follow-up processes outlined, and suggested actions to be taken by their global network later this week. But for now, let’s celebrate this great victory and the knowledge that the collective effort has set the foundation for accelerated global and national action to reduce preventable NCD deaths and save millions of lives.

Please note that these were the documents that were circulated in Committee A Monday morning. We understand that three additional countries were added to the list of co-sponsors. The resolution was unanimously adopted and supported by all Member States in Committee A, recommending the Health Assembly to adopt the resolution in plenary later on Monday afternoon.

Updates on days 4 and 5 of the 66th world health assembly

 

NCD drafting group

Geneva, 24 May 2013 - The drafting group was in session from 9am until 11.30pm Thursday. In the morning, final edits were made to the Global NCD Action Plan 2013-2020 (GAP). We understand there is now stronger reference to NCDs in children, a more comprehensive definition of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to include diagnostics and palliation, stronger reference to the importance of civil society throughout the GAP, and two paragraphs on TRIPS that align with the UN Political Declaration on NCDs.
 
Thursday afternoon and evening, the drafting group shifted attention to finalising the draft NCD omnibus resolution. We understand there have been no fundamental changes in decisions to be taken in the resolution. The resolution is likely to outline two phases of consultations for the global coordination mechanism (GCM), including an informal consultation process with NGOs and relevant private sector entities between June and October, followed by a formal Member State consultation in November 2013.
 
The drafting group met again Friday morning, and are expecting to wrap up Friday afternoon. This will mean the NCD agenda item will return to Committee A Saturday morning (9:30-12:30), and then the resolution will be adopted in the plenary on Monday.

 
Health in Post-2015

Committee A discussions on the post-2015 development agenda continued Thursday morning, with many statements reinforcing the importance of health in the post-2015 development agenda, both as its own priority and as an indicator for other dimensions of development. Several Member States cited the need for a more holistic view of health in post-2015, as well specifically calling for the integration of NCDs and the social determinants of health into post-2015. There was broad consensus on the importance of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the post-2015 framework.

A strong statement was presented by Denmark, on behalf of 27 countries (including low-, middle-, and high-income countries), referencing the fundamental importance of ensuring sexual and reproductive health rights to the post-2015 agenda.

The African region of 46 countries introduced a draft resolution on health in post-2015, reaffirming the importance of the health-related MDG priorities and the rising burden of NCDs. The resolution also recognises UHC as an important measure of development. A drafting group was established to negotiate the resolution, and it is expected the post-2015 agenda item will return to Committee A on Monday afternoon.

Disability

Delegates discussed the Secretariat’s report on “Disability” (A66/12) and the draft resolution on “Disability” (EB132.R5) on Wednesday. The draft resolution aims to endorse the recommendations of the World report on disability, which offer strategies for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Amendments to the draft resolution were suggested, and discussions will resume Friday afternoon in Committee A.

In addition, WHO held a lunchtime technical briefing Thursday, focused on preparations for the September 2013 UN High-level Meeting on Disabilities and Development. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan spoke of WHO’s commitment to address disabilities as a human rights issue. Panelists highlighted the links between disabilities and development, and noted that the post-2015 development framework cannot ignore the over 1 billion people currently living with some form of disability.

Social Determinants of Health

During the agenda item on Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), several Member States emphasised the importance of tackling social determinants to improve overall health outcomes and commended WHO for including it as a fundamental approach to their work and a priority in the draft twelfth WHO General Programme of Work 2014-2019. The Committee noted the report.

Universal Health Coverage (UHC)

The agenda item on UHC was briefly discussed Thursday, but due to limited time, will continue Friday afternoon in Committee A. The report introduces a plan of action for WHO to support Member States in developing financing strategies to move towards UHC. The goal is to ensure all countries receive timely technical support on health financing where requested.

WHA Awards

The 2013 State of Kuwait Prize for Research in Health Promotion was awarded to Dr Guiqi Wang of China. Dr Wang is being honoured for his contribution to early detection and treatment of oesophageal cancer, one of the most common forms of cancer in the country.
 
The 2013 Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health was awarded jointly to Dr An Dong from People’s Republic of China and the Diabetes Society of Maldives, represented by Ms Aishath Shiruhana. This is the first time that the prize is being shared.
Dr Dong has made outstanding contributions to public health and prevention and control of endemic fluorosis in the province of Guizhou, China. The Diabetes Society of Maldives is being awarded for its success in creating public awareness on diabetes, making health promotion interventions for prevention of noncommunicable diseases, and training local staff to offer counselling and treatment.

For more information, please visit this page.

Highlights of discussions on NCDs during the DAY 3 of the 66th World Health Assembly (WHA).

 
Health in the Post-2015 Agenda- WHO Technical Briefing 

A WHO Technical Briefing on ‘Health in the Post-2015 Agenda’ was hosted by the Government of Sweden. The briefing provided an in-depth discussion on the final report of the Global Thematic Consultation on Health, which had been co-led by WHO and UNICEF with the support of the Governments of Sweden and Botswana. Panellists reinforced the importance of NCDs as a priority for health in the post-2015 development framework.

Updates on agenda item 13: Non-communicable Diseases

Yesterday Member States established a drafting group, co-chaired by USA and Pakistan, to discuss the outstanding issues on the Global NCD Action Plan 2013-2020 (GAP) and negotiate text on the draft omnibus resolution on NCDs. We understand that the drafting group has been reviewing the GAP paragraph by paragraph, but no fundamental issues have surfaced so far. Member States hope to finalise discussions on the GAP and move on to discuss the omnibus resolution by the end of this week.

Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020 
Committee A discussed the Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020 this morning. Following a number of amendments proposed by Member States, the Chair of the Committee asked the WHO Secretariat to produce a conference paper incorporating these amendments. The conference paper will be submitted for consideration by Member States later in the week.
 
Action Plan for the Prevention of Blindness and Visual Impairment 2014-2019
After a limited number of Member State interventions, WHA unanimously adopted the Action Plan for the Prevention of Blindness and Visual Impairment 2014-2019. The Action Plan aims to reduce the prevalence of avoidable visual impairment by 25% by 2019.

Notable side events

Strengthening Palliative Care as a Component of Integrated Treatment Throughout the Life Course
Co-hosted by the Permanent Missions of Panama, USA and Uganda, together with ten civil society organisations including Human Rights Watch, the World Palliative Care Association and UICC, this side event brought together over 70 representatives from governments and civil society to discuss global challenges and developments in palliative care. Click here to read more about the event.
 
Addressing Inequalities in NCDs: A focus on rheumatic heart disease 
Convened by the governments of New Zealand and South Africa and the World Heart Federation, top health officials from New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Fiji and Rwanda discussed the vital need for countries to integrate rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) prevention and control into national action plans. Click here to read more about the event.

UPDATE ON DAY 1 AND DAY 2

Working towards a Global NCD Action Plan 

Updates on agenda item 13: Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs)
 
Official discussions on the NCD agenda item began yesterday in Committee A. It was decided that agenda item 13.1 on the Global Monitoring Framework on NCDs and 13.2 on the Global NCD Action Plan 2013-2020 would be discussed together. Around 45 Member States made statements, many reinforcing the importance of taking decisive action this week on the pillars of the global NCD architecture.
 
A drafting group has now been established, co-chaired by USA and Pakistan, to discuss outstanding issues on the Global NCD Action Plan and negotiate the text of the draft omnibus resolution on NCDs. As previously stated, the NCD omnibus resolution looks to adopt the Global Monitoring Framework on NCDs (GMF), endorse the Global NCD Action Plan 2013-2020 (GAP), and agree in principle to establishing a global coordination mechanism (GCM). The drafting group will start its work this evening, and it is likely that discussions will continue into Thursday evening or Friday morning, when we hope to see the successful passage of this ambitious resolution.
 
This morning, other items relevant to the NCD agenda will be discussed in Committee A – namely, the Mental Health Action Plan, the Action Plan for the Prevention of Blindness and Visual Impairment 2014-2019, and health in the post-2015 development agenda.
 
The NCD Alliance will be providing regular updates as negotiations on the NCD omnibus resolution progress this week. To read the NCD Alliance briefing on the omnibus resolution, click here.
 
NCD Alliance Post-2015 Report Launched at WHA Side Event
 
Monday evening, the NCD Alliance convened global leaders from governments, the United Nations, civil society, and the private sector at an event entitled The World We Want: Health and NCDs in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The event was very well attended, with an impressive number of government delegations, and provided the opportunity for a constructive discussion on the challenges and opportunities of integrating NCDs in the post-2015 agenda. If you would like to watch the discussion again or were unable to attend the event, click here to watch the webcast of the event. 

The event also served as the launch of the new NCD Alliance Report - Healthy Planet, Health People: The NCD Alliance Vision for Health in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. This report, informed by a task team of experts in NCD prevention and control, provides the NCD All recommendations on a framework for health in post-2015, including specific goals, targets and indicators. Click here to download the report.

SOCIAL MEDIA AT WHA

Be sure to follow us on Twitter (@uicc / @ncdalliance) for updates throughout WHA (#WHA66).

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