# Explainer-What is on (and off) the agenda of the WHO Assembly? Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-05-20 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: World Health Ministers Meet in Geneva to Define Future Role Meta Description: Stay informed on the latest discussions and decisions at the WHA, from funding boosts to key appointments, for a glimpse into the future of global health policy. URL: https://financedigest.com/explainer-what-is-on-and-off-the-agenda-of-the-who-assemblyhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-05-20t063425z1lynxnpei4j06ertroptp4health-coronavirus-who-review-1736815704599-compressed.jpg) By Emma Farge and Jennifer Rigby GENEVA (Reuters) – More than 100 world health ministers will meet in Geneva next week for the World Health Organization’s first in-person assembly in three years as the U.N. agency seeks to define its [future role](https://www.financedigest.com/negotiating-our-future-youth-set-to-grab-power-roles-at-cop27.html "‘Negotiating our future’: Youth set to grab power roles at COP27") in global health policy. The agenda of the World Health Assembly (WHA) is the most [packed in the WHO’s 75-year history and is seen as an historic opportunity to move](https://www.financedigest.com/tips-for-moving-office-how-to-use-packing-boxes-efficiently.html "Tips for Moving Office: How to Use Packing Boxes Efficiently") on from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to 15 million deaths, and prepare for the next global outbreak. \[L5N2X96B0\] However, many of the most pressing topics, such as reforms of the rules around disease outbreaks, will be postponed for later or discussed only in the corridors. Here’s a summary of what will and won’t be discussed: ON THE AGENDA…. WHO [FUNDING BOOST](https://www.financedigest.com/boosting-business-growth-with-pension-funds.html "Boosting business growth with pension funds") Donors agreed a ‘pivotal’ [deal last month to gradually raise their mandatory contributions to the WHO budget to reach](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-g7-fails-to-reach-intervention-deal-to-ease-pain-of-soaring-dollar.html "Analysis-G7 fails to reach intervention deal to ease pain of soaring dollar") 50% of the budget by 2028-2029 or 2030-31. In return, the WHO [agreed to study their reform proposals](https://www.financedigest.com/german-gas-commission-agrees-proposals-to-ease-impact-of-soaring-prices.html "German gas commission agrees proposals to ease impact of soaring prices"). Currently, their set fees represent just a fraction (16%) of the WHO’s total budget, which means it cannot fund some [programmes since the money](https://www.financedigest.com/fidor-partners-with-token-in-programmable-money-digital-payments.html "Fidor partners with Token in Programmable Money & Digital Payments") is earmarked for donors’ pet projects. The assembly is [expected to approve the deal](https://www.financedigest.com/u-n-expects-ukraine-russia-grain-deal-to-be-implemented-in-a-few-weeks-officials.html "U.N. expects Ukraine-Russia grain deal to be implemented in a few weeks -officials") on Tuesday. RE-ELECTION OF TEDROS WHO’s Ethiopian Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is all but certain to be re-elected via a secret ballot on Tuesday, having [overcome criticism from his own government](https://www.financedigest.com/5-challenges-to-overcome-in-governance-risk-and-compliance-magazine.html "5 Challenges to Overcome in Governance, Risk and Compliance-Magazine") and a crisis last year following sexual abuse reports against WHO staff in Congo. During the assembly, Tedros is also [set to renew the global health agency’s main “triple billion” goals](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-sets-5g-goal-says-no-magic-number-of-operators.html "Britain sets 5G goal, says no ‘magic number’ of operators") that aim to boost universal health coverage, improve health and well-being and protect people better in health emergencies. UKRAINE The WHO’s [Europe region passed a resolution against Russia this month and asked Tedros to prepare a report on Ukraine’s health emergency](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-europe-ready-for-baltics-emergency-switch-off-from-russian-grid.html "Exclusive: Europe ready for Baltics emergency switch-off from Russian grid"). Members are also preparing a resolution to be submitted to the assembly, although diplomats [say it will stop short of suspending Russia’s voting](https://www.financedigest.com/us-says-russia-plans-fake-independence-votes-in-seized-ukraine-territory.html "US says Russia plans fake independence votes in seized Ukraine territory") rights, as some initially sought. IHR REFORMS Reforms to the legally-binding [rules that govern](https://www.financedigest.com/italys-rightist-government-tightens-rules-for-migrant-rescues.html "Italy’s rightist government tightens rules for migrant rescues") countries’ obligations on public health emergencies, the International Health Regulations (IHR), will be raised. However, the focus will be on a U.S.-led effort to expedite the [application of future](https://www.financedigest.com/predisposition-biomarkers-market-future-trends-segmentation-strategies-to-boost-growth-applications-with-covid-19-impact-till-2028.html "Predisposition Biomarkers Market Future Trends, Segmentation, Strategies to Boost Growth, Applications with Covid-19 Impact till 2028") reforms from 24 months to 12 months, WHO principal legal officer Steve Solomon said. Negotiations on other proposed changes will take place later amid initial opposition from some members, diplomats said. OFF THE AGENDA…. COVID ORIGINS The WHO tasked a scientific advisory panel with [probing the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus after a preliminary investigation into early COVID-19 cases](https://www.financedigest.com/italy-probes-meta-over-abuse-of-position-in-music-rights-case.html "Italy probes Meta over abuse of position in music rights case") in China last year left some questions unanswered. A WHO spokesperson said the [panel’s report](https://www.financedigest.com/sales-forecast-of-aerospace-floor-panel-market-analysis-and-forecast-report-till-2031.html "Sales Forecast of Aerospace Floor Panel Market , Analysis, and Forecast Report till 2031") was expected soon but would not be released as part of the assembly. REFORM OF RULES Most of the IHR reform negotiations will take place in the two [years following the meeting](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-slides-from-multi-year-highs-after-opec-cancels-meeting.html "Oil slides from multi-year highs after OPEC cancels meeting"), diplomats say. These include sensitive items proposed by Washington like the deployment of expert teams to outbreak sites and a new [compliance committee to monitor implementation](https://www.financedigest.com/12-steps-to-implementing-off-payroll-ir35-compliance.html "12 steps to implementing Off-Payroll (IR35) compliance") of the rules, a WHO document showed. Russia has also submitted reforms, [diplomats say](https://www.financedigest.com/mooted-u-s-expulsion-of-russian-diplomats-would-mean-u-s-embassy-closure-says-moscow.html "Mooted U.S. expulsion of Russian diplomats would mean U.S. embassy closure, says Moscow"). PANDEMIC TREATY The IHR are widely seen as insufficient for [dealing with a global pandemic and Tedros is seeking](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-seeks-deal-on-law-preventing-import-of-deforestation-linked-goods.html "EU seeks deal on law preventing import of deforestation-linked goods") a new pandemic treaty. Proposals for the new pact might include [rules on vaccine-sharing and a proposed ban](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-abortion-ruling-ignites-legal-battles-over-state-bans.html "U.S. abortion ruling ignites legal battles over state bans") on wildlife markets. Negotiations are [set to continue](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-europes-travel-disruption-set-to-continue-as-summer-ends.html "Factbox-Europe’s travel disruption set to continue as summer ends") in June and a final treaty, whose legal status is yet to be determined, would not be ready until 2024. PANDEMIC FUND The G20 has agreed to set up a multi-billion [dollar global](https://www.financedigest.com/dollar-jumps-u-s-stocks-buck-global-rally.html "Dollar jumps, U.S. stocks buck global rally") fund for pandemic preparedness that will be set up outside of the WHO, probably at the World Bank. WHO’s role in the fund is still being decided and it is not on the agenda for the assembly. (Reporting by Emma Farge in Geneva and Jennifer Rigby in London; additional reporting by Alistair Smout in London; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---