ISLAMABAD: After losing the elections for the post of World Health Organisation director general, Pakistan has been elected chair of the WHO Executive Board.

The board is considered the highest global policy forum on health, and comprises 34 individuals from member countries. Elections for the post were held in Geneva, and Pakistan’s Director General Health Dr Assad Hafeez formally assumed the office of chairman of the Executive Board after the announcement was made.

“The Executive Board is the apex policymaking forum of the WHO, which guides the work of the organisation. All decisions and resolutions which are taken up by the WHO are deliberated in detail and approved at this forum,” Dr Hafeez told Dawn over the phone from Geneva.

Appointment serves as recognition of Pakistan’s important role in global health arena, NHS minister says

He said that as the chair, an office with substantial responsibility according to the WHO’s constitution, he will provide Pakistan with a position of influence in global health issues and will help build a positive image of the country at global forums such as the WHO.

“The selection was a two-tiered process, first among Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries, and then in Geneva in the global forum. The success in this effort was made possible by support [from the] Ministry of National Health Services and other stakeholders,” he said.

The WHO’s Executive Board meets at least twice a year. An annual board meeting is held in January, in which member countries agree on an agenda for the World Health Assembly and the resolutions are considered by the assembly with a shorter meeting in May, immediately after the health assembly.

The board functions mainly to advise and facilitate the World Health Assembly and give effect to the decisions and policies of the assembly.

According to an official statement issued by the National Health Services (NHS) ministry, the Executive Board is composed of 34 individuals technically qualified in the field of health, each one designated by a member state elected to do so by the World Health Assembly.

Member states are elected for three year terms.

NHS Minister Saira Afzal Tarar said the appointment is a great honour for Pakistan and recognition of the important role the country is playing in the global health arena.

She said Pakistan had earlier been chosen as the host of a prestigious regional conference of health ministers being held in October, which will bring together health ministers from 22 countries in South Asia, the Middle East, West Asia and North Africa.

Pakistan has previously served as vice chair of the Executive Board and is on the board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2017