Introduction

The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN)
that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948,
headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the United Nations
Development Group. Its predecessor, the Health Organization, was an agency of
the League of Nations. The constitution of the World Health Organization had been
signed by 61 countries on 22 July 1946, with the first meeting of the World Health
Assembly finishing on 24 July 1948. It incorporated the Office International
d'Hygine Publique and the League of Nations Health Organization. Since its
creation, it has played a leading role in the eradication of smallpox.
Its current priorities include communicable diseases, in
particular HIV/AIDS, Ebola, malaria and tuberculosis; the mitigation of the effects of
non-communicable diseases; sexual and reproductive health, development, and
aging; nutrition, food security and healthy eating; occupational health; substance
abuse; and driving the development of reporting, publications, and networking. The
WHO is responsible for the World Health Report, a leading international publication
on health, the worldwide World Health Survey, and World Health Day (7 April of
every year). The head of WHO is Margaret Chan.
Over the course of its 58 years of operation, the World Health Organisation has made
itself known in every corner of the world.Over 190 countries have joined its ranks by
placing their signatures under its Constitution, which states: attaining the highest
possible level of health is a basic right of every human being, regardless of race,
religion, political convictions, economic and social status.

History
In the aftermath of World War II, conversations at the United Nations began to turn to the
need for an organization focused on improving and maintaining world-wide health.
Conversations about starting the organization began in 1945, when the WHO was initially
discussed among United Nations' diplomats.
There were a variety of delays to the World Health Organization starting up, including
waiting on signatures from participating nations or most notably, the beginning of the Cold
War. Despite these delays, the impact of a post-World War II world included extremely high
disease rates and loss of basic resources and infrastructure. These factors ultimately led to the
finalization of The World Health Organization, which was officially formed April 7, 1948, a
day still celebrated each year as World Health Day.

WHO Strategy on Research for Health

Three principles
Quality
WHO commits itself to high-quality research that is ethical, expertly reviewed, efficient,
effective, accessible to all, and carefully monitored and evaluated.

Impact
WHO gives priority to research and innovation that has the greatest potential to improve
global health security, accelerate health-related development, redress health inequities and
help to attain the Millennium Development Goals.

Inclusiveness
The Secretariat undertakes to work in partnership with Member States and stakeholders, to
take a multisectoral approach to research for health, and to support and promote the
participation of communities and civil society in the research process.

Structure
Membership
All countries which are Members of the United Nations may become members of
WHO by accepting its Constitution. Other countries may be admitted as members
when their application has been approved by a simple majority vote of the World
Health Assembly. Territories which are not responsible for the conduct of their
international relations may be admitted as Associate Members upon application made
on their behalf by the Member or other authority responsible for their international
relations. Members of WHO are grouped according to regional distribution (194
Member States).

World Health Assembly

All WHO members are represented in the World Health Assembly. Each member has one
vote but may send three delegates. According to the WHO constitution, the delegates are to
be chosen for their technical competence and preferably should represent national health
administrations. Delegations may include alternates and advisers. The assembly meets
annually, usually in May, for approximately three weeks. Most assemblies have been held at
WHO headquarters in Geneva. A president is elected by each assembly.

The World Health Assembly determines the policies of the organization and deals with
budgetary, administrative, and similar questions. By a two-thirds vote, the assembly may
adopt conventions or agreements. While these are not binding on member governments until
accepted by them, WHO members have to "take action" leading to their acceptance within 18
months. Thus, each member government, even if its delegation voted against a convention in
the assembly, must act. For example, it must submit the convention to its legislature for
ratification. It must then notify WHO of the action taken. If the action is unsuccessful, it
must notify WHO of the reasons for non acceptance.
In addition, the assembly has quasi-legislative powers to adopt regulations on important
technical matters specified in the WHO constitution. Once such a regulation is adopted by
the assembly, it applies to all WHO member countries (including those whose delegates
voted against it) except those whose governments specifically notify WHO that they reject
the regulation or accept it only with certain reservations.
WHO is empowered to introduce uniform technical regulations on the following matters:

sanitary and quarantine requirements and other procedures designed to prevent international
epidemics;
nomenclature with respect to disease, causes of death, and public health practices;
standards with respect to diagnostic procedures for international use;
standards with respect to safety, purity, and potency of biological, pharmaceutical, and similar
products in international commerce; and
advertising and labeling of biological, pharmaceutical, and similar products in international
commerce.

The assembly, at its first session in 1948, adopted World Health Regulation No.
1, Nomenclature with Respect to Diseases and Causes of Death. This regulation guides
member countries in compiling statistics on disease and death and, by providing for a
standardized nomenclature, facilitates their comparison. World Health Regulation No. 2 deals
with quarantinable diseases.
Each year, the assembly doubles as a scientific conference on a specific topic of worldwide
health interest, selected in advance. These technical discussions are held in addition to other
business. They enable the delegates, who as a rule are top-ranking public health experts, to
discuss common problems more thoroughly than formal committee debates would permit.
Governments are asked to contribute special working papers and studies to these discussions
and, if practicable, to send experts on the matters to be discussed with their delegations.

Executive Board
The World Health Assembly may elect any 32 member countries (the only rule being
equitable geographical distribution) for three-year terms, and each of the countries elected
designates one person "technically qualified in the field of health" to the WHO Executive
Board. The countries are elected by rotation, one-third of the membership being replaced
every year, and may succeed themselves. Board members serve as individuals and not as
representatives of their governments.
The Executive Board meets twice a year, for sessions of a few days to several weeks, but it
may convene a special meeting at any time. One of its important functions is to prepare the

agenda of the World Health Assembly. The WHO constitution authorizes the board "to take
emergency measures within the functions and financial resources of the Organization to deal
with events requiring immediate action. In particular, it may authorize the director-general to
take the necessary steps to combat epidemics and to participate in the organization of health
relief to victims of a calamity."

Secretariat
The Secretariat of the Organization is staffed by approximately 8000 experts as well
as a support staff that works on fixed-term appointments.

Regional offices
The regional divisions of WHO were created between 1949 and 1952, and are based on
article 44 of WHO's constitution, which allowed the WHO to "establish a [single] regional
organization to meet the special needs of [each defined] area". Many decisions are made at
regional level, including important discussions over WHO's budget, and in deciding the
members of the next assembly, which are designated by the regions.
Each region has a Regional Committee, which generally meets once a year, normally in the
autumn. Representatives attend from each member or associative member in each region,
including those states that are not fully recognised. For example, Palestineattends meetings
of the Eastern Mediterranean Regional office. Each region also has a regional
office. Each Regional Office is headed by a Regional Director, who is elected by the
Regional Committee. The Board must approve such appointments, although as of 2004, it
had never overruled the preference of a regional committee. The exact role of the board in
the process has been a subject of debate, but the practical effect has always been small. Since
1999, Regional Directors serve for a once-renewable five-year term.
Each Regional Committee of the WHO consists of all the Health Department heads, in all the
governments of the countries that constitute the Region. Aside from electing the Regional
Director, the Regional Committee is also in charge of setting the guidelines for the
implementation, within the region, of the health and other policies adopted by the World
Health Assembly. The Regional Committee also serves as a progress review board for the
actions of WHO within the Region.
The Regional Director is effectively the head of WHO for his or her Region. The RD
manages and/or supervises a staff of health and other experts at the regional offices and in
specialized centers. The RD is also the direct supervising authorityconcomitantly with the
WHO Director-Generalof all the heads of WHO country offices, known as WHO
Representatives, within the Region.

Pepole
The head of the organization is the Director-General, elected by the World Health
Assembly. The current Director-General is Margaret Chan, who was first appointed on 9
November 2006 and confirmed for a second term until the end of June 2017. WHO employs
8,500 people in 147 countries. In support of the principle of a tobacco-free work
environment the WHO does not recruit cigarette smokers.

The Global Role of the World Health Organization

The 21st century global health landscape requires effective global action in the
face of globalization of trade, travel, information, human rights, ideas, and
disease. The new global health era is more plural, comprising a number of key
actors, and requiring more coordination of effort, priorities and investments.
The World Health Organization (WHO) plays an essential role in the global
governance of health and disease; due to its core global functions of
establishing, monitoring and enforcing international norms and standards, and
coordinating multiple actors toward common goals. Global health governance
requires WHO leadership and effective implementation of WHOs core global
functions to ensure better effectiveness of all health actors, but achieving this
global mission could be hampered by narrowing activities and budget
reallocations from core global functions.

Objectives of the World Health Organization (WHO):

To create an interface between the developed and developing nations when pertaining to health
issues.

To patronize and support health programs in developing nations.

To periodically formulate health policies that are readily endorsed by

nations.

To coordinate and oversee the procurement of health services.

To immerse in disease inspection and analysis.

To involve itself in promoting health and also to impart health education.

To collaborate with governments and administrations all over the world to endorse health
promotional programs.

Important Functions of the World Health Organisation

(i). providing leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in partnerships
where joint action is needed;
(ii). shaping the research agenda and stimulating the generation, translation and
dissemination of valuable knowledge;
(iii). setting norms and standards and promoting and monitoring their
implementation;articulating ethical and evidence-based policy options;
(iv). providing technical support, catalysing change, and building sustainable
institutional capacity; and
(v). monitoring the health situation and assessing health trends.
The above mentioned core functions are set out in the 11th General Programme of
Work, which provides the framework for organization-wide programme of work,
budget, resources and results. Entitled "Engaging for health", it covers the 10-year
period from 2006 to 2015.
WHO operates in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing landscape. The
boundaries of public health action have become blurred, extending into other sectors
that influence health opportunities and outcomes. WHO responds to these challenges
using a six-point agenda. The six points address two health objectives, two strategic
needs, and two operational approaches. The overall performance of WHO will be
measured by the impact of its work on women's health and health in Africa.

A. Promoting development
During the past decade, health has achieved unprecedented prominence as a key
driver of socioeconomic progress, and more resources than ever are being invested in
health. Yet poverty continues to contribute to poor health, and poor health anchors
large populations in poverty.
Health development is directed by the ethical principle of equity: Access to lifesaving or health-promoting interventions should not be denied for unfair reasons,
including those with economic or social roots. Commitment to this principle ensures
that WHO activities aimed at health development give priority to health outcomes in
poor, disadvantaged or vulnerable groups. Attainment of the health-related

Millennium Development Goals, preventing and treating chronic diseases and

addressing the neglected tropical diseases are the cornerstones of the health and
development agenda of the World Health Organisation.

B. Fostering health security

Shared vulnerability to health security threats demands collective action. One of the
greatest threats to international health security arises from outbreaks of emerging and
epidemic-prone diseases. Such outbreaks are occurring in increasing numbers,
fuelled by such factors as rapid urbanization, environmental mismanagement, the
way food is produced and traded, and the way antibiotics are used and misused. The
world's ability to defend itself collectively against outbreaks has been strengthened
since June 2007, when the revised International Health Regulations came into force.

C. Strengthening health systems

For health improvement to operate as a poverty-reduction strategy, health services
must reach poor and underserved populations. Health systems in many parts of the
world are unable to do so, making the strengthening of health systems a high priority
for WHO. Areas being addressed include the provision of adequate numbers of
appropriately trained staff, sufficient financing, suitable systems for collecting vital
statistics, and access to appropriate technology including essential drugs.

D. Harnessing research, information and evidence

Evidence provides the foundation for setting priorities, defining strategies, and
measuring results. WHO generates authoritative health information, in consultation
with leading experts, to set norms and standards, articulate evidence-based policy
options and monitor the evolving global heath situation.

E. Enhancing partnerships
WHO carries out its work with the support and collaboration of many partners,
including UN agencies and other international organizations, donors, civil society
and the private sector. WHO uses the strategic power of evidence to encourage
partners implementing programmes within countries to align their activities with best
technical guidelines and practices, as well as with the priorities established by
countries.

F. Improving performance\

WHO participates in ongoing reforms aimed at improving its efficiency and

effectiveness, both at the international level and within countries. WHO aims to
ensure that its strongest asset - its staff - works in an environment that is motivating
and rewarding. WHO plans its budget and activities through results-based
management, with clear expected results to measure performance at country, regional
and international levels.

Conclusion

The discussion of WHOs evolution and efforts to reform it covers a very wide range
of topics concerning governance, structure, policies, priorities, financing and
management. The intention was to provide background and historical perspective
relevant to current discussions of WHO reform. As described above, the current
reform process within WHO is in many ways admirably comprehensive but for
understandable reasons there are various potential avenues for reform that are not
fully addressed. The current process does not ask fundamental questions about
WHOs place in the international system for health as it has now evolved, nor
whether WHOs governance, management and financing structures need more
fundamental change than is currently envisaged. It is therefore unclear whether the
latest reform efforts will be sufficient to enable the organization to fulfil its potential.
Clearly, the world's health challenges cannot be met by one organisation alone.
WHO's vision of global health, based on equity and solidarity, calls for building new
partnerships of international agencies, donors, ministries, nongovernmental
organisations, academic institutions, private initiatives across sectors such as travel
and communications, communities, and citizens