Highlights on NCDs at the 69th World Health Assembly
01st June 2016
© Lucy Westerman / NCDA: Side event at the 69th WHA "Accelerating National Progress on Tackling Child Obesity and Child Undernutrition"
On Saturday 28 May the 69th World Health Assembly (WHA) closed having adopted a variety of NCD-related resolutions and announcing the adoption of the WHO Framework for Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA). Currently ongoing is the 139th session of the WHO Executive Board which yesterday adopted a decision requesting the WHO Director-General to develop a Global Action Plan on Dementia.
NCD Alliance followed the official WHA discussions on the ground and was recognised among the Top 10 Influencers of the WHA on Twitter.
For a summary of NCD-related decisions and to access our WHA statements, please click here
11.3 Framework of engagement with non-State actors
After four years of negotiations the adoption of the Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA), meant to manage relationships between WHO and non-state actors, such as non-governmental organisations, private sector entities, academia and philanthropic organisations, was hailed as historic by many countries. It however met a mixed reaction from those primarily concerned, as many non-state actors voiced concerns on the ability of the framework to deliver results and to protect the organisation from undue influence and conflicts of interest.
The adopted resolution requests the Director-General to immediately begin implementation of FENSA with a view to achieving full implementation at all levels of the organisation within the next two years, and to expedite the establishment of a register of non-state actors in time for the 70th WHA.
A guide to staff will be developed to clarify the details of FENSA application, in particular measures pertaining to policies on conflict of interest. A review of the implementation of the framework and its impact on WHO’s work will be conducted in 2019. The results should be submitted together with any proposals for revision at the Executive Board in January 2020.
12. 1 Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition
After weeklong negotiations Member States failed to endorse the new WHO Guidance on Ending the Inappropriate Promotion of Foods to Infants and Young Children, merely welcoming the Guidance “with appreciation” after several countries including the US, EU and New Zealand opposed endorsement of the Guidance under heavy lobbying from industry.
Importantly however the consensus resolution urges Member States to take all necessary measures to implement the Guidance’s recommendations, calls on manufacturers to end all forms of inappropriate promotion and mandates WHO to report on implementation in 2018 and 2020. The resolution furthermore calls on civil society to use the Guidance to advocate and monitor for government action to protect healthy diets for infants and young children.
The Assembly also adopted a resolution responding to the proclamation of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition 2016-2025, urging Member States to develop comprehensive nutrition strategies to respond to all forms of malnutrition including NCDs, set national targets and to make SMART political and financial commitments toward implementation of the Framework for Action of the 2nd International Conference on Nutrition. More on SMART commitments for NCDs, Overweight & Obesity can be found here.
12.2 Report of the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity
A resolution welcomed the report and recommended that Member States develop national responses at the country level based on its recommendations. Importantly, it tasks the WHO Director-General with the development of an implementation plan for consideration by the 70th World Health Assembly.
12.4 Preparations for the third UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs in 2018
The Assembly adopted Resolution EB138.R4 with amendments proposed by the United States and Monaco to note the reports of the GCM/NCD Working Groups on Financing and the Private Sector. The resolution urges countries to implement national, time-bound commitments in preparation for the 2018 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and notes the processes to update GAP Appendix 3 and to develop an approach to register and publish contributions of non-State actors to the achievement of the nine voluntary global targets.
Member States interventions highlighted in particular the need to tackle NCD risk factors, including highlighting regulatory measures, and better address social determinants, and called for prioritisation of strengthening countries’ capacity for NCD monitoring and surveillance.
The Member States of the African region, Sri Lanka and Thailand furthermore called on the WHO Director-General to consider the development of a Framework Convention on Alcohol.
The Secretariat also used the opportunity to promote the 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion (Shanghai, 21-24 November 2016) co-organised by WHO the People's Republic of China.
12.5 Strengthening synergies between the WHA and the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC
After taking this item to a drafting group Member States adopted resolution A69/11 deciding that the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC (FCTC COP) may consider the provision of a report for information to the WHA on the outcomes of the FCTC COP. The FCTC COP may also consider inviting the WHA to provide a report to the FCTC COP on resolutions and decisions of the WHA relevant to tobacco.
13.2 Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Member States adopted two resolutions: EB138.R5 aims to strengthen essential public health functions in support of achievement of UHC and A69/A/CONF./10 Rev.1 requests the WHO Director General to take a “proactive role in supporting integrated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” and to “develop a long-term plan for maximising the impact of the contributions of WHO”.
13.3 Operational plan to take forward the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health
The Assembly adopted a resolution on the new Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health which includes several NCD-related goals and targets. The resolution invites Member States to commit to the implementation of the Global Strategy and requests the WHO Director-General to provide adequate technical support in order to update and implement national plans, and to regularly report on progress through the Executive Board.
13.5 Health and the environment: draft road map for an enhanced global response to the adverse health effects of air pollution
Member States adopted a decision which welcomed the draft road map for an enhanced global response to the adverse health effects of air pollution. Several amendments were made to the decision, for paragraph 1 to begin with “to welcome” instead of “to endorse” the road map and paragraph 2 for updates on progress to be submitted to the 71st and 73rd World Health Assemblies. The roadmap focuses on four areas; expanding the knowledge base; monitoring and reporting; global leadership and coordination; and institutional capacity strengthening.
13.6 Role of the health sector in the sound management of chemicals
The Assembly adopted a resolution on the role of the health sector in international chemicals management. By 2020, the objective is that “chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the minimisation of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment”.
Among other actions, Member States requested the Director General to draft a roadmap a road map outlining concrete actions to enhance health sector engagement towards meeting the 2020 goal and contributing to relevant targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to be presented to the 70th World Health Assembly.
16.4 Addressing the global shortages of medicines, and the safety and accessibility of children’s medication
After prolonged negotiations the WHA adopted two resolutions on this matter. The first resolution Promoting innovation and access to quality, safe, efficacious and affordable medicines for children urges Member States to implement appropriate policies and action to increase access to quality, safe, effective and affordable medicines for children. This includes the development of adequate R&D frameworks and high- quality clinical trials to accelerate the development of appropriate medicines for diseases that affect children.
The resolution also stresses the importance of transparent and evidence-based processes for the designing and updating of national essential medicines list for children, based on each country’s health needs and priorities and building upon WHO Model list of Essential Medicines.
The second resolution, renamed Addressing the global problem of medicines and vaccines shortages was adopted after several amendments. The resolution acknowledges the multiple factors affecting medicine shortages and stock outs at the point of care, which include problems with the manufacture of the medicine, regulatory processes, challenges with the procurement of medicines, selective marketing strategies and problems in the supply chain.
It urges Member States to adopt responsive regulatory frameworks, with effective notification systems, and consider comprehensive measures to address the different obstacles affecting the price of medicines and vaccines.
A report on progress and outcome of the implementation of these two resolutions will be presented to the 70th World Health Assembly.
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