The WHO is the only international organization that has universal political legitimacy on global health issues

German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed delegates on the first morning of the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly, Tuesday, the 19th of May. "The WHO is the only international organization that has universal political legitimacy on global health issues," she said.

Chancellor Merkel called for a new plan to deal with "catastrophes" like the recent outbreak of Ebola that wreaked havoc in Africa. The outbreak highlighted the critical need for urgent, collaborative action in emergencies, and the importance of having efficient structures in place to ensure timely and accurate responses to healthcare crises. Chancellor Merkel paid tribute to all those working to safeguard human health worldwide, urging them to "work together".

She pledged that under Germany's presidency, the G7 would focus on fighting antimicrobial resistance and neglected tropical diseases. She emphasized the need for all countries to have strong health systems and highlighted the key role of health in sustainable development.

NEW PROGRAMME FOR HEALTH EMERGENCIES

In the afternoon, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan outlined her plans to create a single new WHO programme for health emergencies, uniting outbreak and emergency resources across the 3 levels of the Organization. "I have heard what the world expects from WHO," said Dr Chan. "And we will deliver."

The new programme will be accountable to the Director-General, and will have its own business rules and operational platforms. It will have clear performance metrics, built on partnerships with other responders. It will set up a new global health emergency workforce, as well as strengthening its own core and surge capacity of trained emergency response staff. The Organization is calling for a new USD100 million contingency fund. The Director-General plans to complete these changes by the end of the year.

source: http://www.neurope.eu/article