Key advancement: Pakistan elected chair of WHO Executive Board

DG Health Dr Assad Hafeez has formally taken office as chairman of WHO executive board

ISLAMABAD: In a major development, Dr Assad Hafeez of Pakistan has been elected chairman of the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Comprising 34 member countries, the Executive Board elected Pakistan as its chair during its 141^st session held on June 1 in Geneva where Dr Hafeez, Director General Health in Pakistan, formally assumed the office as chairman of the board.

The election was a two-tier process. The first phase was held at the regional level and the second at the global level. Pakistan was first elected by a group of 22 countries, comprising the Eastern Mediterranean Region, and later by the Executive Board comprising 34 countries.

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.



“The position will provide Pakistan more influence in the field of global health diplomacy and health issues giving the country more visibility in the league of nations of 194 countries,” said Dr Hafeez, adding that it would also help build a positive image of the country at global forums like WHO.

Congratulating the nation on the development, Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar said it was indeed a great honour for Pakistan and recognition of the important role the country was playing in the global health arena.

“Pakistan will host the prestigious regional conference of health ministers in October 2017 in which health ministers from 22 countries in South Asia, the Middle East, West Asia and North Africa will participate,” she said.

The minister said that Pakistan had previously served as vice chair of the Executive Board and is also a member of the board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation.

The WHO Executive Board meets at least twice a year -- the annual board meeting is held in January when the member countries agree upon the agenda for the World Health Assembly; and the resolutions are considered by the health assembly with a second shorter meeting in May, immediately after the health assembly.

The main functions of the Executive Board are to advise and facilitate the World Health Assembly and to give effect to the decisions and policies of the health assembly, comprising 194 member countries.