India to assume Presidency of the 68th World Health Assembly

India is set to assume the presidency of the 68th World Health Assembly to be held in Geneva starting May 18 with Health Minister JP Nadda to chair the meeting.

• India is assuming the presidency of the WHA, the high decision making body of the World Health organisation (WHO), after a gap of 19 years.
• When : May 18 to 27.
• Where : Geneva
• The Minister will host a reception for Health Ministers attending the Assembly on May 19.
• Nadda and Margaret Chan, Director-General, WHO, will jointly inaugurate a photo exhibition “Yoga for All, Yoga for Health” to mark the adoption of a resolution by the UN General Assembly declaring June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

Nadda will also participate in a number of bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the WHA including,

• Commonwealth Health Ministers’ Meeting,
• 8th NAM Health Ministers’ Meeting and
• BRICS Health Ministers’ meeting.

Agenda of 68th Session of the World Health Assembly :

Assembly is expected to deliberate on key issues of global interest, including

• Anti-microbial resistance,
• Air pollution and health,
• Global health emergency,
• Preparedness and surveillance,
• Global strategy and plan of action on public health,
• Innovation and intellectual property, and
• Research and development in neglected tropical diseases.

About WHO Health Assembly :

• Top decision-making body of the World Health Organisation
• It is the world’s highest health policy setting body.
• It is composed of health ministers from member states.
• The members of the World Health Assembly generally meet every year in May in Geneva.
• The main tasks of the WHA are to decide major policy questions, as well as to approve the WHO work programme and budget.
• It elects the Director General of WHO.
• The first assembly held in 1948.
• The WHA has 194 member states.

About WHO :

• Specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that is concerned with international public health.
• Founded : 1948
• Headquarters : Geneva
• The WHO is responsible for the World Health Report, a leading international publication on health.
• The head of WHO : Margaret Chan.
• World Health Day : 7 April of every year.