HEALTH: Fresh Approach, New Focus for WHO

By Gustavo Capdevila Reprint | | Print |

Gustavo Capdevila

GENEVA, Jan 16 1997 (IPS) - In a change of focus underlined here this week at its annual executive council meeting, the World Health Organisation (WHO) plans to take account the social and poltiical cost of illnesses in determining priorities of its policies.

That represents a shift from the existing practice of calculating mainly the economic weight of illnesses and disabilities, the WHO executive council session which continues here until Jan. 22 was told.

Responsible for authorising an ordinary budget worth 845.5 million dollars for the 1998-1999 period, the council agreed to adopt new approaches taking into account the enormous social and political cost of illnesses and suffering and inequality in access to medical care and development.

New methods of evaluation being proposed include evaluating the causes of social disintegration, political instability and violence, WHO director-general, Hiroshi Nakajima told the inauguration of the annual council meeting.

Some of these phenomena “which constitute a serious source of concern to the WHO” will be analysed in recommendations presented to the World Health Assembly later this year.

With the proposed innovation, WHO is reinforcing a reform process which started in the organisation in 1993 and has involved reductions in budget and personnel and the concentration of resources in new areas.

Recently WHO has begun concentrating its activities on infectious diseases, reproductive health, environment, nutrition, vaccination, essential medicines, health systems, disabilities, non- transmissible diseases, mental health and drug addiction.

Nakajima said he found encouraging the first results of the rationalisation programme and cited the example of tuberculosis which was declared a worldwide emergency in 1993.

Epidemics have shown signs of stabilisation, at least in certain parts of the world. In more than 70 countries a simple effective strategy is used against tuberculosis: short-term treatment under observation.

The WTO HAS also obtained considerable political and public support for programmes to eradicate polio and leprosy, Chagas disease, neonatal tetanus, the main types of malnutrition and other diseases.

Africa embarked on a widespread campaign to extend vaccination coverage in 1996, to come closer to the aim of eradicating polio across the continent.

WHO and other institutions launched an African initiative against menigitis to reinforce prevention and improve monitoring and medical care.

The reform process introduced by the WHO included the creation of the Emerging Illnesses and other Transmissible Diseases Division. The new body responded efficiently to the new public health problems like the outbreaks of the Ebola virus and transmissible spongiform ecephalopathy, according to the WHO.

WHO contributions in Africa included an evaluation of the serious health problems caused by the new tendencies in drug-addiction on this continent.

As proof of the liberalisation of the organisation, Nakajima mentioned the WHO dialogue and cooperation with the Organisation of African Unity, the European Union, Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market) nations in Latin America, the Community of Independent States and the Non-Aligned countries.

The WHO has also participated in studies on the impact of globalisation of trade and technology on the health sector promoted by the Group of 77 countries and a UNCTAD commission.

The study looked into the problems and opportunities presented in areas like telemedicine, purchase of pharmaceutical products, regulation mechanisms and traditional medicine.

The budget presented by Nakajima shows a two percent increase in spending. An initial survey of representatives of the 32 member nations which sit on the executive council showed the increase had been supported by some delegates, but opposed by the United States.

The WHO finances improved in 1996 due to an increase in the collection rate. Seventy-eight percent of funds promised this year were actually collected compared to only 56 percent in 1995.

Of a total of 192 WHO member states, only 102 had paid all they owed by Dec. 31. Another 27 only went partway towards covering their debts and the remaining 63 paid nothing.

The overdue contributors include the United States, which currently owes 39 million dollars.