By Gom Mirian
Member States of the Assembly, on Monday, approved the draft resolution with the suggested work schedule for the upcoming two years (2024-2025) following deliberations in Committee A.
The members who took the decision at the ongoing 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva also decided that the Programme’s budget, which is the most ambitious to date at US$ 6.83 billion and includes a record 20 per cent increase of assessed contributions (or membership fees), would be funded.
Nearly forty Member States spoke, and decisions taken during the week in the Committees, are subject to a final procedural step of approval by the plenary at the end of the Assembly.
The WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “The budget is allocated around the following strategic priorities: One billion more people benefiting from universal health coverage, US$ 1966.4 million; One billion more people better protected from health emergencies, US$ 1214.0 million; One billion more people enjoying better health and well-being, US$ 437.7 million; More effective and efficient WHO support to countries, US$ 1350.0 million; This makes a total of US$ 4968.2 million for the base programmes, which remains unchanged with respect the Programme budget 2022–2023.
“In addition, the approved budget includes Polio eradication (US$ 694.3 million), special programmes (US$ 171.7 million) totalling US$ 866.0 million; Emergency operations and appeals (US$ 1000 million).
“With the increased assessed contributions, Member States will contribute US$ 1148.3 million towards this budget with their membership fees. The rest, US$ 5 685.8 million will be covered by voluntary contributions made by Member States and other contributors.”
