The World Health Assembly decides WHO policy and an Executive Board of 34 prepares its agenda

Background

The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO. It is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. WHO lists the main functions of the World Health Assembly as being to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget. The Health Assembly is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland. The Executive Board is composed of 34 technically qualified members elected for three-year terms. At its main yearly meeting the members agree upon the agenda for the World Health Assembly and the resolutions to be considered by the Health Assembly, and a second shorter meeting takes place in May-June, as a follow-up to the Health Assembly. The main functions of the Board are to implement the decisions and policies of the Health Assembly, and advise and generally to facilitate its work.