WHO's governing bodies: the World Health Assembly and a 34-member Executive Board

Background

Governance of WHO takes place through the World Health Assembly, which is the supreme decision-making body, and the Executive Board, which gives effect to the decisions and policies of the Health Assembly. The World Health Assembly is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and works on a health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. Its main functions are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget. The Executive Board is composed of 34 technically qualified members elected for three-year terms. The annual Board meeting is held in January/February, when the members agree upon the agenda for the World Health Assembly and the resolutions to be considered by it. The Director-General is appointed by the Health Assembly on the nomination of the Executive Board, and is the chief technical and administrative officer of the Organization. The Constitution of WHO was adopted by the International Health Conference held in New York 1946 and entered into force on 7 April 1948. Regional Committees meet separately for Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific.