UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES

UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES

i W O R L D H E A L T H ORGANISATION MONDIALE O R G A N I Z A T I O N DE LA SANTÉ

FIRST WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY A/22

— — - - 29 June 1948 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

12.1 Programme.

(Qff.Rec. W H O , 10,- page 3)

12.2.8 Proposals regarding Budget for 1949 (Qff.Rec. WHO, 10, page 43)

PAPER SUBMITTED BY THE DELEGATION OF THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA

1 . General Remarks

The excellent work of the. Interim Commission and the.sound nature of many of its recommendations are acknowledged.

However, in the planning of the permanent organization now being undertaken, certain tendencies in the work and recommendations of the interim Comnission are to be criticized insofar, as they

concern the programme and consequent administrative and financial arrangements. The following criticisms are made with full appreciation of the difficulties which arise from the vast number of urgent appeals being made to W H O . Nevertheless, unless

there is prudent and discriminatory planning, WHO will be swamped.

2. Criticisms

The criticisms are as follows :

(a) A budget of 6 million dollars for the first effective year of WHO is considered excessive.

(b) Even if a budget of 6 million dollars were accepted, the recommendations made under-programme (12,1).and as reflected in the corresponding bucfget 1949 proposals (12.2.8) indicate -

(i) a too-elaborate initial organization.

(ii) an excessive initial subdivision of activities and consequent premature specialization.

(iii) a lack of co-ordination, and even suggestions of duplication in budget proposals, expert

committees-and secretariat divisions,

(iv) a'too-elaborate organization for the. implementation of the fellowship programme.

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(v) ait excessive list of individual diseases and conditions for consideration.

3. The following proposals are,, therefore, submitted primarily for consideration by the Conmittee on Programme (12.1), but

subsequently by the Comnittee on Administration and Finance (12.2) (a) The organization, and the programme to be undertaken by it, shall be planned on the basis ©f a maxiraüm budget for 1949 of 5 million dollars. .

(b) Accepting the main items of the recommendations for the Programme as submitted by the Interim Commission, viz.

Malaria, tuberculosis and venereal diseases Maternal and child health

International standards and pharmacopoeia Epidemiological and statistical services Educational Services

Fellowship programme ,

Certain miscellaneous items,

the Organization shall be initially based on the.following broad subdivisions of the Secretariat : -

(i) Director-General and Administrative Services to include organizational meetings, conference and

general services legal services fellowships

budget and management and internal audit, personnel

• • technical liaison unit {Ref, 12.2,8.2)

(ii) Division of Communicable and Endemic Diseases to include malaria, tuberculosis, venereal

diseases, special endemic diseases, virus diseases.

(Ref. 12.1 and: 12,2.8,2)

It is accepted that such conditions as malaria, tuberculosis, and venereal diseases shall receive priority arid special att.r- '

(iii) Division of Maternal, and Child Health and Nutrition It,is to be noted that .nutrition is included here.

This is considered only a temporary arrangement until such time as this important subject can be given divisional status. (Ref.

12.2.8.24 and item from 12.2,8,2.6)

(iv) Division of International Standards and Pharmacopoeia (Rof. 12^с2о8а2.Й and 9> and corresponding 12Д)

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(Rcf, 12, 2.3,2 , 10 and 11 and 12, and

corresponding 12.1)

(vi) Division of Educational Services

to include publications, editorial services, health education, library and reference services, and medical literature.

(Ref. 12.2.8,2.13 and 14, 15, 16 and part of 12,2.8,2.7 and corresponding items of 12.1) (vii) Division of General Health and Medical Services

to include such items as listed in 12.2.8,2.6 and corresponding items of 12.1. Any new technical services not suitable for other divisions shall be undertaken initially» by this division.

(c) Consequent upon this simplified grouping of functions and administrative arrangements, the budget proposals for 1949 shall be appropriately adjusted in detail.

(d) It is further recommended that the list of secondary subjects given under "12.1.7 Other Activities" of the Committee on

i

Programme shall be referred to the Executive. Board for further examination and report.