The WHO consists of three principal organs: (i) the World Health Assembly, (ii) the Executive Board and (iii) the Secretariat.
(1) The world Health Assembly: This is the “Health Parliament” of nations and the supreme governing body of the organization. It meets annually, generally in the month of May, and generally at the headquarters in Geneva. But from time to time it meets in other countries. The 14th World Health Assembly met in New Delhi in 1961 for example. The Assembly is composed of delegates who represent Member States; each member state has one vote. The main functions of the health Assembly are: (i) To determine international health policy and programme. (ii) To review the work of the past year. (iii) to approve the budget needed for the following year and (iv) to elect Member States to designate a person to serve for three years on the Executive Board and to replace the retiring members. The Health Assembly also appoints the Director General on the recommendation of the Executive Board. It is now the practice to organize on the occasion of each Health Assembly, “technical discussions” on some subjects of world interest.
(2) The Executive Board:
The Board at present has 31 members. The Health Assembly (1976) increased the membership from 30 to 31, to provide no fewer than 3 (three) members of the Board who are “technically qualified in the field of health “. They are designated by, but do not represent their governments. One third of the membership is renewed every year. The Executive Board meets at least twice a year in January and shortly after the meeting of the World Health Assembly in May. The main work of the Board is to give effect to the decisions and policies of the Assembly. The Board also has power to take action itself in an emergency, such as epidemics, earth-quakes and floods where immediate action is needed.
(3) The secretariat:
The secretariat is headed by the Director General who is the chief technical and administrative officer of the Organization. The primary function of the WHO secretariat is to provide Member States with technical managerial support for their national health policies. While in 1948, WHO staff counted 250 persons, but at present the staffs count of WHO is more than 5,000. At WHO headquarters in Geneva, there are 5 Assistant Director Generals each of whom is responsible for the work of such divisions as may from time to time be assigned to him by the director General. The WHO Secretariat comprised of the following divisions.
(1) Division of Epidemiological surveillance and Health situation and trend assessment.
(2) Division of Communicable Diseases
(3) Division of Vector Biology and Control
(4) Division id Environmental Health
(5) Division of Public information and education for health
(6) Division of Mental Health
(7) Division of diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative technology
(8) Division of Strengthening of Health services
(9) Division of Family Health
(10) Division of Non-communicable Diseases
(11) Division of Health Manpower Development
(12) Division of information Systems Support
(13) Division of Personnel and General Services
(14) Division of Budget and Finance
The Regions:
In order to meet the special health needs of different areas, WHO have established six regional organizations:
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Regional Organizations WHO
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The regional headquarters are integral part of WHO. They play an important role in implementing the WHO policies. The regional office is headed by a regional director, who is assisted by a technical and administrative team. There is a regional committee composed of representatives of member states in the region. The regional committee meets once a year to review the health work in the region.
