The World Health Organisation

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is a branch of the United Nations

concerned primarily with promoting global health. The WHO is made up of over
8000 employees working around the world to improve health.
The WHO works to provide leadership on global health issues and to provide
resources and support to countries that require assistance in improving the
health of their citizens.
Addressing global health issues and promoting sustainable human development
is complex as there are a range of factors that must be addressed to improve
living conditions. In 2014, the WHO released new priorities that make up the
agenda of its work for the coming years. The six priorities provide a focus that
will assist the WHO in addressing the greatest concerns to global health and
sustainable human development (figure 1).

Priorities of the World Health Organisation

Figure 1: The 6 priorities identified in the World Health Organisation Agenda.

Exploring the Priorities of the WHO

Agenda
In the coming section, each of the priorities of the WHO Agenda will be explored
in greater detail. You will notice that the priorities often overlap and have an
impact on each other. Working to improve access to universal health coverage

Universal
health
coverage
Healthrelated
Millennium
Developme
nt Goals

Noncommunica
ble
diseases

Internationa
l health
regulations

The
WHO
Agend
a

Social,
economic
and
environmen
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Beaumont 2015
tal
determinan
ts

Increasing
access to
medical
products

for example, will involve providing access to essential medicines and will have an
impact on non-communicable disease and the health-related Millennium
Development Goals.

Universal health coverage

Universal health coverage relates to all people being able to obtain the health
services they need regardless of the ability to pay. This requires:

a strong, efficient, well-run health system that is client orientated;

a system for financing health services;
access to essential medicines and technologies;
a well-trained, motivated health workforce.

It also requires recognition of the important role played by other sectors in

improving human health, including transport, education and urban planning.
The WHO works to assist countries in providing universal health care in the
following ways:

Providing funding to strengthen health systems. For example by being able

to afford to train and employ more health workers.
Increasing access to medical technology
Increasing access to essential medicines (such as HIV medication and
vaccinations).

Ensuring that all people can access health services at an affordable cost is
important in promoting global health, reducing poverty and achieving
sustainable human development. Good health allows people to go to school or to
work. This increases education levels which enhances capabilities and the ability
to lead a productive and creative life. When people are healthy they are able to
work and earn an income, which means
they have the resources to afford healthy food,
clean water, clothing, shelter and
education for children.
This
improves
social
and
economic
sustainability. At the same time, a wellfunded health system prevents people from
being pushed into poverty when
they have to pay for health
services out of their own
pockets. Universal health
coverage is therefore a
key
component
of
sustainable development
and poverty reduction, and
a key element of any
effort to reduce social
inequities.
Figure 2: Universal health care means that
everyone can access health care, regardless of their
ability to pay.

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International Health Regulations

All countries are susceptible to the outbreak of disease. Influenza, cholera and
Ebola are infectious diseases that have led to severe ill-health across many
countries in recent years. Being able to respond to these and other conditions is
a challenge for all countries, but more so for developing countries who may lack
the resources to respond to these conditions effectively. In order to assist
countries and monitor the spread of disease, the WHO developed the
International Health Regulations (IHR).
The IHR are a legal tool agreed to by 196 countries across the globe that require
countries to report certain disease outbreaks and public health threats to WHO.
Their aim is to help the international community prevent and respond to public
health risks that have the potential to cross borders and threaten people
worldwide.
The IHR outline the rights and responsibilities of countries to report public health
events, and establish a number of procedures that WHO must follow in its work
to uphold global public health security. When disease outbreak occurs, the WHO
play a leadership role in co-ordinating a response to the issue including sending
health workers and building the capabilities of health systems by providing
training to local health workers, providing medication and other resources.

Figure 3: The World Health Organisation provides training to local health

workers to deal with Ebola in Liberia.
Reducing the spread of disease will reduce the level of ill-health experienced in
communities and populations. As a result, they are more able to continue being
productive members of the community. Healthy individuals have more choices
and are more able to access knowledge by attending school. In turn, educated
individuals are more likely to be employed and earn an income, which will enable
them to afford the resources that promote health such as food, water, shelter
and health care. This improves the lives of all people, especially those who live in
poverty, which increases the ability of individuals to participate in the lives of

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their communities, and helps people achieve their full potential, thereby
improving human development.

Increasing access to medical products

Essential medicines are
those that satisfy the
most important health
care
needs
of
the
population.
These
medicines
have
the
ability to make health
care more effective and
assist people in living
long,
healthy
and
productive lives.
Equity in health depends
on access to essential,
high-quality and affordable medical technologies. Improving access to medical
products is central to the achievement of universal health coverage.
Figure 4: Vaccinations are considered essential medical products.
The WHO works to improve access to safe, quality, affordable and effective
medicines in a number of ways:

by providing grants for the development of techniques and products

that may assist in controlling diseases in developing countries,
promoting local production and national regulation to increase access
for those in need.

By developing the Criteria for Selection of Essential Medicines to assist

countries in creating their own essential medicines list.
By developing the Model List. The Model List is a guide for the
development of a national essential medicine lists. Most countries now
have national lists.

Essential medicines assist people in overcoming disease and illness more quickly
without being forced into poverty due to the high cost of many essential
medicines. They are also one of the most cost effective aspects of health acre.
Healthy people are able to return to work and earn an income, which is needed
to purchase the resources required for a decent standard of living such as
nutritious food, clothing, shelter and education for children. This contributes to
social and economic sustainability. Less illness in a community also places less
strain on health resources, contributing to economic sustainability. Access to
affordable and safe medical technologies assists people to recover quickly from
illness and develop to their full potential.

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Social, economic and environmental

determinants
To improve peoples health outcomes, as well as addressing the health system,
action is required in relation to a range of social, economic and environmental
determinants that contribute to ill-health as well as health inequality.
Through this priority, the WHO works with other sectors to reduce the social,
economic and environmental causes of disease and ill-health and promote
equity. These determinants are addressed by working with its partner agencies
(including the UN and UNICEF), providing funding, technical assistance and
advice (including training of employees in government and the health sector).

Specifically, the WHO supports countries in five areas:

improved governance for health and development
participation in policy-making and implementation
reorientation of the health sector towards promoting health and reducing
health inequities
global governance and collaboration
monitoring progress and increasing accountability.
Access to environmental resources such as clean water and sanitation will reduce
the global morbidity and mortality associated with diseases such as cholera and
diarrhoea. Children in particular are most at risk of these diseases, which
contribute to malnutrition and reduced access to education, and a decent
standard of living and forces many families into poverty.
Having access to social and economic resources such education and employment
improves outcomes by increasing incomes. Money can be used for other
resources such as food, health care and adequate housing. If these resources are
available to all, the health experienced in all countries will improve. By improving
global health, more people are able to participate in the life of their community.
They are able to work productively and provide the resources required for a
decent standard of living. Children are more able to attend school which
enhances their capabilities for the future and gives them a greater chance to
provide for their own children, therefore promoting sustainability.

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Figure 5: Improved governance can assist in providing universal education, a

key social determinant.

Non-communicable diseases
Non-communicable diseases are responsible for 16 million premature deaths
each year and these deaths are not just occurring in developed countries. In low
and middle-income countries, deaths due to non-communicable diseases are
overtaking those from infectious diseases. Almost three-quarters of all deaths
from non-communicable diseases, and 82 per cent of premature deaths, occur in
low and middle-income countries.
Increasing rates of non-communicable diseases have devastating health
consequences for individuals, families and communities, and threaten to
overwhelm health systems. Dealing with these conditions is vital to ensure
sustainable health care. The four non-communicable diseases that are the
focus of this part of the agenda are:

cardiovascular diseases

cancer

diabetes

chronic respiratory diseases

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Reducing non-communicable diseases and conditions and improving global

health, requires co-operation by all communities and countries and the WHO
provides leadership to develop a coordinated, approach at global, regional,
national and local levels.
The WHO has increased the emphasis on the prevention of these diseases and
provides technical support to assist with early detection of diseases. The WHO
has worked to achieve this priority by:

improving access to affordable

pharmaceuticals
developing new products
and technologies
appropriate for use in the
poorest countries and simplify
the treatment of diseases
Developing the Global
action plan for the
prevention and control of
NCDs 2013-2020. The
action plan provides a road
map and a menu of policy options for all Member States
to assist in a 25% relative reduction in premature mortality
from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes or chronic
respiratory diseases by 2025.
Figure 6: Making medicines affordable can assist in
reducing the
burden of disease associated with
non-communicable diseases.

By reducing rates of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic

respiratory diseases, life expectancy will increase as these conditions contribute
significantly to premature death globally. Reducing the burden of noncommunicable diseases will help promote global health and sustainable human
development. A reduction in these diseases and conditions will place less
demand on health care systems promoting economic sustainability. This saving
can then be used to promote good health which can reduce the burden of
disease associated with other conditions such as HIV and malaria. As people are
living longer, healthier lives, they are more able to lead lives that they value and
participate in the life of the community. Methods of preventing the risk of noncommunicable diseases can then be passed on to future generations leading to
sustainable improvements in global health and human development.

Health-related Millennium Development Goals

The world must sustain the gains that have been made towards the 2015
Millennium Development Goals beyond 2015 to assist in addressing key
contributors to poverty and social inequality globally.
The MDGs that are directly linked to health are:

Reduce child mortality

Improve maternal health
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

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Figure 7: The health-related Millennium Development Goals

The MDGs that are indirectly linked to health are:

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Ensure environmental sustainability
Develop a global partnership for development

The health-related MDGs integrate many aspects of the WHOs work,

particularly building effective health systems for sustainable and equitable
health outcomes.

The WHO has worked to address the health-related MDGs by:

working to promote universal health care

providing access to essential medicines

developing strategies that target global health concerns such as

HIV/AIDS and malaria such as the:
-

Global Fund to Fight AIDS

Roll Back Malaria Partnership
Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.

The health-related Millennium Development Goals focus on conditions and issues

that impact disproportionately on those in developing countries. By addressing
these conditions and issues, global rates of U5MR, maternal mortality, HIV / AIDS
and malaria will decrease. As a result of improved global health, more people in
more countries will have the opportunity to live long, healthy creative lives in
accordance with their needs and interests. By being able to work productively,
people will be able to earn an income and provide their children with access to
knowledge through formal education. Educated children are more able to provide
for their own children in the future which creates a cycle of sustainability.

Test Your Knowledge

1. Complete the following summary table for each of the 6 priorities of the WHO
Agenda:

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Priority of
the WHO
Agenda

Explanation

Examples of the
WHOs work in this
area

How it may
promote global
health and
sustainable human
development

Apply Your Knowledge

2. Read the following case studies about WHO projects and identify the priority
evident. If you feel that it relates to more than one priority, justify your choice.
a. WHO is coordinating the global response to human cases of H5N1 avian
influenza and monitoring the corresponding threat of an influenza
pandemic. Information on this page tracks the evolving situation and
provides access to both technical guidelines and information useful for the
general public.
b. The World Health organisation has provided developing countries with
essential medicines in order to assist them dealing with outbreaks of
malaria.
c. Countries are required to report the outbreak of certain diseases to the
WHO.
d. 135 countries, led by the WHO, agreed on a protocol to reduce the illegal
tobacco trade industry in an attempt to decrease the rate of conditions
such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory diseases.
e. In 2010, the WHO established a list of essential medicines that should be
made available to every citizen in every country.
f. The WHO works to assist countries in vaccinating poor children in rural and
remote areas. This increases participation in education and assists in
boosting a countries economy in the future by increasing incomes.
g. The WHO provides a range of guidelines that assist countries to establish
public health systems.
h. The goal of the Diagnostics and Laboratory Technology team is to promote
and facilitate access to safe, reliable and appropriate diagnostic
technologies and laboratory services in an equitable manner.
3.Access the WHO website (http://www.who.int/entity/en/) and find one action or
program that shows evidence of each of the WHO priorities.

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