Arun Nanda on behalf of: Zsuzsanna Jakab WHO Regional Director for Europe

1. BETTER HEALTH FOR EUROPE The Role of Governance and Partnerships Arun Arun Nanda on behalf of: Zsuzsanna Jakab WHO Regional Director for Europe Global Health Conference 10-11 June 2010 Brussels

2. Presentation outline My Task today is to: • Give an overview of the Regional Director’s Vision for adapting the WHO Regional Office to the changing European environment; • To emphasize the role of: • Governance and • Partnerships (especially with the European Union Institutions)

3. The WHO European Region • From Iceland to Israel, from Vladivostock to Dublin—the WHO European Region is rich in Diversity • Europe’s diversity: an asset and a challenge

4. The Changing Environment Pressures: • Changing demographic and social landscape • Growing health inequalities within & between countries • Impacts of economic crisis Challenges: • Pandemic preparedness and control • Climate change • NCDs and neurodegenerative diseases • A need for health system reforms—prevention, quality, transparency and patient needs & involement Opportunities: • Increased political recognition of importance of health • Growing number of actors entering the health arena • Key factor in innovation and economic growth.

5. The Role of WHO As the directing & coordinating authority in international health (Article 2): • provides leadership on matters critical to health and engages in partnership where joint action is needed; • shapes the research agenda and stimulates the generation, translation and dissemination of valuable knowledge; • sets norms and standards, and promotes and monitors their implementation; • articulates ethical and evidence-based policy options; • provides technical support, catalysing change, and building sustainable institutional capacity; and • monitors the health situation and assessing the health trends

7. My vision of WHO in Europe (1) The WHO Regional Office for Europe should be: • A Centre of Public Health Excellence; • A leader in health policy, public health and health system development for Europe; • A strong, evidence-based organization, relevant to the whole region with strong programs and high-calibre staff known for professional excellence; • An organisation that is ahead of developments, innovates, inspires and shows the way; • Accountable for RC/WHA decisions and with the MS’s turn them into action;

8. My vision of WHO in Europe (2) • An organization that unites and integrates the region: acts as a bridge between different parts and promotes solidarity, equity and health; • An organization that works in close partnership with: • WHO HQ and other regions; • EU institutions; • all traditional and new players and creates fora for policy discussions so as to foster policy coherence.

9. My vision of WHO in Europe (3) • An organization with an extended network to advocate and support implementation; • An organization with a positive environment for work that inspires and empowers staff; • An organisation which is financially sustainable with sound financial management.

10. Making the vision a reality! Seven Strategic Priorities for Action: • Development of a European health policy as a coherent policy framework • Improved governance in the WHO European Region and in the Regional Office • Further strengthening of collaboration with Member States • Engaging in strategic partnerships for health and creating improved policy coherence • Strengthening the European contribution to global health • Reaching out through an information and communication strategy • Promoting the Regional Office as an organization with a positive working environment and sustainable funding for its work

11. Strengthening Governance in the WHO European Region and in the Regional Office

12. Governance by the Regional Committee and SCRC • Strengthened governance roles of the Regional Committee (RC) and Standing Committee of the Regional Committee (SCRC) • Strengthen participation by Member States • A high-level forum of government officials • Organization of ministerial conferences to involve other sectors • Use of the programme budget also as a contract between the RC and the Regional Director • Delegating statutory itemsto SCRC, strengthen its oversight capacity and expand membership and transparency

13. Governance of the Regional Office The Regional Office as a centre of Public Health excellence and as a networked organization • All core functions of the Regional Office in Copenhagen with full integration of the geographically dispersed offices (GDOs); • Implementation with Member States of agreed treaties, norms, standards and guidelines; • Prioritization of work on NCDs, social determinants, gender issues, vulnerable populations, governance, partnerships, information and evidence, science and research, and innovations; • Strengthening human and financial capacity; • Strengthened and revitalized health-related networks in Europe • Better use of WHO Collaborating Centres

14. Strengthening Europe’s contribution to global health 3 dimensions: Health in all policies approach Partnerships with developing countries Extended discussions with development agencies

15. Engaging in strategic partnerships for health and creating improved policy coherence

16. Strategic Partnerships for health Use WHO’s convening power with (earned) leadership role for health to: • Act as bridge between countries and sectors; • Strengthen and sustain partnerships for health • Create a partnerships forum to promote policy coherence • A partnership strategy to be submitted to the Regional Committee in 2011

17. A strategic partnership with the European Union • Traditional partners – exchange of letters (1972, 1982, 2000); • EU countries a majority in the Governing Body of WHO EURO; • Proposal for strengthening the relationship from a project based approach to a strategic one; • Joint Vision to be signed at the RC in Moscow.

18. A shared Vision for Joint Health action Five flagship areas proposed for collaboration • Build one health security system to protect Europe; • Build one health information system to inform Europe; • Coalition of different sectors to tackle health and social determinants, in order to improve Europe’s health today and that of future generations; • Share and exploit identified good practice and innovations, so that the public health function is developed and strengthened within all European health systems; • Jointly identify, advocate and provide the resources for key research priorities that will bring the European research community together and maintain Europe’s cutting edge in research at the forefront for strengthening health development and action.

19. Collaboration is “For and In Countries” At Global and Regional level: “An added value” At Country level: “ESSENTIAL” BECAUSE that is …..

20. Where the Rubber meets the Road! Bilateral U N + E U SANCO ECDC Other EU Agencies ENP Enlargement PHARE RELEX WHO GFATM FAO OIE UNICEF UNDP etc

21. LET’S WORK TOGETHER and BUILD AN ALLIANCE FOR BETTER HEALTH FOR EUROPE!