World Health Organization

:For other meanings of the acronym 'WHO', see WHO (disambiguation)

Structure

WHO member states http://www.who.int/countries/en/ appoint delegations to the World Health Assembly, WHO's supreme decision-making body. The Assembly generally meets in May each year, and as well as appointing the Director-General (for five-year terms), supervises the financial policies of the Organization, and reviews and approves the proposed programme budget. The Assembly elects 32 members who are technically qualified in the field of health for three-year terms to an Executive Board. The main functions of the Board are to give effect to the decisions and policies of the Assembly, to advise it and generally to facilitate its work.

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Membership

The WHO has 192 member states, including all UN Member States except Liechtenstein. Territories that are not UN Member states may join as associated members (with full information but limited participation and voting rights) if approved by an Assembly vote. Examples include New Zealand's self-governing entities of Cook Islands and Niue. Entities may also be granted observer status - examples include the PLO and the Vatican. Taiwan is campaigning for observer status, against the opposition of China which is already a WHO member and sees Taiwan as part of China.

Related Topics:
UN Member States - Liechtenstein - Cook Islands - Niue - Observer status - PLO - Vatican - Taiwan - China - Part of China

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Secretariat

The day-to-day work of WHO is carried out by its Secretariat, which is staffed by some 11,000 health and other experts and support staff, working at headquarters, in the six regional offices, and in countries. The WHO is also represented by WHO Goodwill Ambassadors.

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