10 The World Health Assembly (the Health Assembly) is the supreme governing body of the Organization. It meets annually in Geneva in May and is attended by delegates from all Member States and Associate Members. Delegates to the Health Assembly are representatives of their countries and express the views of their governments.
20 The main function of the Health Assembly is to determine the policies of the Organization. This includes, in particular, the adoption of international conventions, regulations and recommendations addressed to Member States.
30 Among the Health Assembly’s other functions are: to appoint the Director-General; to supervise the financial policies of the Organization and to review and approve the budget; to review and approve reports and activities of the Executive Board and of the Director-General and to instruct the Executive Board with regard to matters upon which action, study, investigation or report may be considered desirable.
40 Committees established by the Health Assembly are of three main kinds:
- committees whose membership is confined to delegates to the Health Assembly and whose meetings are normally held in connection with a session of the Health Assembly;
- intergovernmental committees and working groups open to Member States which meet between sessions of the Health Assembly and report to it; and
- expert committees, including sub-committees, and committees set up jointly with other organizations, which are composed of experts acting in their own individual capacity.
50 As provided under the Health Assembly’s Rules of Procedure, the main committees of the Health Assembly are:
- Committee A, to deal predominantly with programme and budget matters;
- Committee B, to deal predominantly with administrative, financial and legal matters.
60 In addition to these main committees, the Health Assembly may establish such other main committees as it may consider necessary. Each main committee may appoint sub-committees or other sub-divisions (working groups etc.).
