10 The purpose of this section of the WHO eManual is to describe the administrative procedures to be followed in organizing meetings of experts held to advise the Organization on the planning and implementation of its programmes or on research needs.
20 This section applies to expert committees, study groups, scientific groups and other scientific and technical committee-type meetings as defined in section IX.2.2 that are convened by, though not necessarily held at, WHO headquarters to discuss an approved agenda. This section does not cover meetings of governing bodies.
30 Similar meetings of experts may be convened by regional directors at regional or even at country level if they are to consider health problems that mainly affect a region or a specific country or countries within a region.
40 Under Regulation 4.17 of the Regulations for Expert Advisory Panels and Committees, meetings of expert committees at the regional or country level shall be planned in a coordinated manner so as to complement those convened at headquarters, avoid duplication, and ensure maximum effectiveness and coherence in their work. Equally, there should be optimal coordination between meetings of study groups or scientific groups held in a region and meetings on the same or related subjects in other regions or at headquarters.
50 The regional director exercises the authority granted to the Director-General under specific regulations for meetings of experts convened by a regional office. The procedures for such meetings are generally the same as those described in this section, but with some modifications. Headquarters does not publish the reports of meetings of experts convened at the regional level in the Technical Report Series.
60 Informal discussions with one or more consultants or temporary advisers are not considered as "meetings of experts" for the purpose of this section of the WHO eManual.
