This report reflects the work of the WHO Regional Office Region, WHO in the European of work The for Europe in 2006–2007: serving its Member States and contributing to health in the WHO European Region. In the last biennium, the Regional Office focused on offering country-specific services on health policy and health systems development tailored to each Member State. With the The WHO Regional Office for Europe continuing shift towards working in and with countries, The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized the Office explored the different ways in which to meet the agency of the United Nations created in 1948 with the primary needs of both the eastern and the western parts of the Region. responsibility for international health matters and public health. The WHO Regional Office for Europe is one of six regional offices This publication offers interesting and illustrative examples throughout the world, each with its own programme geared to of work done directly with countries to improve health and 2006–2007 The work the particular health conditions of the countries it serves. strengthen health systems. Some examples focus on health programme themes, some on health systems, and others Member States combine the two. It also highlights the work done on health Albania Lithuania from a normative and technical perspective, presenting the Andorra Luxembourg two intertwining approaches to work on health, where specific Armenia Malta health programmes provide the content while health systems of WHO Austria Moldova are the vehicle and the means to the ends. Finally, it looks at Azerbaijan Monaco the structure, resources and governance that enable the Office Belarus Montenegro to perform as it does in two main ways: first, as a direct service Belgium Netherlands to Member States and, second, in fulfilment of WHO’s mandate Bosnia and Herzegovina Norway as the specialized health agency of the United Nations. Bulgaria Poland An annex gives an overview of the programme budget Croatia Portugal and implementation. in the Cyprus Romania Czech Republic Russian Federation The report also describes cross-cutting issues – such as Denmark San Marino partnerships, health intelligence, communication and Estonia Serbia publishing – that run throughout the Office as they do Finland Slovakia throughout the report. This reflects the ever-increasing France Slovenia importance of working with other players in the field of European Georgia Spain health as valuable partners in synergy. Germany Sweden Greece Switzerland Hungary Tajikistan Iceland The former Yugoslav Ireland Republic of Macedonia Region, Israel Turkey World Health Organization Italy Turkmenistan Regional Office for Europe Kazakhstan Ukraine Scherfigsvej 8 DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Kyrgyzstan United Kingdom Denmark Latvia Uzbekistan Tel.: +45 39 17 17 17 2006–2007 Fax: +45 39 17 18 18 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.euro.who.int Biennial report of the Regional Director The work of WHO in the European Region, 2006–2007 Biennial report of the Regional Director The World Health Organization was established in 1948 as the specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for directing and coordinating authority for international health matters and public health. One of WHO’s constitutional functions is to provide objective and reliable information and advice in the field of human health. It fulfils this responsibility in part through its publications programmes, seeking to help countries make policies that benefit public health and address their most pressing public health concerns. The WHO Regional Office for Europe is one of six regional offices throughout the world, each with its own programme geared to the particular health problems of the countries it serves. The European Region embraces some 880 million people living in an area stretching from the Arctic Ocean in the north and the Mediterranean Sea in the south and from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. The European programme of WHO supports all countries in the Region in developing and sustaining their own health policies, systems and programmes; preventing and overcoming threats to health; preparing for future health challenges; and advocating and implementing public health activities. To ensure the widest possible availability of authoritative information and guidance on health matters, WHO secures broad international distribution of its publications and encourages their translation and adaptation. By helping to promote and protect health and prevent and control disease, WHO’s books contribute to achieving the Organization’s principal objective – the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health. The work of WHO in the European Region, 2006–2007 Biennial report of the Regional Director WHO Library Cataloguing in Publication Data The work of WHO in the European Region, 2006–2007 : biennial report of the Regional Director. 1.Regional health planning 2.World Health Organization 3.Europe ISBN 978 92 890 1412 0 (NLM Classification : WA 540) ISBN 978 92 890 1412 0 EUR/RC58/4 Address requests about publications of the WHO Regional Oce for Europe to: Publications WHO Regional Oce for Europe Schergsvej 8 DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark Alternatively, complete an online request form for documentation, health information, or for permission to quote or translate, on the Regional Oce web site (http://www.euro.who.int/pubrequest). © World Health Organization 2008 All rights reserved. The Regional Oce for Europe of the World Health Organization welcomes requests for permission to reproduce or translate its publications, in part or in full. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specic companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. All reasonable precautions have been taken by the World Health Organization to verify the information contained in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall the World Health Organization be liable for damages arising from its use. The views expressed by authors, editors, or expert groups do not necessarily represent the decisions or the stated policy of the World Health Organization. Cover design: Book design: Sven Lund Printed in Denmark Contents Abbreviations vi 1. Introduction 1 2. Serving Member States directly 3 Shifting towards direct country support 3 Strengthening WHO country offices 6 Examples of work in and with countries 7 Main activities in collaboration with the European Union 15 3. Improving health in the European Region through normative and technical work 17 Health programmes: highlights of work 17 Highlights on strengthening health systems in the European Region 34 4. WHO Regional Office for Europe: cross-cutting services, organization, resources and governance 47 Cross-cutting services 47 Organizational structure and resources 52 Governance of the Region 55 References 57 Annex 1. Programme budget and implementation 67 VI The work of WHO in the European Region, 2006–2007 Abbreviations Organizations CIS Commonwealth of Independent States DFID Department for International Development (United Kingdom) DG SANCO Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection (European Commission) DIPECHO disaster preparedness programme of the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office EC European Commission ECHO European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office ECMT European Conference of Ministers of Transport ECDC European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control EEA European Environment Agency EU European Union Eurostat Statistical Office of the European Communities IFRC International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ILO International Labour Organization IOM International Organization for Migration IPPF International Planned Parenthood Federation NHS National Health Service (United Kingdom) NICE National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence NIVEL Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OIE World Organization for Animal Health Sida Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency UISAT Unidad de Investigación sobre el Síndrome del Aceite Tóxico, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain) UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNECE United Nations Economic Commission for Europe UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFPA United Nations Population Fund Abbreviations VII UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNTFHS United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security USAID United States Agency for International Development WMO World Meterorological