WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

Transcription

1 WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION EXECUTIVE BOARD Thirty-ninth Session ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ EB39/MI11/18 Rev.l 28 February 1967 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH MINUTES OF THE EIGHTEENTH MEETING WHO Headquarters, Geneva Friday, 27 January 19б7, at 9 a«m. CHAIRMAN: Dr J. WATT CONTENTS Temporary office acooomodation at headfiuarters (cfiotlsued) Consideration of the provisional agenda for the Twentieth World Health Assembly (continued from the seventeenth meeting, section 11) Page Date and place of the fortieth session of the Executive Board Closure of the SeSSlrai «* - 0"»» 688

2 EB39Alin/l6 Hev.l 二... : > y-': -66o - Eighteenth Meeting Friday, 27 January 1967, at 9 a.m. Present Dr J. WATT, Chairman / Professor R. GERIC, Vice-Chairman V CM l Dr A. R. M. AL-ADWANI, Rappor.taun: : Dr A. BENYAKHLEF, Rapporteur Dr A. ABDULHADI Mr A. F. AERAR Dr T. ALAN (alternate to Professor N. H. Fisek) Prof e s sor -E.. AUJAbEU :r Dr J. C. AZURIN :.- "..:... "î "" " -'"Л " /;', Designating Country United States of America Yugoslavia Kuwait Morocco Libya Somalia Turkey Prance Philippines Sir George GODBER. United Kingdom and Northern of Great Britain Ireland Professor D. M. GONZALEZ TORRES Dr L. W. JAYESURIA (alternate to Dr M. Din bin Ahmad) Dr 0. KEITA Dr PS KYIN Professor P. MACUCH Er A. P. MONDET Dr T. C. NCHINDA (adviser to Г»г J.-C. Happi) Dr M. P. OTOLORIN Dr C. QUIROS Dr K. N. RAO Paraguay Malaysia Guinea Burma Czechoslovakia Argentina Cameroon Nigeria Peru India

3 一 EB39/Min/l8 Rev.l Present Dr D. D. VENEDIKTOV Dr M. K. EL WASSY Designating Country Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Yemen Secretary: Dr M. G. CANDAU Director-General Representatives of Intergovernmental Organizations United Nations United Nations Children's Fund United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Mr A. DOLLINGER Sir Herbert BROADLEY Mr R. COURVOISIER Representatives of Nop-governmental Organizations Council for International Organizations Medical Sciences of Dr V. FATTORUSSO International Air Transport Association Mr R. W. BONHOFP International Committee of Catholic Nurses International Dental Federation Miss L. CHARLES-ROQUES Dr С. L. BOUVIER International Society of Blood Transfusion Professor R. FISCHER Medical Women's International Association Dr Anne AUDEOUD-NAVILLE World Federation for Mental Health Dr Anne AUDEOUD-NAVHI World Medical Association Dr J. MAYSTRE

4 EB59/Min/l8 Rev.l Correction to Resolution EBj)9^R46 (Conduct of the general debate at future Health Assemblies... At the invitation of the CHAIKMAN, the DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL read out the following corrections to typographical errors in resolution which had been adopted at the previous meeting: In the first preambular paragraph, the words "for the examination of" in the second line should be replaced by the words in plenary meetings on"; and in paragraph 1 of the draft resolution recommended for adoption by the Twentieth World Health Assembly, the words "in plenary meetings on the reports of the Executive Board and the Annual Report of the Director-General" should be added after the words "general debate" in the second line, with the deletion in sub-paragraph 1(1) of the words "relating to the reports of the. *. i ; Executive Board and the Annual Report of the Director-Genepal" : Decision? The corrections were rioted and a revised version would be issued. 1. TEMPORARY OFFICE ACCOMMODATION AT HEADQUARTERS: Item 5 of the Supplementary Agenda (^Document ЕВ39Л2, and EB39A2 Add.l)(continued) Dr QUIROS said that after hearing Professor Aujaleu 1 s comments and the Secretariat 1 s explanations, he felt that the rapid tour of the building had not given a clear picture of the situation. Some of Professor Aujaleu 1 s suggestions could no doubt be carried out, but a problem existed and would continue to exist. Money spent on temporary accommodation would be lost in the same way as money spent on renting office space. Although it was difficult to ask for further contributions from Member States so soon after the new building had been completed, a final solution must be found, whatever it cost.

5 一 EB39/Min/l8 Rev.l Professor AUJALEU said he had three final comments to make on the subject In the first place, in response to the Director-General 1 s criticisms at the previous meeting, he had made it clear that he had merely taken a sample at random: he had not been able to work out how many offices he should visit in order to make his study statistically valid. He had not made generalizations: he had made objective notes on his visit, and communicated his observations to the Board. Secondly/ governments would certainly be reluctant/ less than a year after the inauguration of the new building, to provide funds to accommodate the staff whether f or not they had voted for the budgetary increases which had given rise to the new requirements. What was important was the psychological aspect of the problem; and what he was trying to do v/as to convince the Secretariat that If it wanted to obtain the necessary funds - which, whatever Mr Siegel might say, would in the end come from the contributions of Member States - it must show that every single possibility had baen explored. The Secretariat should not reject his suggestions out of hand: it should pick out the acceptable ones and, having acted on them, it would be easier to obtain, the necessary funds from the Executive Board and the Assembly. He was well aware that the problem of accommodation was acute and that it would be aggravated if Spanish and Russian were introduced, as full working languages. Thirdly, his statement the previous day might not have been very acceptable to the Secretariat / but it should not be forgotten that for six years he had vigorously supi'.orted the Secretariat's arguments concerning the existing building because he considered them goodг that had not been easy during the current session, and it would not be any easier at the Assembly. He believed that his views on that subject would oarr^ more weight with his colleagues if he spoke frankly at all tiroes.

6 EB39/Min/l8 Rev r l 一 Dr. KEITA. said, tbat; ttie Board was reaching the end of the discussion and he believed it would vote: the necessary funds for a temporary building It was, however f essential to establish once and for all the relationship between the increase in staff and the extension of the building. It was impossible to excuse the planners for not estimating correctly, so that a temporary building was needed only a few months after the inauguration of the headquairters ; there had also been errors on the part of the architect and errors in estimating by the Secretariat experts concerned, for when it was planned to increase the staff for a given period provision should also have been made for the necessary accommodation. He agreed with Professor Aujaleu that it was essential to explore all the possibilities of. the existing building. During the tour of inspection of the buildids/ he had noticed a number of offices and wide open spaces which could be used to better advantage. But the real problem was that whatever solution was decided on it was the Member States that had to bear the cost If money were' now voted for additional accommodation, governments would want to be supe thát thejr would not be presented f. Г.. with the same problem in a year or in twó or three years The planning experts must say precisely for how long the new accommodation would be sufficient for the activities for which it was provided. Sir George GCDBER said that a detailed examination by the Secretariat was necessary before a decision on placing the staff could be taken. Professor :...., / ; ; ":.:..:. ::.. : Aujaleu 1 s comments at the previous meeting would be helpful; an objective view from outside was sometimes informative because people tended not to notice things

7 ЕВ39/М1пД8 Rev.l to which they had become accustomed. Even with a detailed examination/ however/ he doubted whether enough accommodation could be found in the existing building to deal with immediate arid imminent requirements For example, the use of Spanish and Russian as full working languages alone would involve much more than the space referred to as absolutely essential for present requirements The fact must be faced that the present difficulties arose from the basic design of the new building It had been designed aesthetically rather than functionally, and he doubted whether it would be possible to find much additional space for offices. The Organization had paid for some beauty and some splendours it must now think in rather more limited terms of obtaining more accommodation He believed that something could be done by alterations to the existing building / but he was byno means convinced that that would be the most economical method. The whole question would have to be analysed in detail and submitted to the World Health Assembly, Professor Aujaleu had rightly stressed the difficulties that delegates to the Assembly would have to face in their own countries in explaining why it was already necessary to ask funds for accommodation despite the fact that it had been estimated that needs were covered until The World Health Assembly would have to decide between renting or building accommodation, on the assumption that no amount of manoeuvring within existing boundaries could provide for the people who were going to need accommodation. temporary accommodation: He had already spoken of fifty years in connexion with he could not envisage a period of less than twenty years. The cost of providing temporary accommodation would have to be weighed against the cost of renting accommodation for such a period - bearing in mind the inconveniences,

8 EB39/Min/l8 Rev.l the loss of fficiency and the high cost involved in rented accommodation It * should also be remembered that any accommodation constructed, whether temporary or additional, should be strictly functional and limited to the provision of office space. Whatever proposals were made must be presented in such a way as to enable delegates to the Assembly to convince their governments as to the money that would have to be provided and the means of providing it The method of financing would have to be very carefully considered He believed that the procedure advocated by Professor Aujaleu for detailed examination and justification, step by step, should be followed. The DIRECTOR-GENERAL said that the Secretariat welcomed the Board's comments. 工弋 was not surprised at them because it was the Board 1 s function to draw attention to points that might be overlooked from the inside. Such comments were salutary and helped the Secretariat in analysing the situation. With regard to his comments at the previous meeting on Professor Aujaleu 1 s sampling, he explained that he had been concerned only on one point: in fact, he had never thought of giving office space to other international organizations One problem had not been fully faced in the discussion: namely, the failure in planning referred to several times by Dr Keita. There had not really been any failure in planning. Those who had been connected with WHO for a long time would realize where the shortcomings had occurred Estimates had been based correctly on the Organization's growth between and 1958, with all possible mathematical corrections The problem was that the programme had changed In 1958, for the first time, governments had spoken of increased activity in medical

9 一 EB39/Min/l8 Rev.l research* In 1959 the first decision had been taken on action in that sphere, resulting in the creation of a large number of new functions for the Organization. New activities approved by the World Health Assembly since 1958 included, to mention only a few, national health planning/ dental health/ cardiovascular diseases, cancer, immunology, human genetics/ human reproduction/ smallpox eradication,virus diseases, drug safety monitoring/ food additives, environmental pollution/ and community water supply. What made planning difficult was the impossibility of forecasting the addition of new and important activities to the Organization 1 s programme It was impossible to foresee what would happen in ten years 1 time* He could not answer Dr Keita 1 s question as to future needs. Even with an allowance of ten per cent» for unforeseen decisions it would be hard to deal with the new items that arose. The growth of WHO was completely different from the normal growth of a national institution where the programme could be forecast for some ten years ahead. In WHO, the Secretariat never knew what would happen at the next World Health Assembly - whether a new eradication programme might not be adopted, or a new field for research approved ; it was impossible to foresee how the Organization 1 s work would expand. He was not trying to justify the Secretariat: he was merely recalling to those who knew the Organization, and trying to show the newcomers, the kind of evolution in the Organization's life which created the type of problem being faced today.

10 EB39/Min/l8 Rev. 一 雄 The problem of expansion had always been kept well in mind. One of the reasons for the choice of the design of the present building was that it allowed for expansion, while another design which might have been preferable on other grounds did not. The only mistake had been in assuming that the need for expansion would not arise within ten years. Mr SIEGEL, Assistant Director-General, said that the Secretariat shared the concern expressed by members of the Board on the problem of dealing with the growth of the Organization. The difficulties of planning ahead for the normal development of the Organization* s work might be illustrated by the following figures The total funds received for the Voluntary Fund for Health Promotion from its creation until the end of 1966 amounted to $ A large proportion of that sum was for the Malaria Eradication Special Account, but there were other large sums, including $ for medical research (specified), $ 2 ООб 000 for medical research (unspecified), $ for community water supply, $ for aid to the Congo, $ for leprosy and $ for miscellaneous contributions. Those sums were all used to finance additional functions which could not have been foreseen. With regard to the difficulties of Health Assembly delegates in their own countries, referred to by some members of the Board, he said that governments would :.! not be surprised at the situation since they had received in December 1966, appended to document EB39/27, the fourteenth report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions to the General Assembly at its twenty-first session (A/6522), In paragraph 115 of V7hich reference was made to the possibility of WHO looking for additional space in the near future _i _ 丨 ^ 一 iim _ 丨 i i _ _ II 1 一 S e e Off. Rec, Wld Hlth Org 157,Annex 15.

11 ЕВ39/М1ПД8 Rev.l With regard to Professor Aujaleu 1 s statement at the previous meeting, he had asked competent members of the Secretariat to prepare an estimate of the cost of carrying out the suggestions for creating additional accommodation in the existing building - though it should be recognized that altering the basic construction of the building was a violation of the original concept and structure and should not be regarded as necessarily a permanent solution. Professor Aujaleu s proposals (excluding the proposals for permanent construction in the space under the annex surrounding the Executive Board building) would provide forty-two modules - twentyone standard offices - at an estimated cost of $ 5 斗 ООО. With regard to Sir George Godber 1 s comment that a temporary building would probably be used for twenty years> a temporary building would obviously be a better financial proposition than renting outside accommodation^ since it was proposed to amortize the cost over six, seven or eight years. The CHAIRMAN drew attention to a draft resolution proposed by Professor Aujaleu which had just been distributed (EB39/Conf.Doc No.22). The DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL read out the draft resolution, which was as follows: The Executive Board, Having studied the Director-General 1 s report on temporary office accommodation 9 REQUESTS the Director-General: (1) to study all the possibilities of using the existing building; ⑵ to determine precisely the needs for extra office accommodation, taking into account,

12 EB39/Min/l8 Rev.l (a) the staff numbers envisaged in the 1967 and 1968 budgets; (b) the staff which would be necessary if the arrangements envisaged for the use of Spanish and Russian were put into effect; and (3) to report on this subject to the Twentieth World Health Assembly. Dr MONDET said that the draft resolution proposed by Professor Aujaleu might give the impression that the need for additional office space was associated particularly with the proposed use of the Russian and Spanish laii^uacos. In fact, the problem had existed before that proposal. Professor AUJALEU said that he would agree to drop the specific mention of the use of Russian and Spanish if necessary, although the additional linguistic personnel would need office space over and above the immediate needs so far envisaged by the Director-General, and that was a point worth bearing in mind. The CHAIRMAN said that the proposed use of those lan^uages was the point vóiich perhaps most clearly illustrated the need for increased office space in the future Dr VENEDIKTOV suggested that paragraph (2) of the draft resolution proposed by Professor Aujaleu should be redrafted to read: (2) to determine precisely the needs for extra office accommodation, talcins into account the staff numbers envisaged in the 1967 and 1968 budgets and the staff that might be necessary in the following years;

13 一 EB39/Min/l8 Rev.l The requirements for the years after 19б7 and 1968 would depend on the decisions of the Health Assembly and on the estimation by the Director-General of the needs, for example,of nev/ Russian and Spanish language staff. Professor GONZALEZ TORRES warned against prejudging the issue on the staff required for Russian and Spanish language work, which depended on a decision by the Health Assembly. The DIRECTOR-GENECRAL said that there was a danger of confusing the immediate need for temporary accommodation - i.e. for staff in and the perennial question of staff increases resulting from decisions by the Health Assembly on the Organization's activities; the extended use of Spanish and Russian was only one such possible decision. If he felt that there was a need for temporary accommodation he would^ unless specifically restrained from so doing by the Executive Board, rent such accommodation, using funds approved under the 1967 budget Dr Venediktov had been right in saying that it v/as a matter for some speculation what permanent needs for accommodation v;ould arise out of decisions by the Health Assembly. Dr VENEDIKTOV said that, in Ills view, the problem was not that additional accommodation was needed, but that it was needed so soon after the completion of the new headquarters building. If it had been Icnown well before completion of the building that it would be too small practically from the outset, the present position would have been considerably easier. The Board was not opposing the provision of

14 EB39/Min/l8 Rev.l additional accommodation, or the construction of a building for the purpose, but it was requesting the Director-General to study all possibilities of using the existing office space. That would facilitate further discussion of the matter at the Health Assembly. He was somewhat disturbed by the fact that the Dire с tor-general had not hesitated to make provision in the 1967 budget estimates for renting outside office space, and thought that, at the Nineteenth World Health Assembly, a number of delegations had not realized that they had voted for that provision. He agreed, however, with Mr Siegel that, if extra accommodation was necessary, it would be better to build than to rent office space for ten years or so in Geneva, A fourth paragraph might be added to the draft resolution proposed by Professor Aujaleu, requesting the Director-General to refrain as far as possible from spending the funds provided for the renting of office space until the matter had been discussed again in the Board. Professor ADJALEU agreed to the amendment of paragraph (2) of his draft resolution as proposed by Dr Venediktov. The draft resolution went beyond the question of temporary accommodation, which should be considered together with the problem of permanent accommodation He recommended that the whole question be discussed in the Health Assembly, when the Director-General would have a broader insight into what space was needed immediately and what would be needed later» He did not, however, think that the Board could prevent the Director-General from renting office space if he saw fit, since the necessary credit had been voted in the I967 budget.

15 一 EB39/Min/l8 Rev.l Ihe CHAIRMAN said that he had heard no-one deny the need for additional office space and several members of the Board had accepted, it. Ihe question was what kind, of space should be provided and hov/. He asked to what extent the Board was satisfied that adequate information had been made available demonstrating that a temporary building was the better solution, since the draft resolution proposed by Professor Aujaleu seemed to suggest that additional information was needed, before a decision could be reached. Dr AZURIN said that in view of the fact that the Dire с to r-gene ral had been reproached for not having foreseen the increased needs for accommodation at an early date, there should be no criticism of the present attempt to estimate the requirements for the next few years ^ or to take account of the proposed use of Spanish and Russian well in advance It would be an undesirable precedent to restrict the Director-General in his use of budgetary funds already approved: he should be allowed to make what he felt would be the best use of the funds allocated for the renting of office space. He urged that the Board consider the advance from the Working Capital Fund - which in the light of the Director-General 1 s report (document ЕВ39/ 斗 2 and Add.l) he approved - while continuing to stress the need for using to the full the existing office space Dr MONDET suggested that the alternative of renting office space or constructing a temporary building be specifically mentioned in paragraph (2) of the draft resolution proposed by Professor Aujaleu. He agreed with Dr Venediktov T s amendment

16 EB39/Min/l8 Rev.l to that paragraph. He did not, however, consider that the Secretariat 1 s hands should be tied in the matter of renting office space. Dr RAO said that it was clear by now that the existing accommodation was inadequate for the additional staff that had to be appointed to carry out the programmes already approved by the Health Assembly. The Director-General was fullyjustified in proposing the construction of temporary accommodation instead of paying rent, especially as no further approval by the Health Assembly and no increase in the scale of assessment of Members of the Organization were needed to begin construction, as pointed out by Mr Siegel., Assistant Director-General, The temporary accommodation, therefore, should be approved by the Executive Board. should be approved by the Health Assembly if necessary. The financial arrangements Meanwhile the staff should be regrouped in existing space as a temporary measure to avoid renting space elsewhere. He suggested that the Direetôr-General should further be requested to estimate the needs for office accommodation for the next five or seven years so that the question of additional permanent accommodation could be broached. At the same time the temporary accommodation should be made as durable as possible Mr ABRAR acknowledged that additional was to pursue its activities effectively office space was needed if the Organization Ke suggested that paragraph (2) of the draft resolution, with Dr Venekiktov f s proposed amendment, should include a reference to staff needs for future activities. The CHAIRMAN asked that all the proposals made by members should be submitted in writing, in order to facilitate the discussion.

17 一 EB39/Min/l8 Rev.l Sir George GODBER âaid that he was anxious that the Board should not give the impression of blarhing ; the Director-General for needing more space after having in the past pressed him into carrying out activities requiring staff increases. Noting that it was proposed to use an advance from the Working Capital Fund to finance the provision of temporary accommodation (document paragraph 7) by virtue of resolution WHA18.14 of the Eighteenth World Health Assembly, which authorized the Dire с tor-general to advance from the Working Capital Fund "such sums as may be necessary to meet unforeseen or extraordinary expenses", he wondered whether that provision was intended to cover a use of funds such as that proposed The point would have to be considered by the Twentieth World Health Assembly. - : ; He supported Professor Aujaleu 1 s draft resolution in principle, but would submit a revised text asking the Director-General (1) to determine the needs for extra accommodation; (2) to study the possibility of using the existing building, including the cost of any adaptation; ⑶ to examine alternative methods and the «..... cost of providing any accommodation which it might not be possible to find within the existing building; and (4) to report to the Twentieth World Health Assembly. It seemed likely that the most economical solution would prove to be the provision of offices, making use of the existing facilities of the headquarters buildings and that the building would be called "temporary"although it would be a structure that would outlast the present members of the Board: that would, however, have to. г Г- '..... ' be demonstrated to the Health Assembly, whioh should take the decision on the matter. Dr VENEDIKTOV said that he would not press for inclusion in the draft resolution of a paragraph that would restrict the power of the Director-General He urged that a cautious statement of the Board 1 s attitude towards additional accommodation be

18 EB39/Min/l8 Rev. 一 676 雄 presented, such as that "the Board could not say that new office space was not necessary". He suggested that decision on the matter of additional accommodation be taken at the next session of the Executive Board in the light of the Health Assembly 1 s deliberations Dr OTOLORIN said that there seemed to be general agreement that some kind of additional accommodation was required Immediate requirements - those for 1967 and should be kept distinct from those resulting from decisions of later Health Assemblies. Financial provision was already made for the rental of additional accommodation outside the building, and if there was no advance from the Working Capital Fund, accommodation would have to be rented, and it had been demonstrated that that was uneconomical. The Board should approve the use of an advance to allow the more economical solution to proceed, and recommend to the Health Assembly that it approve the necessary financial arrangements for the building of temporary accommodation, which should, however, rather be called an "annex" or "additional building" In addition, a separate study should be made of future needs in accommodation. The CHAIRMAN asked whether he was right in assuming that the Director-General 's recommendation, including the resolution for adoption by the Twentieth World Health Assembly, meant that it was not planned to rent space before then. Mr SIEGEL answered that although the urgent requirements for office space would occur after the Health Assembly - that was by June the Director-General T s proposal as contained in document Щ59/ 斗 2 was that the Board would immediately authorize the

19 一 my^mri/is> Rev.i advance from the Working Capital Fund by virtue of resolution WHAl8»l4 of the Eighteenth World Health Assembly, so that construction might begin on an annex to meet requirements by that date* If the decision were postponed until the next session of the Executive Board at the end of May, another four months would elapse before the annex became ready for occupation» The CHAIRMAN asked why, if the Board had the authority^ the matter should still have to be submitted for approval by the IWentieth World Health Assembly. Mr SIEGEL explained that it was not approval of the advance of $ from the Working Capital Fund that was sought from the Health Assembly д but approval of the proposed method of reimbursing the Working Capital Fund by payments over a period of years rather than by special provision in the next budget estimates of the Organization. In paragraph 8 of document EB)9/42 reference was made to Financial Regulation 6.4 which provided that "advances made from the Working Capital Fund for authorized purposes shall be reimbursed through the submission of supplementary estimates" It was for that reason that the suggested form of resolution presented by the Director-General as part of his proposal contained a resolution for submission to the Twentieth World Health Assembly, which would, in the words of its operative paragraph, approve "the proposed method of reimbiirsement of the Working Capital Fund, notwithstanding Financial Regulation 6.4" Ihe CHAIRMAN thanked Mr Siegel for his explanation.

20 EB39/Min/l8 Rev.l Professor AUJALEíJ said - that plainly resolution WHAl8;-l4. opened the way for ths Executive Board to make certain advances from the Working Capital Pund, but it governed procedure alone, wliereas the Boa?d was being asked to take a substantive decision - to authorize the construction of temporary buildings, which the resolution gave it no authority to do. The matter was far too serious for the Board to take a decision; he would prefer that tho Health Assembly should deal with the matter Dr KEITA agreed that, \mdov Article 28 of the Constitution,:the Board was ernpowered to authorize the cons true tion of a temporary building. If it took that dicision, however, the undesirable result would ba that the Health Assembly would be called upon to endorse the Board 1 s action. Prom Mr Siegel 1 s explanations, it emerged that behind the proposal for a temporary building lurked the idea of a permanent extension to the headquarters building. Was he correct in that assumption? Tiie CHAIR4/VN thought the discussion might be given a different slant if more emphasis was placed on the fact that the Board was being asked to choose between two alternative ways: of providing tiae additional accommodation needed for the staff? by renting.office space, a course that would entail expenses in addition, to the rental, or by constructing a temporary building on a free site adjacent to thç headquarters, the cost of which would eventually be defrayed, out of funds budgeted for rental of сpace. That matter was entirely different to the question of Ions-term utilisation of the headquarters building with the possibility of a future permanent extension.

21 EB39/Mii]/l8 Hev-1 Mr SIEGEL said the Chairman had summarized the position quite clearly. Answering the point raised by Dr Keita, he said it had become clear during the discussion that some members of the Board were of the opinion that the forthcoming Health Assembly, as well as being informed of the need for temporary accommodation, should also be informed that in the future the question of meeting the accommodation need on a longer term or more permanent basis would have 1;o be considered, since it was becoming obvious that the Organization should begin to envisage the adding of an extension to the headquarters building. In the report to be submitted to the Health Assembly on the extension of the use of the Russian and Spanish languages, attention would certainly be drawn to the fact that, if approved, that measure would entail the provision of additional staff and temporary office space to accommodate them, since past experience had shown that a five-year period would be needed for planning and constructing a permanent extension to the building. In raising that point now the Board had drawn attention to a logical consequential matter that should be followed up; however, study of that second question did not eliminate the need for study of the first matter, namely the need for temporary accommodation and the Director-General 1 s proposals for meeting that need. Dr ALAN asked whether he understood the position aright: in view of the urgent need that existed, it seemed that the Director-General would within the next two or three months find himself obliged to rent office space in the city: if the question of the temporary building was referred to the Health Assembly, therefore, rent would apparently have to be paid on that space for a period of six to seven months, if time was to be given for completing the temporary structure, should the Health Assembly approve it.

22 EB39/Min/l8 Rev.l -68o 一 Mr SIEGEL. explained that, in his earlier comments, he had been trying to say that, in three to four months 1 time, the Director-General would be faced with an urgent need for additional accommodation and that, in the event of the Board not agreeing with his present proposal, he would then have to consider how best that need might be met, whether by renting office space in the city or by some alternative means such as postponing the introduction of certain functions approved by the Health Assembly, or rearranging the space already available, if possible, to get extra offices. Sir George GODBER remarked that, as the discussion progressed, he was becoming steadily more concerned about the proposal before the Board The sort of temporary construction that could be ready by June would be of very light wooden structure that would, neither be satisfactory in the short run nor have a long life. He accordinglyfelt considerable doubt about going into an undertaking of the kind; to be ready in June, the building would have to be commissioned in two to three weeks 1 time, ruling out the possibility of making a detailed study of the maximum use of existing resources, as suggested by Professor Aujaleu. Moreover, he still had doubts about the propriety of such action being taken under resolution WHA18.14, which seemed to envisage action by the Board only in emergency. Was the action in question, involving an investment of $ 斗 00 ООО in huts, an emergency, particularly when the Health Assembly would be meeting such a short time ahead? His understanding of the provisions of resolution WHA18.14 was that a

23 -68l - EB39/Min/1 8 Rev.l far greater degree of urgency would be needed to warrant Board action under them. Even should the Board authorize that action, there would still be need to examine in detail the contribution that could be made towards solving the accommodation problem by the various ways suggested in the discussion. Mr SIEGEL thought it might be useful, in the light of the last comments, to point out that the Secretariat had endeavoured to avoid a temporary structure of the kind envisaged; in the Director-General f s report (document EB)9/ 斗 2) reference was made to the type of building he had in mind, i a fire-proof temporary building. The construction would be of the prefabricated type in the form of concrete blocks or something of a similar nature. Firm bids obtained without commitment since the Director-General r s report had been prepared confirmed that the total anticipated cost of $ would cover the full expenditure involved. Should the Board agree to endorse that proposal, the construction of the building could, the Di re с t or-general believed, be completed within a four-month period. On the other hand, should the Board be convinced that it lacked the authority to proceed on those lines, an entirely different question would arise. The Di re с tor-general believed that it did possess the necessary authority under resolution WHA18.14 but, if any reservations existed, he would not wish to press the matter. The reference to the WHO Constitution in that resolution had not been inserted at the instance of the Secretariat.

24 EB39/Min/l8 Rev.l Dr MONDET, summir^ up the discussion as he had understood it, said that three points would seem to require a plain answer: (1) whether additional accommodation was needed; (2) if so, whether the need should be met by renting office space or by a temporary building since it had been established that, with the best will in the world, there was no possibility of providing for the development foreseen for the near future within the headquarters building; and ⑶ whether the decision was to be taken by the Board or the matter referred to the Health Assembly. Por himself^ he would exister in the affirmative on the first point; would support the с ons truc ti on of a temporary building on the second; and, on ths third, would opt for having the matter decided by ths Board. The DIRECTOR-GENERAL said the discussion had aroused some concern on his pert If the Board had any doubts whatsoever about taking the action he was proposing, he would suggest that no decision be taken at the moment beyond requesting the Secretariato study the whole matter further on tho lines suggested during the discussion» ТЬэ whole question of accommodation to meet the future needs of the Organization, whether by way of temporary or pe panent building, could then be referred to tho forthcoming Health Assembly for consideration. He would meet any needs that might arise in the immediate future under his own responsibility in the matter Depending on those needs he would have to decide whether office space in the city should bs mted or a temporary building constructed out of funds advanced from the Working Capital Fund under his own authority; 1гэ would of course avoid the latter alterneitive if at all possible.

25 EB39/MiVl8 Rev.l In that way, the Board would have an opportunity at its next session to reconsider the whole matter in the light of information on immediate, intermediate and long-term requirements and to come to a better conclusion than would be possible in existing circumstances. If that course of action appealed to the Board as a way out of the difficulty, an appropriate draft resolution could be suggested for its с onsiderati on The CHAIRMAN noted that the texts of the proposals made by members had now been reproduced in Conference Documents. The draft resolution proposed by Professor Aujaleu and Dr Venediktov was as follows (EB39/Conf.Doc. No. 23): The Executive Board, Having studied the Director-General 1 ассommodati on, s report on temporary office REQUESTS the Direc tor-general : (1) to study all the possibilities of using the existing building; (2) to determine precisely the needs for extra office accommodation taking into account, (a) the staff numbers envisaged in the 1967 and 1968 budgets; and (b) the staff that may become necessary in the subsequent years; and (J>) to report on this subject to the Twentieth V/orld Health Assembly. The draft resolution proposed by Sir George Godber was as follows (EB39/Conf.Doc. No. 24): The Executive Board, Having studied the Director-General 1 ассommodation, s report on temporary office

26 (t2eheb59/min/l8 Rev.l REQUESTS the Director-General : (1) to determine precisely the needs for extra office accommodation, taking into account the staff numbers envisaged in the 1967 and 1968 budgets and the staff which might be necessary in the following years; )to study all possibilities of using the existing building, including cost of any adaptations : (3) to examine alternative methods and cost of providing any accommodation which it may not be possible to find within the existing building; and (4) to report on these matters to the Twentieth World Health Assembly. The revised text proposed by Dr Mondet for the draft resolution proposed by Professor Aujaleu (EB59/Conf.Doc No. 22) was as follows (EB39/Conf.Doc. No. 25): The Executive Board, Having studied the Director-General f s report on temporary office accommodation, REQUESTS the Director-General : (1) to study all tha possibilities of using the existing building; (2) to determine precisely the needs for extra office accommodation, taking into account:, (a) the possibility of renting or building temporary ас с omniccla 4 -. i on ; (b) the staff numbors envisaged in the 1967 and 1968 budgets and ths staff which might be necessary in the following years; and ⑶ to repcri on this subject to the Twentieth World Health Assembly. The draft resolution proposed by Dr Rao was as follows (EB)9/Conf Doc, No. 26)î The Executive Board, Having studied the Director-General f s report on temporary office accommodation. RECOMMENDS to the Twentieth World Health Assembly the adoption of the following resolution:

27 - 685 _ :: ïhe Ï^ehtieth World Health Assembly -... : :r ':" 1. AUTHORIZES the Director-General to proceed'mth the construction of the temporary accommodation; 2. REQUESTS the Director-General: (i) to adjust within the existing space in the building the extra accommodation required until such time as the annex is ready; and (ii ) to determine thé needs of extra office accommodation required for the next five to seven years, so that an extra permanent building may be considered at the appropriate timé. The draft resolution proposed by Abrar was as follows (ЕВ39/Conf.Doc. No. 27): The Executive Board, Having considered the Direc tor-general f ас с ommodati on ; s report on temporary office Recognizing that the normal, orderly growth of the Organization will require the provision of adequate accommodation on a long-term basis, 1. REQUESTS the Direc tor-general to study the long-term requirements of the Organization for headquarters accommodation; and 2. REQUESTS the Di rec tor- General to present a preliminary report to the Twentieth World Health Assembly. The CHAIRMAN ôaid thàt therè seemed to be general agreement with' the suggestions made by the Director-General. Mr SIEGEL read out tne suggested draft resolution entitled n Future Requironents for Office as follows : - - " The Executive Ac с ommodati on at Headquarters (EB39/Conf.Doc. No. 28) Board, Having studied the proposals of the Director-General for temporary office accommodation; and Having discussed the accommodation likely to be required on a long-term basis,

28 EB59/Min/l8 Rev.l REQUESTS the Dire с tor-gene ral, taking into account the discussions in the Board, to study the immediate, intermediate and the long-term needs of the Organization at headquarters and submit proposals to the Twentieth World Health Assembly Sir George GODBER said the draft resolution exactly covered his views and he would withdraw his own draft resolution in its favour. Professor AUJALEU said that he would be happy to withdraw his draft resolution if the со-sponsor was in agreement. Dr VENEDIKTOV confirmed that he was agreeable to that course since the latest draft resolution better expressed his views. Dr MONDET, Mr ABRAR and Dr RAO also withdrew their proposals. The CHAIRMAN noted that, in fact, the Dire сtor-general had already taken account of the discussion and that fact should be recorded. Decision: The draft resolution was adopted.1 CONSIDERATION OF THE PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR THE TWENTIETH WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY: Item 4,3 of the Agenda (Document EB39/58 Rev.l) (continued from the seventeenth meeting, section 11) The DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL drew attention to the fact that a number of changes had been made in the provisional agenda for the Twentieth World Health Assembly, pursuant to decisions taken by the Board at the current session. In the revised version contained in document EB39/38 Rev.l a number of the changes had already been included. Item 2.12 in the original version (EB59/38) (Proposed procedure for 1 Resolution EB39.R52-

29 EB39/Mln/l8 Rev.l discussing in the Health Assembly matters relating to the programme and budget of the Organization), had been transposed to come under item Further changes required by decisions taken at the latest meetings were : (1) item15.2 (Temporary office accommodation at headquarters) was to be replaced by an item entitled "Future requirements for office accommodation at headquarters"; and (2) item was to be replaced by a new item: "Extension of the use of the Russian and Spanish languages", deleting the words item proposed by Spain". Consequential numbering changes would be made and the relevant resolution references added. Professor AUJALEU suggested that a new item for consideration by the Committee or Programme and Budget should be inserted after item headed If necessary, according to the decisions taken on item 1 Í0 ft with the title : "Recommendations on the budget ceiling for 1969". Mr SIEGEL, Assistant Director-General^ agreed that the item would be needed; and suggested that the title reproduce the wording used in paragraph (1) (f) of resolution EB39*R28, i.e. consideration of the general order of magnitude of the budget for 1969", specifying in parenthesis that the item was dependent on the decisic^is taken undeiv agenda item 1.10, It was so agreed. The CHAIRMAN submitted the following draft resolution for the Board's с onsiderati on r The Executive Board APPROVES the Director-General 1 s proposals for the provisional agenda of the Twentieth World Health Assembly. Decision: The draft resolution was adopted. 工 1 Resolution EB39.R50.

30 EB39/Min/l8 Rev DATE AND PLACE OF THE FORTIETH SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD: Item 4.5 of the Agenda Mr SIEGEL, Assistant Director-General, said that the Twentieth World Health Assembly would be convened for Monday, 8 May Assuming that it would meet for the regular period of time the fortieth session of the Board could commence at headquarters on Monday 29 May I967 - the Monday following the anticipated end of the Health, Assembly. The CHAIRMAN, noting that there was general agreement on time and place, submitted the following draft resolution for the Board? s consideration: The Executive Board DECIDES to hold its fortieth session in Geneva, Switzerland, commencing on Monday, 29 May Decision: The draft resolution was adopted^ The meeting was suspended at 11 «50 a,m, andj?esumed at 12,50 p»m 4 # CLOSURE OF THE SESSION The CHAIRMAN announced that a complete index of the resolutions adopted at the current session of the Board had been distributed in document EB39/52* Dr EL WASSY said he wished to congratulate the Chairman on the admirable way he had conducted the meetings of the Board. discussed had been shown in his wise guidance. His knowledge of the complex problems He thanked him on behalf of the region he represented and on his own behalf and was sure that in so doing he also expressed the feelings of all members. He wished also to-thank x he Vice-Presidents, 1 Resolution EB39.R5:U

31 -689 ЕВ39/М1д/18'Rev.l the Rapporteurs, the Organization's highly esteemed Director-Gener^al^ the Deputy ItíLrector-General.,.. Mr Siegel, and the Régional Directors, who iiad all been so helpful in dispatching the business of the. session..: He- hoped that his appreciation would be conveyed to the members of the Secretaria^;, and particularly to the extremely capable interpreters. Professor GONZALEZ TORRES said he shared the views expressed by the previous speaker. Since it was the last time he would be attending a session of the Board, his term of office expiring at the end of the next Health Assembly, he wished particularly to thank the Di rec tor- General and the Regional Directors, and his fellow members, for the great kindness they had shown Mm. As a member of the Board he had done his utmost to contribute to the work of the Organization and the previous three years had been the most valuable experience of his career as a health officer. Dr BENYAKHLEF said he, too, wished to congratulate the Chairman on his efficient conduct of the debates throughout the session and to compliment the Di rec t or- General and his collaborators on their invaluable assistance, particularly in making so much technical information readily available,,. Mr QUINTON, alternate to Sir George Godber, said that the members of the Board would have noted that not all those present were doctors, or financial experts of Mr Siegel 1 s standing. He wished to congratulate the Chairman and Vice-chairmen on the masterly way they had guided the Board in its deliberations,, and to pay tribute -. to the relevant. Secretariat services, Dr JAYESURIA said he subscribed to all the comments made by previous speakers. The session had been particularly valuable both for its discussions and the information it had provided. He thanked the Chairman for his guidance and the Director-General and his staff for their kindness

32 Hev.l / Professor MACUCH said that the goodwill and co-operative spirit shown bymembers of the Board had resulted in a most fruitful session. Important conclusions had been reached which should facilitate the Board 1 s future work, paving the way to the adoption of programes and budgets without votes or abstentions. He had been impressed by the democratic spirit and good humour that had been a feature of the meetings so ably guided by the Chairman, and thanked the Director-General and his staff for their able assistance. He was looking forward to returning to Geneva in Шу, particularly to the technical discussions. Dr RAO said that the inspiration^ guidance and charm of the Chairman had been an important time-saving factor in the deliberations of the Board. He congratulated the Vice-Chairmen, the Rapporteurs, and also Professor.cuch on his appointment as General Chairman of the technical discussions. He himself, as Chairman of the Standing Committ3e on Administration and Finance, had been most ably assisted by the members of the Committee and the Chairman and members of the Board. Dr VENEDIKTOV said that the session had been excellent; exchanges of views, and important decisions had been reached» there had been useful It had been a pleasure for him to work with the Chairman, the members of the Board, and the Director-General and Ms collaborators. Dr NCHINDA said that previous speakers had expressed all he would have liked to say, particularly in their congratulations to the Chairroan. He wished to join them in congratulating also the Director-^General and his assistants, Mr Siegel, the Regional Directors, the Secretariat and the interpreters. Dr Happi, whom he was representing, was, like Professor Gonzalez Torres, at the end of his term of office. He was sure