Australia and the World Health Organization (WHO)

Australian support recognises WHO's valuable role in providing technical assistance and advice to governments, developing new approaches, packages of interventions and normative treatment standards, and providing leadership in global and regional health issues.

The Australian Government, through the Department of Health and Ageing, provides the funds for Australia's assessed contribution to the regular budget of WHO.

Australia identifies and promotes priority areas for WHO activities and assessed contribution expenditure both in the region and globally by actively participating in the WHO Assembly and the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, as well as high-level representation on the WHO Executive Board and Programme, Budget and Administration Committee. Australia also engages in shaping the priorities for the WHO General Programme of Work - which guides the biennial WHO Programme Budgets - and helps to set the objectives, strategic approach and expected results framework that surround each budget.

In addition to Australia's ongoing commitments to WHO through our assessed contribution and AusAID funded voluntary contributions, the Department of Health and Ageing has made financial contributions to a range of issues of particular priority to Australia, such as cancer research and chemical safety.

Australia will also continue to work in partnership with WHO on issues of importance to our region such as the surveillance and control of avian influenza, pandemic preparedness, prevention of avoidable blindness, tobacco control, improvements in diet and physical activity, and laboratory biosafety.

AusAID and WHO have a separate letter of engagement that details areas of focus in the Asia Pacific region. The letter of engagement is reviewed every three years and adjustments made to reflect any strategic policy changes. Over time we expect increasing emphasis to be given to strengthening health systems. Harmonisation and alignment with partner governments, other UN agencies, bilateral donors and the global health partnerships will also receive greater attention.

Australia uses a range of processes to monitor and review WHO performance and provides constructive feedback on a regular basis through, for example, the World Health Assembly and Regional Committee meetings.

2007