“Now is the time for Spain to be more relevant in global health policies”

“It is time for Spain to have greater relevance in global health policies, pointing out the social determinants that influence them and ensuring its protection from climate change,” García expressed via X.

“This is good news for Spain and we are proud to present this candidacy, to launch ourselves and try to join the Executive Council of WHO to be able to look at health as we always have to focus on Is.” From a more global level,” commented the Minister of EFE, who forwarded this news.

The last time Spain was part of the Executive Committee was in 2005, and for García, the return meant joining “one of the most important organizations in terms of health, which manages the governance of WHO.”

What is the WHO Executive Board?

As the WHO website explains, the main functions of the Executive Board include “giving effect to the decisions and policies of the Health Assembly, advising it and generally facilitating its work.” The main meeting of the Board, which sets the agenda for the next Health Assembly and adopts resolutions to present at the Health Assembly, is held in January, and a second, smaller meeting is held in May immediately after the Health Assembly. Have to deal with matters of a more administrative nature. The next, the 155th meeting of the Executive Council since its existence, will be held on June 3 and 4, 2024.

The Council is composed of 34 qualified members in the field of health. Most often, health ministers are from their own countries, so García could combine his position in the government with his position at WHO. For example, the health ministers of France, Denmark, Slovakia or Canada are on the council.

Members are elected for a three-year term and are each appointed by a member state, who is given the authority to do so by the World Health Assembly, WHO’s highest decision-making body. A decision on candidacy will be made next month, although it will not be made public until October and the mandate, which will last three years, will be extended from 2025 to 2028.