World Health Assembly
The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the forum through which the World Health Organization (WHO) is governed by its 194 member states. It is the world's highest health policy setting body and is composed of health ministers from member states.
| Abbreviation | WHA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1948 |
| Type | Forum through which the World Health Organization (WHO) is governed. |
| Legal status | Active |
| Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
Membership | 194 Countries |
Chairperson | Dr. Harsh Vardhan (Minister of Health and Family Welfare, India) |
Parent organization | World Health Organization |
| Website | who.int/about/governance/world-health-assembly |
The members of the WHA generally meet every year in May in Geneva at the Palace of Nations, the location of WHO Headquarters. The main tasks of the WHA are to decide major policy questions, as well as to approve the WHO work programme and budget and elect its Director-General (every fifth year) and annually to elect ten members to renew part of its executive board. Its main functions are to determine the policies of the Organization, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.