Statement made by Deputy Permanent Representative Mr. B.N.Reddy at the WHO’s First Financing Dialogue
[24 June 2013;, Geneva]

Mr. Chairman,

 
Director General, Dr. Chan,

          At the outset, India welcomes the first meeting of the Financing Dialogue, and in this context laud the efforts of the Director General for her initiative to launch such a Dialogue in a transparent and open manner and with a progressively positive outlook.

          We believe that such an open and transparent process of financial reform initiative is very timely, particularly at a time when the global economic outlook remains grim. We are confident that the Dialogue will fulfill its aim of matching WHO’s results and deliberations, as agreed in the Programme Budget, and the resources available to finance them. Any efforts to achieve the objective of enhancing the quality and effectiveness of WHO’s work is welcome step.

          The three key principles of alignment, transparency, and predictability and flexibility are important to achieve full funding of the 2014-15 Programme Budget.

          India believes that WHO reform, with financing aspects as an integral part, should aim to enhance greater ownership by Member States over various aspects of WHO functioning.

          We hope that WHO will soon move towards a more sustainable form of operation, with deliverables in the Programme Budget as the key devices of the work of organizations and its resource mobilization efforts.

          India would continue to support the efforts of the Director General and the Secretariat in this innovative practice, making a seminal departure from the past practice of budget-making, and in fulfilling the global health challenges in all their dimensions.

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