[e-drug] UN inspectorate gives WHO administration a mixed review

["Kirsten Myhr" <kirsten.myhr@relis.ulleval.no>]

E-drug: UN inspectorate gives WHO administration a mixed review
---------------------------------------------

Lancet 2002; 359: 329 (26 January)

UN inspectorate gives WHO administration a mixed review

A United Nations' oversight unit has given a mixed review of the efficiency
of WHO and the management reforms introduced by director-general Gro Harlem
Brundtland since she took office 3 years ago. In a report submitted to WHO's
Executive Board meeting, which ended on Jan 18, the UN's joint inspection
unit noted that WHO was a more streamlined organisation than under its
previous head, Hiroshi Nakajima. But the report also outlined a series of
concerns.

Vowing that WHO "can and must change", Brundtland in 1998 set out to
overhaul the system, by delegating authority to senior directors through
"management support units", rationalising WHO's programmes, and trying to
introduce reforms at both regional office and country level. The report said
some of Brundtland's reforms-- especially on the management support
units--"may have been carried out too hastily" and have not led to real
improvements. The report saved its toughest words for WHO's information
technology system. Even though WHO was fully aware of the inadequacies,
little action had been taken, the report said. "The shortcomings have made
the organisation one of the laggards in the United Nations family in terms
of information management systems and corporate applications", the report
said. The research was done between July, 2000, and May, 2001--the unit's
first such investigation into WHO. The unit oversees the efficiency and
performance of UN organisations.

The joint inspection unit report urged Brundtland to submit proposals for a
comprehensive, properly supervised and funded information technology
strategy to next January's Executive Board meeting. The report noted that
there is still much scope for improving the effectiveness of WHO's regional
and country offices and the cooperation between the three levels--one of
Brundtland's key reform ambitions.

In its response, WHO said that it would try to act on the recommendations.
"Broadly, the recommendations are welcome, as they are both relevant and
implementable", a secretariat commentary to the Executive Board said. WHO
emphasised that it is still too early to assess the impact of some of the
reforms, especially on human resources.

In common with other UN agencies, WHO has "an ageing staff in a top-heavy
structure", with 51% of the professional workforce older than 50 years, the
joint inspection unit report said. Of 7000 professional staff employed by
WHO in mid-2000, only half were on fixed-term contracts and they would
likely be in the minority within the next 2 years, the report said, blaming
budgetary constraints. Despite the face-value benefits of increased
flexibility and lower outgoings on pensions, there are many drawbacks
associated with trying to hire qualified people in mid career for only
limited periods, the report warned.

Clare Kapp

Kirsten Myhr, MScPharm, MPH
Head of Eastern Region Drug Information Centre
RELIS Ost
Ulleval University Hospital
N-0407 OSLO
Tel: +47 23 01 64 11  Fax: +47 23 01 64 10
kirsten.myhr@relis.ulleval.no (w)
myhr@online.no (h)
www.relis.no
--
To send a message to E-Drug, write to: e-drug@usa.healthnet.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe, write to: majordomo@usa.healthnet.org
in the body of the message type: subscribe e-drug OR unsubscribe e-drug
To contact a person, send a message to: owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org
Information and archives: http://www.healthnet.org/programs/edrug.html