Table 1 Select WHO reform recommendations in the literature pre-EVD

Committee C

Establishment of a new “Committee C” of WHA to debate major health initiatives and engage and coordinate across a broader array of global health stakeholders (including non-state actors.)

Silberschmidt G, Matheson D, Kickbusch I. Creating a committee C of the World Health Assembly. Lancet. 2008 May 3; 371(9623):1483–6. [27]

World Health Forum

Establishment of a new informal multistakeholder forum to engage non-state actors. This proposal was subsequently rejected by member states and also criticized by civil society actors

Commentary: Hawkes N. Re: “Irrelevant” WHO outpaced by younger rivals. BMJ 2015; 343(aug09 1):d5012–2. WHO website: http://www.who.int/dg/reform/en_who_reform_world_health_forum.pdf [28]

Splitting WHO

Dividing WHO secretariat functions into two different technical and political stewardship entities, with collaboration in areas that overlap.

Hoffman SJ, Rottingen J-A. Split WHO in two: strengthening political decision-making and securing independent scientific advice. Public Health 2014; 128(2):188–94. [6]

Revising WHO’s Constitution

Revising WHO’s constitution to fill the gaps in global governance as part of WHO reform process and for broader democratization of the agency.

Hoffman SJ, Rottingen J-A. Dark Sides of the Proposed Framework Convention on Global Health’s Many Virtues: A Systematic Review and Critical Analysis”. Health & Human Rights Journal 15(1): 117–134. [29]