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There are many institutes
specializing in health or health-related fields in
Thailand
that have been engaged by the World Health Organization (WHO) to serve as venues
for international activities. Experts
from these institutes have also been called upon by WHO as well as other international
organizations such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
and the European Commission (EC) to provide technical assistance to other countries. Some of these institutes were designated
as WHO Collaborating Centres (WHO CCs), while some choose
to remain national Centers of Expertise (CEs), but are
willing to participate at the international level.
These institutes should be further developed and better utilized by WHO and
countries in the region.
The Royal Thai Government has also
explicitly expressed its intent to make
Thailand
a technical hub for the region and changed the country’s status regarding health
technology from a recipient to a contributor through
tripartite cooperation.
This can be realized if the expertise of these health and health-related institutes
are recognized by international community.
One way to accomplish this aim is to improve communication among the institutes
so that they can draw upon each other’s strengths as well as learn from each other. A network of WHO CCs and
CEs in
Thailand
is therefore established initially comprising approximately 70 institutions whose
representatives participated in any of the meeting of WHO CCs /
ECs during the past few years.
Section 1:
This Charter shall come into force as from the day following the date of
its adoption by the Executive Board.
Section 2:
In this Charter :
“WHO Collaborating Centre” means
a national institution designated by the Director-General of the World Health Organization
to form part of an international collaborative network carrying out activities in
support of WHO’s mandate for international health work and its
programme priorties.
An entire institution, or a department or laboratory within an institution,
or a group of facilities for reference, research or training belonging to different
institutions, may be designated as a “WHO Collaborating Centre”.
When a WHO collaborating centre comprises several departments or institutions,
only one of one of these acts for that centre in relation to WHO.
“Centre of Expertise” means and
institution that possesses at least one expertise area out of all
WHO’s areas of work. The
Centre of Expertise must be well recognized in its scientific and technical standing
at the national or regional or international level, and its ability to strengthen
national and regional capacity for health development.
The Centre of Expertise should have the capacity and
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the institutional stability
to develop relationships with other institutions through
collaborative activities and networking.
They should be willing and prepared to use their own resources to implement
such activities.
Any WHO CC whose term has expired
and / or is in the process of applying for re-designation may be regarded as “a
Centre of Expertise”.
“Sub-network” means a group of
WHO CCs / CEs whose expertise is closely related to
each other, under each major group of WHO Areas of Work; one WHO CC / CE may be
a member of more than one sub-network.
“Area of Work (AoW)”
means a WHO Area of Work as shown in the WHO Preparation of Country Detailed Work
Plans (2004-2005), or according to the latest version of such or other relevant
documents issued by WHO.
CHAPTER I
Section 3:
The goal and objectives of the Network are:
Goal:
To promote the international use
of Thai expertise through establishing close linkages with international agencies
and networks, to which information concerning Thai institutes and their expertise
will be disseminated.
Objectives:
1.
To promote scientific and technical collaboration
among professionals of
member institutes.
2.
To promote capacity building among member institutes
through sharing, cooperating and coordinating expertise and technical resources,
and to become a WHO CC, if they desire.
3.
To develop strategies and methods for the development
and management of WHO Country Programme.
4.
To advice WHO on various matters related to Technical
Cooperation among Countries (TCC).
Section 4: There shall be a Secretariat office located
at a selected
institution, as determined by the Executive Board.
The Secretariat office is assigned for a four-year term, which may be renewable.
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CHAPTER II
Section 5:
All WHO CCs are Members of the Network.
Any other
internationally recognized Centre of Expertise located in
Thailand
and is committed to the objectives of the Network can apply to become a Member.
In the initial stage, the Network
membership includes
approximately 70 institutions participating in the WHO CCs /
CEs meetings in 2002-2004.
Section 6:
Membership application can be made through the
Secretariat and shall
be approved by the executive Board, according to a set of predetermined criteria.
Section 7:
Any organization not mentioned in Section 6 that are
committed to the objectives of the Network can apply or be invited to become
and Honorary Member.
Section 8: All members can
participate in the activities organized
by the Network. Only Full members
are entitled to serve on the Executive Board as prescribed in Section 11 (1) and
(2).
Section 9:
Membership is free of charge, except that the General
Assembly decides otherwise.
Section 9:
Membership may be terminated by:
(1)
submission of a letter of resignation to the Executive Board, through
; or
(2)
a majority vote of the General
Assembly.
CHAPTER III
Section 10:
There are three principal organs of the Network:
(1)
An executive Board (EB);
(2)
A Secretariat; and
(3)
A General Assembly
Section 11:
The Executive Board shall consist of:
(1)
Member ex officio, viz., the
WHO country representative, one
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representative of the Department of Technical and Economic
Co-operation, one representative of the Ministry of Public Health, and the Director
or Dean of the Institute that houses the Secretariat office.
(2) Six qualified
members from six major groups of Areas of Work
as
elected (one for each AoW) by the Sub-networks.
(3) Up to five
qualified members who will be invited by the Board
members
of (1) and (2). Such qualified persons
should be from the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and / or other organizations deemed appropriate for the Network functioning.
Section 12:
The Executive Board shall elect among its members a
Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson.
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Section 13:
The Executive Board shall appoint a Secretary-General (SG) who will serve as the
secretary of the Executive Board. The
secretary is not a voting member of the Executive Board.
Section 14:
The term of office of the Executive Board is four years.
A qualified Executive Board member who has served the full term may re-appointed, but may not serve more than two consecutive
terms.
Section 15:
At the expiration of the term, if the new qualified Executive Board members have
not yet been appointed, the qualified members who will vacate the office at the
expiration of the term shall remain in office to continue performing the work until
newly appointed qualified members take office.
Section 16:
The Executive Board shall have the powers and duties to control and supervise the
operation of the Network for the attainment of the objectives prescribed in CHAPTER
I. Such powers include:
(1) Determining
administrative policies and approve an action plan for the Network;
(2) Proposing
an annual action and financial plan of the Network as well as an annual budget for
the Secretariat office to the General Assembly for approval;
(3) Prescribing
criteria and procedures for the selection of the Secretariat and the Secretary-General;
(4) Raising
funds;
(5)
Prescribing rules for finance and audit procedures; and
(6)
Appointing qualified persons
as advisors or an advisory committee.
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Section 17:
At a meeting of the Executive Board, if the Chairperson is not present or is unable
to perform duties, the Vice Chairperson shall preside over the meeting.
If the Vice Chairperson is not present or is unable to perform duties, the
members present shall elect one amongst themselves to preside over the meeting.
Section 18:
At a Board meeting, the presence of one half of the total number of members is required
to constitute a quorum. The decisions
shall be by a majority vote.
In the case of an equality of votes, the presiding Chairperson
shall have and additional vote as a casting vote.
Section 19:
The policy and functions of the Network, guided by the Executive Board, shall be
implemented by the Secretary-General who is appointed by the Executive Board. The Secretary-General is head of the
Secretariat.
Section 20: The Secretary-General must have the following
qualifications:
(1)
being a well-known person nationally
and internationally in technical
services;
(2)
being a person with a good
command of communication and
negotiation
skills, knowledge and experiences suitable to the affairs of the Network.
Section 21:
The Secretary-General shall hold office for a term of four
years,
and may be re-appointed, subjected to performance evaluation by the Executive Board.
Section 22:
The Secretariat shall have the following powers and duties:
(1)
to promote close communication
among member institutions;
(2)
to support regular professional
and technical development and
capacity building exercises and exchanges;
(3)
to foster closer linkages with
international agencies;
(4)
to ensure the availability
of adequate funds for the network to
function properly;
(5)
to help create sufficient incentives
for member institutions to
collaborate and coordinate effectively;
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(6)
to promote the international
use of Thai expertise, through the
collection
and dissemination of information concerning Thai institutions and their experts
/ specialists.
Section 23:
In order to operate the Network effectively, the Executive
Board shall set up criteria and a mechanism for the selection
and hiring / appointment of members of Secretariat staff who will work under
the supervision of the Secretary-General toward the achievement of the Network objectives.
Section 24:
The office of the Secretariat shall be located in one of the
institutes
that is a member of the Network, hereinafter referred to as the Host Institute.
Section 25:
The Host Institute shall employ staff of the Secretariat according to the criteria
set by the Executive Board.
Section 26: The General
Assembly:
(1)
Shall consist of a number of
the Network members, and shall be the
body
that receives the reports of the business of the Network.
It shall consider whether such reports adequately meet the objectives of
the Network.
(2)
Shall be chaired by the Chairperson
of the Executive Board with the
Secretary-General as the Secretary of the General Assembly.
(3)
Will meet at least once a year. Notice of the meeting and the agenda
shall
be sent to all members at least 30 days in advance of the General Assembly. The proceedings of each meeting shall
be prepared by the Secretariat and distributed to all members.
Section 27:
The General Assembly has the following powers and duties:
(1)
Endorsement the appointment
of the Executive Board;
(2)
Endorsement of policies set
by the Executive Board;
(3)
Approval of an annual work
plan and budget.
Section 28:
At a meeting of the General Assembly, the presence of at least
one
half of the total number of the members is required to constitute a quorum.
Section 29:
The decision of the General Assembly shall be made by a
majority
vote, except as indicated otherwise.
In the case of an equality of votes, the presiding Chairperson
shall have
an
additional vote as a casting vote.
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CHAPTER IV
Section 30:
A Fiscal Year begins on 1 January and ends on 31 December of each year.
Section 31:
The Secretary-General shall propose an annual budget for consideration by the Executive
Board and for approval by the General Assembly.
Section 32:
Financial resources will be initially contributed by WHO Thailand for 2004-2005. The support for 2006-2007 and beyond
from WHO will be subject to the availability of funds.
Section 33.
Other resources can be raised by the Secretariat according to the principles as
agreed to by the Executive Board.
Section 34:
In the initial stage, the financial rules of the Host Institution shall apply to
the extent that such rules are not in conflict with the WHO rules.
The WHO Thailand spreadsheet / ledger format will be used.
At a later stage, with or without WHO funding support, the Network
shall establish its own financial rules.
However, in certain circumstances the rules of the funding agencies may have to
be followed.
CHAPTER V
AMENDMENT AND DISSOLUTION
Section 35:
Any amendment to the Charter shall be submitted by at least 10 Members to the Executive
Board, and approved by a majority vote of the General Assembly.
Section 36:
The Network can be dissolved by the decision of a two-thirds vote of the General
Assembly. Upon dissolution, the remaining
funds and assets will be re turned to the original funding agencies as per grant
agreements (if any); if there is no such requirements, the remaining funds / assets
shall be given to charitable organizations in Thailand.
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CHAPTER VI
Section 37: The Interim Executive
Board as assigned and agreed to at the
13 February 2004
WHO CCs and CEs
Network meeting shall serve as an Executive Board for one year.
The Interim Executive Board shall approve the first annual work plan and
budget.
Section 38:
An election of the new Executive Board shall be done at the next annual general
Assembly in early 2005.
Section 39: This Charter was
adopted by the interim Executive Board at its
19 March 2004
meeting and shall be in full force until later
adopted and / or amended (if any) at the next General Assembly.
Section 40:
The Executive Board shall consider and arrange for a formal registration of the
Network with the relevant Thai authorities after 3 to 4 years of the Network operations.
Section 41:
An initial appointment of the secretary-General and Secretariat staff for the first
4-year period shall be made by WHO Thailand.
Some time before the end for that period, the Executive Board
shall establish a procedure for selection and recruitment of the Secretary-General
for the next time.
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