World health organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a coordinating authority of the United Nations for international health care. The World Health Organization has been in existence since 1948 and is based in Geneva. The highest governing body is the annual World Health Assembly (WHA), in which the 194 member states are represented. The WHO has 6 regional offices with the European office based in Copenhagen.

In 1986, the preparation of monographs for selected medicinal plants began, which are regularly republished. see also WHO monographs.

The aim of WHO is to achieve the best possible level of health worldwide.

The WHO has the following objectives:

• to combat communicable diseases, epidemics and pandemics; to develop vaccination programmes.
• To raise awareness of health risks such as smoking and obesity; to implement prevention programmes.
• To implement comprehensive development programmes and help build cost-effective health systems.
• Collection of health data and annual publication of the World Health Report.
• Promotion of medical research and development of internationally recognised guidelines and standards. The WHO implements the guidelines through international treaties, competencies through the WHO Constitution and through recommendations.

The World Health Organization has numerous libraries and databases on numerous health systems. There are also numerous publications and books and downloads on regional or international health issues. Through its worldwide network of members, associations and wealthy companies that provide financial support to WHO, the organization is the most effective in the world in combating disease.