Introduction of WHO Mongolia

The history of World Health Organization in Mongolia is a story of over 40 years of collaboration, going back to 18 April 1962.

Over the past four decades, WHO has made significant contributions to the implementation of Mongolian national health policies and efforts to improve the health and social well-being of the people of Mongolia. WHO has additionally played a major role with the Ministry of Health in health system development and the reform process through various technical inputs. WHO's contribution has included a focus on reducing maternal and child deaths and diseases, restructuring and financing of healthcare services, health insurance, human resource development, strengthening health information systems and the establishment of multi-sectoral integrated approaches for health promotion.

Mongolia's active participation and significant role in the work of WHO is widely recognized by fellow-Member States. Mongolian representatives have on different occasions been elected as President and Vice-President of the World Health Assembly and Chairman and Vice-Chairman of meetings of the Western Pacific Regional Committee. Furthermore, Mongolian representatives have served as members of the Scientific Consultative Committee of WHO/SEARO as well as international civil servants in both Regional and field offices, thus making a significant contribution to the promotion of WHO goals. Mongolia hosted Regional Committee meetings in 1967, 1977 and 1994 and hosted a regional seminar on PHC in Huvsgul aimag in 1984. Additionally, Mongolia hosted the 12th meeting of the Ministers of Health of regional countries in 1994.

Five strategic priorities for WHO cooperation have been identified for the CCS covering the next six years:

• Health system strengthening through primary health care;
• Scaling up prevention and control of NCDs, injuries, violence and their determinants;
• Sustaining and accelerating the achievement of health-related MDG targets;
• Strengthening health security, including control of communicable and vaccine-preventable diseases;
• Strengthen environmental health management.