Special Programme on Human Reproduction: Difference between revisions

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The '''Human Reproduction Program -[[UNDP]]/[[UNFPA]]/[[UNICEF]]/[[WHO]]/[[World Bank]] Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction''' (HRP) is a WHO co-sponsored research programme on human reproduction. HRP is based at the WHO headquarters in [[Geneva]], Switzerland.<ref name=SRH>{{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/teams/sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-research-(srh)/human-reproduction-programme|title=sexual and reproductive health and research-SHR|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref> Its goal is to support and coordinate research on a global scale. It is part of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH) department of the WHO.<ref name="BenagianoMerialdi2011">Benagiano, G., & Merialdi, M. (2011). Carl Djerassi and the World Health Organisation special programme of research in human reproduction. Journal für Reproduktionsmedizin und Endokrinologie-Journal of Reproductive Medicine and Endocrinology, 8(1), 10-13. http://www.kup.at/kup/pdf/10163.pdf</ref><ref name="pmid8013216">{{cite journal | vauthors = Toppozada MK | title = Existing once-a-month combined injectable contraceptives | journal = Contraception | volume = 49 | issue = 4 | pages = 293–301 | date = April 1994 | pmid = 8013216 | doi = 10.1016/0010-7824(94)90029-9 }}</ref><ref name="pmid1829341">{{cite journal | vauthors = Koetsawang S | title = The injectable contraceptive: present and future trends | journal = Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. | volume = 626 | pages = 30–42 | date = 1991 | issue = 1 | pmid = 1829341 | doi = 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1991.tb37897.x | bibcode = 1991NYASA.626...30K | s2cid = 27008012 }}</ref>

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==Creation of the Human Reproduction Unit==

Since the first United Nations [[World Population Conference]], held in [[Rome]] in 1954, the [[United Nations]] had a growing interest in the issue of demography and associated it with the economic difficulties of developing countries. following a request of the [[UN General Assembly]],<ref>{{Cite journalweb |url=https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/204294|title=Population growth and economic development. |website=United Nations |date=March 9, 1963 }}</ref> the Secretary-General conducted an inquiry among the member-States and concluded there were indeed concerns among the developing countries about the growth of their populations. These findings were taken into account by the General Assembly in the resolution 1048 (XXXVII).<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/136768|title=Decisions of the United Nations, specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency affecting WHO's activities (programme matters): programme activities in the health aspects of world population which might be developed by WHO: report by the Director-General|date=March 9, 1965|hdl=10665/136768 |last1=World Health Assembly |first1=18 }}</ref>

As the Second World Population Conference was meeting in [[Belgrade]] in 1965, the WHO was wondering how it could contribute.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/88958|title=Decisions of the United Nations affecting WHO's activities: resolution 1048 (XXXVII) of the Economic and Social Council|date=March 9, 1965|hdl=10665/88958 |last1=Executive Board |first1=35 }}</ref> For the Director-General, as he said in a report demanded by the WHO Executive Council, "the importance of many medical, biological, social, cultural and economic factors in human reproduction makes it a major public health problem",<ref name="auto"/> which justified the decision to work on the demographic question, especially via the subject of human reproduction. The report was approved by the [[World Health Assembly]], and it was decided to study sterility, the regulation of fertility, and the health aspect of demography.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/89329|title=Programme activities in the health aspects of world population which might be developed by WHO|date=March 9, 1965|hdl=10665/89329 |last1=World Health Assembly |first1=18 }}</ref> This mark the beginning of the Human Reproduction Unit. Its mission was to give technical advice on human reproduction aspects that were involved in public health.

==Development of the Unit and creation of a global program of research==

The Human Reproduction Unit continued its mission and expanded its research not to only take into account strictly the medical aspect of human reproduction, but also economic, sociological, cultural, and psychological factors. The Unit was organizing meetings of experts and began to create a centre of documentation on human reproduction. In 1970, the WHO designated the Reproductive Endocrinology Research Unit of the [[Karolinska Institute]] of [[Stockholm]] as research and training centre on human reproduction.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/85828|title=The work of WHO, 1970: annual report of the Director-General to the World Health Assembly and to the United Nations|date=March 9, 1971|hdl=10665/85828 |hdl-access=free |last1=Candau |first1=Marcolino Gomes |isbn=9241601884 |publisher=World Health Organization |isbn=9789241601887 }}</ref>

Pleased by the progress made, the World Health Assembly requested the Director-General to consider a way to develop family planning services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/91257|title=Health aspects of population dynamics|date=March 9, 1969|hdl=10665/91257 |last1=World Health Assembly |first1=22 }}</ref> In 1970, the WHO launched a feasibility study about a global program of research on human reproduction. A report was thus presented in 1971 and advocated for a five ways action plan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/361192/HR-71.4-Pt1-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|title=World Health Organization: Expanded Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction: Report of a Feasibility Project, May 1971; HR/71.4 (1971) part 1.|date=1971 |hdl=10665/361192 |last1=Organization |first1=World Health }}</ref> First, the designation of four ''Research and Training Centres'', which would have to be leaders on the research on human reproduction in their respective region. Second, the collaboration with ''Clinical Research Centres'' to facilitate the clinical evaluation of new fertility regulating agents. Third, the creation of ''task Forces'' to conduct the research projects. Fourth, the creation of an international documentation centre on biomedical aspects of human reproduction (this point was not executed due to limited funding at the time). The fifth point was about secondary objectives and miscellaneous recommendations.

The Human Reproduction Unit was charged with the creation and administration of the new "Expanded Programme of Research, Development, and Research Training in Human Reproduction". In 1972, the World Health Assembly voted the WHA25.60 resolution "on WHO’sWHO's role in the development and coordination of biomedical research", which requested the Director-General to "prepare proposals for the development of long-term WHO activities

in biomedical research within the framework of the programmes being carried out by the Organization".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/91995?search-result=true&query=WHA25.60&scope=&rpp=10&sort_by=score&order=desc|title=World Health Organization: Resolution WHA25.60 on WHO's role in the development and coordination of biomedical research, Twenty-fifth World Health Assembly, Geneva, 9-26 May 1972 - Part I: resolutions and decisions pp.32-33|date=26 May 1972|hdl=10665/91995?search-result=true&query=WHA25.60&scope=&rpp=10&sort_by=score&order=desc |access-date=13 March 2023 |last1=World Health Assembly |first1=25 }}</ref> He presented a report on this matter in December of the same year, including human reproduction and especially the Expanded Programme in the researches to fund.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/146302/EB51_6_eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|title=World Health Organization: EB51/6 - WHO's role in the development and coordination of biomedical research: interim report by the Director-General, December 1972|date=20 December 1972|access-date=13 March 2023}}</ref> According to previous directors of the Programme, it is the date which formally established the HRP.<ref name=lancet>{{Cite journal|doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61025-3 |title=40 years of innovation in sexual and reproductive health |year=2012 |last1=Mbizvo |first1=Michael T. |last2=d'Arcangues |first2=Catherine |last3=Van Look |first3=Paul FA |last4=Benagiano |first4=Giuseppe |journal=The Lancet |volume=380 |issue=9843 |pages=705–706 |pmid=22920740 |s2cid=205966657 }}</ref>

==Expanded Programme of Research, Development, and Research Training in Human Reproduction==

The Expanded Programme was directed by an ''Advisory Group'' of 12 to 15 people designated by the Director-general. Their role was to advise the WHO on the policies, the strategies, the research priorities, and the resource affectation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/361193|title=Expanded Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction: report of a feasibility project: supplementary information|date=March 9, 1971|hdl=10665/361193 |last1=Organization |first1=World Health }}</ref> The technical details of the scientific projects, the control of the publications and works of the ''Task Forces'' were delegated to a ''Review Group'', which also designated the Clinical Research Centres.

In 1977, the Expanded Programme became the Special Programme.

==Evolution to a Co-sponsored Special Programme==

In 1986, the structure of the Programme changed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/120636/em_rc33_13_en.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|title=World Health Organization: EM/RC33/13 - Nomination of a member state to the Policy and Coordination advisory committee (PCAC) of the Special programme of research, development, and research training in human reproduction (HRP), July 1986|date=1986 |hdl=10665/120636 }}</ref> The advisory Group was replaced by the Policy and Coordination Advisory Committee (PCAC), a consultative organ to the Director-General which made recommendations on issues linked to the policies, funding and general organization of the programme. It was composed of 30 members, twelve being the countries that contributed the most, twelve elected by the regional committees, three elected by the PCAC itself and the [[UNFPA]], [[World Bank]] and [[International Planned Parenthood Federation|IPPF]] as permanent members. The new structure also included the Scientific and Technical Advisory Group (STAG):<ref name=sponso>{{Cite web|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/162389/EB81_22_eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|title=RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN HUMAN REPRODUCTION RESEARCH - Progress report by the Director-General |date=1987 |hdl=10665/162389 |last1=Executive Board |first1=81 }}</ref> composed of 10 to 15 members (experts and scientists) it designated the Programme research priorities, the creation or end of a task Force, and gave an independent evaluation of all scientific and technical aspect of the Programme.

In 1988, the co-sponsorship of the Programme began:<ref name=sponso /> the [[UNDP]], [[UNFPA]], [[World Bank]] and the [[WHO]] were co-sponsors of the "UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction", commonly referred to as "the HRP". This had to objective to obtain consequent and stable funding for the Programme. The PCAC became the Policy and Coordination Committee (PCC), in charge of the administration, the approval of the budget, and the general orientation of the work of the Programme and included the co-sponsors as permanent members. A Standing Committee, composed of representatives of the co-sponsors meets thrice a year, monitors the Programme situation and formulates recommendations to the PCC. As the executive agency, the WHO nominates the director of the Programme and other non-elected members of the HRP after consulting the Standing Committee. The STAG had also now to report to the Standing Committee while the Review Group is replaced by the Research Project Review Panel which had similar attributions, but includes also the control of the financial aspect of the research projects.