Expert advisory panels and committees

Expert advisory panels and committees

Efficiency, as well as economy, makes it necessary to limit the number of experts participating in discussions on any given subject; on the other hand, it is difficult, in a small group of experts, to obtain adequate representation of the various branches of knowledge which bear upon its subject, and of the diversified forms of local experience and trends of thought prevailing in the various parts of the world.

These apparently conflicting requirements may be reconciled by giving expert committees, whenever desirable, flexible membership. This may be done by setting up advisory panels of experts conversant with all the required branches of knowledge and forms of experience needed to cover adequately a particular subject and providing adequate geographical representation. From these panels will be drawn the members of the expert committees, selection being made according to the agenda of each meeting.

Membership of the 23 expert advisory panels totaled 345 in November 2022, compared with 356 in November 2021. In terms of regional distribution, 13% come from the African Region, 23% from the Region of the Americas, 9% from the South-East Asia Region, 30% from the European Region, 9% from the Eastern Mediterranean Region and 16% from the Western Pacific Region. Of the total of all members of all panels, 41% are women.

ePanel

ePanel is an electronic system to process nominations, extensions and terminations of membership of experts to the WHO expert advisory panels. Proposed or existing experts can access the system using a unique URL and username and password provided by email. 
More information: ePanel Frequently Asked Questions

Expert committees meeting regularly: