The World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.  The development of global guidelines ensuring the appropriate use of evidence represents one of the core functions of WHO. The Organization has a rigorous guideline development process in place and works closely with other organizations involved in guideline development (Cochrane Collaboration, Cochrane EPOC group, Pregnancy and Childbirth group, Fertility Regulation group, GRADE working group).  The WHO Guideline Review committee (GRC), established in 2007, is part of the Department of Knowledge Management and Sharing (KMS). The GRC has internal and external panel members with its Secretariat based at KMS.  All guideline proposals are reviewed by the GRC before initiation and once completed following a transparent and rigorous process (WEBLINK).  Training for staff is provided on a regular basis via workshops, weekly in-house guideline development clinics and seminars.

Collaborator Profile

	A. Metin Gülmezoglu Coordinator, Maternal, Perinatal Health and Preventing Unsafe Abortion at the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, Family and Women’s Health Cluster. Worked in setting up the WHO Guidelines Review Committee of the World Health Organization, has been responsible for several evidence based guidelines on maternal and perinatal health since 2007. Background in obstetrics and gynaecology and involved in multicenter, multicountry research and knowledge transfer activities internationally.
	WHO EUROPE REGIONAL OFFICE  Dr Govin Permanand Team Leader, Evidence-informed Policy Programme, and Manager of the Health Evidence Network.

Dr Krisantha Weerasuriya (RETIRED) Medical Officer, Medicines Access and Rational Use and the Secretary of the Expert Committee on Selection and Use of Essential Medicines; previous experience in working on Essential Medicines in South Asia and adapting methods in evidence-based evaluations under resource constrained settings. Currently using evidence-based methods in selection of Essential Medicines.