Brundtland spells out future role

Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, the new Director-General of the World Health Organisation, has pledge to put health “at the core of the international development agenda”. In a broad policy speech, entitled “WHO? The Way Ahead”, Brundtland yesterday presented her vision for bringing the WHO into the new century. Addressing the WHO Executive Board in Geneva, she said sound investment in health was one of the most cost-effective ways of promoting development and progress. She underlined that improving health in poor countries led to increased GDP per capita and in richer countries it reduced overall costs to society. “In time of global trade and investment, where nations are searching for ways to make ends meet, we have been sitting on a secret,” Brundtland stressed. She said the organisation should forge closer links with the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation and initiate a “new dialogue” with the International Monetary Fund. (full text of speech available on: http://www.who.int/)