While many global health experts and statesmen — including the Elders, a group of activists led by former UN chief Kofi Annan — hope the next Secretary-General will make health a priority, none of the candidates has made it a major campaign issue, The Lancet reports.
The job has no formal description, according to the report, but the secretary-general is expected to work hand-in-hand with WHO leaders. “The work between the UN and WHO is a two-way street. All the Secretary-General’s health-related work and initiatives are based on technical work, evidence, and data provided by WHO. WHO’s policy advice provides the backbone for the recommendations and advocacy on all global health issues the Secretary-General engages in,” Ivana Milovanovic, WHO coordinator with the UN system, told The Lancet.
The Elders told The Lancet health should be a top issue for the next secretary-general. The group has been lobbying for the UN to help fund universal health coverage in Africa and other regions that lack resources, according to the report.
Other issues experts would like to see candidates address include social determinants of health and attacks on medical facilities in areas of conflict, according to the report.
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