United Nations Radio

The 61st session of the World Health Assembly begins next week at the UN headquarters in Geneva.

The assembly, which is the supreme decision making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), will be held amid growing concern that provision of public health services is being compromised by emerging issues such as climate change.

Patrick Maigua reports from Geneva.

Among the key issues to be discussed during the assembly is the pandemic influenza preparedness. Member states are expected to debate and perhaps reach a consensus on the contentious issues of sharing influenza viruses, development and access to vaccines.

WHO has in the past warned that a global influenza pandemic would have catastrophic effects and has called for an urgent solution to be found on the issues.

Dr Bill Kean from WHO hopes member states will use the forthcoming assembly to agree on the way forward.

"There are still a lot of issues outstanding regarding the sharing of viruses, what happens to the viruses in the WHO collaborating centre network, leading to sharing of those viruses with vaccine producers and how access to the benefits of the outcome of the viruses and vaccines produced from them are shared. And there is a huge amount of work to go."

The assembly will also be discussing global efforts to eradicate polio, the harmful use of alcohol, female genital mutilation, counterfeit medical products and the challenges posed by climate change on public health. Patrick Maigua, UN Radio Geneva.

Producer: Dianne Penn

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