Universal Health Coverage should be top of to-do list for new WHO boss

Oxfam congratulated Dr Tedros on his appointment as new Director-General of the World Health Organization today and warned that determined leadership was needed to tackle health inequalities around the world.

Commenting on the task Dr Tedros now faces, Oxfam's Senior Health Advisor Dr Mohga Kamal-Yanni said:

"Top of Dr Tedros’ to-do list should be championing Universal Health Coverage including an end to user fees and high medicine prices that mean millions of people are pushed into poverty to pay health costs or miss out on treatment altogether.

"The WHO has a vital role to play in making medicines available and affordable for all who need them, including promoting new models to fund innovative research and development, to avoid unnecessary deaths across the world.

“Dr Tedros will also need the support of governments to ensure the WHO is well-funded and independent of any commercial influence, so that it is able to fulfil its mandate to build a healthier and fairer future for people everywhere.”