E-drug: New leadership in WHO (4)
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Mark Raijmakers, in his August 4 posting, raises an interesting issue
regarding the appointment of Michael Scholtz as the new executive director
responsible for health technology and drugs. The questions raised in the
quoted BMJ editorial of August 1 are: that he "comes from the multinational
pharmaceutical industry" and that he "has little experience of the
developing world."
Every break with tradition and the status quo causes disruption among those
affected (and threatened). Indeed, wasn't that the point of Dr.
Brundtland's candidacy and subsequent election ? Perhaps Dr. Scholtz's
appointment should be viewed in the same context. Is it possible that the
concerns reported in the BMJ editorial are an echo of a neo-colonial
attitude, in that anyone who has 'sullied their hands' by "working for a
living" cannot be possibly fit for public service ? Times have changed,
indeed. Let's give Dr. Scholtz a chance.
Sincerely,
George Oswald
Medical Industry Specialist
U.S. Agency for International Development
Moscow
tel. (7095) 956-4281
e-mail: goswald@usaid.gov
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