# E-DRUG: Re: New Leadership in WHO (14) **URL:** \ **Category:** e-drug\ **Created:** [August 21, 1998, 10:13pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-re-new-leadership-in-who-14/3319 "1998-08-21T22:13:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![peter.mansfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c77e96/32.png) [@peter.mansfield](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/peter.mansfield)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 1998, 10:13pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-re-new-leadership-in-who-14/3319/1 "1998-08-21T22:13:19Z")
E-drug: Re: New Leadership in WHO (14) ---------------------------------------------------------- I agree with Ellen and Bas. As Director of MaLAM, one of the organisations profiled in the Essential Drugs Monitor no. 24 (1997) I would be very interested in participating in a meeting with Dr. Scholtz. Dr Scholtz has expressed an interest in "building bridges". (see below) Given that and his background in marketing he would be the ideal person to launch the "Critical Appraisal of Pharmaceutical Promotion" teaching materials which MaLAM is currently preparing for the DAP. The BMJ 1998;317:492 ( 22 August ) article which Syed mentions says: Dr Michael Scholtz: health technology and drugs The only cabinet member with private sector experience, having worked with Ciba-Geigy and more recently as vice president and director of marketing at SmithKline Beecham Biologicals, Dr Scholtz is 48 and from Germany. Pointing to common themes between the pharmaceutical industry and the WHO, Scholtz emphasised that both contribute to the delivery of health care and are ultimately accountable to their constituencies. The differences lie in purpose and scope: "While profitability is one of the key drivers for industry, the WHO is non-profit and has a much broader mandate." The WHO's primary strength, in Scholtz's view, is its technical skills; its primary weakness has been an "unhealthy diversification and loss of focus." Scholtz's domain, the complex field of health technology (including development, accessibility, and affordability of drugs) also involves "building bridges," both internally and externally, with partner agencies, non-governmental organisations, and the private health industry. To allegations about his loyalties (1 August, p 296), Scholtz countered, "I used to say that when I retired, I would go and work voluntarily for the WHO to pay back society. This opportunity came along and fits my personal values. Now I don't have to wait to retire. Although I have taken a substantial cut in pay, I'm very happy to be here. Previously, I shared the perception outsiders often have when appraising civil servants: complacent, uncommitted, highly bureaucratic. But I invite anyone to visit the WHO at evenings or weekends to see how hard people are working to get the job done." regards, Peter Dr Peter Mansfield Director, MaLAM MaLAM encourages pharmaceutical companies to provide more reliable information to assist appropriate health care. MaLAM Headquarters PO Box 172, Daw Pk SA 5041, Australia phone/fax +61 8 8374 2245 peter.mansfield@flinders.edu.au [http://www.camtech.net.au/malam](http://www.camtech.net.au/malam) -- Send mail for the `E-Drug' conference to `e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'. Mail administrative requests to `majordomo@usa.healthnet.org'. For additional assistance, send mail to: `owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.