Box 5.
WHO's global priorities16
Malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS: major communicable diseases that pose a serious threat to health and economic development; all need new and affordable diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines
Cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes: growing in importance in poor and transitional countries
Tobacco: a major killer in all societies and a rapidly growing problem in developing countries
Maternal health: the greatest difference in health outcomes between developed and developing countries shows up in maternal mortality data
Food safety: a growing public concern, with potentially serious economic consequences
Mental health: five of the 10 leading causes of disability are mental health problems
Safe blood: blood is a potential source of infection and a major component of treatment
Health systems: development of effective and sustainable health systems underpins all the other priorities
Investing in change in WHO: a prerequisite for WHO to become a more efficient and productive organisation