The election of Shin Young-Soo - Professor of Health Policy and Management at Korea’s Seoul University - as new Director for WHO’s Western Pacific Region is described in an article in the Lancet (1). As the article notes, the member states of this region face very different health challenges. However, Shin says his main tasks will be:
- responding to the health risks posed by climate change and emerging infectious diseases
- addressing the Millennium Development Goals through revitalised primary health care
- improving health within ‘the overall context of social development’.

The article also describes the highly competitive nature of elections in this region. The victor is usually from either Japan or Korea, a situation with which other nations are increasingly unhappy.

Reference
1. Cheng MH (2008). New director elected for WHO’s Western Pacific region. Lancet; 372(9650):1621.