UN chief launches panel on global health crisis

United Nations: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed a panel to make recommendations to strengthen national and international systems to prevent and manage future health crisis, a media report said on Friday.

The High-level Panel on the Global Response to Health Crisis, appointed on Thursday, is expected to take into account lessons learned from the response to the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in West Africa, Xinhua reported.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Ban has appointed Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete as Chair of the Panel, according to a UN announcement. The other members include those from Brazil, Switzerland, Indonesia, Botswana and the United States.

In carrying out its work, the panel will undertake a wide range of consultations, including with representatives from the affected countries and communities, the UN system, multilateral and bilateral financial institutions and regional development banks, NGOs, countries supporting the response effort, other member states, health care providers, academic and research institutions, the private sector, and other experts.

The panel will hold its first meeting in early May and is expected to submit its final report by the end of the year to Ban, who will make the report available to the General Assembly, and undertake further action as appropriate.