H.E. Dr. Ovidiu BRINZAN, the
Minister of Health of Romania, attended, between 17 and 19 of May 2004, the 57th World Health
Assembly. The representative of Romania had an
intervention during the plenary session on the topic "The surveillance and the
control of HIV/AIDS in Romania", where he stated on the progress achieved by Romania
in fighting HIV/AIDS.
The agenda of H.E. Dr. Ovidiu BRANZAN included the following bilateral meetings:
- H.E. Mrs. Maria RAUCH-KALLAT, the Federal Minister for Health and Women's Issues from Austria;
- H.E. Dr. Recep AKDAG SAGLIK BAKANI, the Minister of Health from Turkey;
- H.E. Dr. Jon GUNNARSSON, the Minister of Health from Iceland;
- Dr. Marc DANZON, the regional director of European Regional Office (World Health Organization);
- Dr. Michel SIDIBE, the director of Country and Regional Support Department (UNAIDS).
At the 57th World Health Assembly, Romania returned to the Executive Board of the WHO after 20
years of absence, as H.E. Dr. Ovidiu BRINZAN, Minister of Health, was elected member of the Board.
On January 14, 2004, Romania became member of the Executive Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria, a financial mechanism created in 2002 in order to attract and disburse
additional resources to prevent and treat AIDS, Tuberculosis an Malaria (which is conceived as a
partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities and
represents a new approach to international health financing).
In this context, H.E. Dr. Ovidiu BRINZAN met, in the frame of the 57th World Health Assembly,
the Ministers of health of the regional delegation of Eastern Europe to the Executive Board of the
Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and briefed them on the next Global Fund
Executive Board's agenda (which will take place in Geneva, between 27 and 30 of June, 2004).
Minister Brinzan shared with them the progress of the Global Fund, the issues of concern and
interest for our region, as well as the opportunities and challenges ahead.