NEW DELHI (PTI): On Sept21 despite hectic lobbying, India lost to Indonesia the top post at the regional office of the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) in the election held here. Besides India and Indonesia four other countries in the region Mongolia, Nepal, Thailand and Bangladesh contested for the post of W.H.O regional director. Other members in the region are Maldives, North Korea, Bhujan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
In the election held in the presence of the W.H.O. director general, Dr.Hiroshi Nakajima, India failed to muster enough votes for its candidate, DrJ.S.Bajaj, a planning commission member of the rank of a minister of state.
He lost to Dr.Udom Rafei of Indonesia, who has been working in the regional office since 1981 as an officer in charge of Health System Infrastructure.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 24, 1993