{mosimage}The 63rd World Health Assembly closed on 21 May, and despite a challenging agenda, delegates reached agreement on a large number of resolutions, including a code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel and a breakthrough global strategy for reducing the harmful use of alcohol.

On her closing remarks, WHO's Director-General Dr Margaret Chan congratulated the delegates: "You reached agreement on some very important items that are a real gift to public health, everywhere."

Dr. Chan commended the delegates for their "unwavering commitment to the health-related MDGs." She completed: "I witnessed firsthand your great desire to cooperate internationally, and with other sectors, in reaching these goals. The spirit I personally witnessed was one of great optimism, solidarity, and a can-do attitude."

The World Health Assembly brings together Health Ministers and senior health officials from the World Health Organization's Member States, to discuss a number of pressing public health issues. This year, the delegates adopted resolutions on a variety of global health issues, including innovation and intellectual property in Public Health, counterfeit medical products, viral hepatitis, monitoring of the achievement of the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a global code of practice for international recruitment of health personnel, the implementation of the global strategy for prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, and many others.

You can find complete coverage of the 63rd Health Assembly on WHO's web site.