BMJ  2006;333 (18 November), doi:10.1136/sbmj.39035.480972.F7

Editor's Choice

Editor's choice

Hands across the ocean

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Two of the world's greatest nations, both of which have serious image problems, last week achieved milestones that raise new hopes for a better, more open and equitable world. After a heated campaign, China's Dr Margaret Chan has won the contest to become WHO's next director general. As Anne Glusker reports (doi: 10.1136/bmj.39034.630926.DB), optimists see this as a chance for China to become more engaged in the war against infectious disease. But much will depend on Chan's willingness to challenge the secrecy of China's political regime.

The United States is also set to undergo a transformation after last week's Democratic party victory in the mid-term elections. Janice Hopkins Tanne describes how this has already reinvigorated the debate about universal health care, liberalisation of abortion, and stem cell research (doi: 10.1136/bmj.39031.429514.DB).

The fact that the BMJ celebrates these changes is evidence of its liberal world view, but we hope . . . [Full text of this article]

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