Commonwealth Health Ministers would meet in Geneva on May 18, 2003 to consider a companion document to the Commonwealth Code of Practice for the International Recruitment of Health Workers.

The meeting which was agreed at the last year's Commonwealth Ministers meeting would be attended by representatives of partner UN organisations and Non-governmental organisation working in health.

A statement faxed from the Commonwealth Secretariat in London to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday said the meeting would be ahead of the World Health Assembly (WHA) and would consider high on the agenda, HIV/AIDS, which was declared a global emergency at the 1999 meeting in Durban South Africa.

It said the pandemic remained a critical factor in the majority of Commonwealth member states affecting the achievement of sustainable development.

Other issues to be discussed include, adolescent health, domestic violence and action in line with the Framework Convention On Tobacco Control, which would be ratified at the WHA.

The statement said the tobacco control discussion would deal with diverse issues such as tobacco advertising and promotion, agricultural diversification, smuggling, taxes and subsidies.

Mr Winston Cox, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary General, would open the meeting, which would be later addressed by Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director General of World Health Organisation (WHO).

For the first time a roundtable discussion to facilitate interaction among Ministers and Partner organisations would be introduced in addition to the plenary sessions.