The annual meeting of the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), began in the Swiss city of Geneva on Monday. The 194 member countries plan to establish guidelines for WHO priorities over the next four years, including a plan to eliminate malaria in numerous countries by 2030 and steps to combat the alarming rise in antimicrobial resistance. The planned highlight of the meeting – the ceremonial signing of a WHO pandemic treaty – was cancelled after two years of global negotiations ended last Friday without an agreement. Negotiators failed to rea…