The World Medical Association (WMA), the world's largest federation of medical associations representing f physicians, will hold its annual General Assembly in New Delhi from October 14 to October 17.

The Assembly is organized in association with the Indian Medical Association (IMA). Representatives from more than 40 national medical associations will assemble in the capital to discuss topical health issues, including child health, climate change and professionally led regulation.

The theme of the scientific session, a key discussion forum in the conference, will be on 'Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and Lessons Learned from this Epidemic.'

According to Dr Yoram Blachar, president of the WMA, The event is important for the evolution of medical research. Such conferences bring together medical practitioners and researchers to highlight the latest developments.

'The focus of the conference on MDR TB is apt for India which is one of major countries affected by TB deaths'.

Today tuberculosis is one of the most rampant killer diseases in the world, bigger than HIV. One of the major reasons is the lack of availability of new drugs to tackle MDR TB, said Dr. Ashok Adhav, president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

Medical experts in tuberculosis from India, the USA and Germany will delve into the latest research taking place the world over on developing innovative drugs to cure the MDR TB bacterium.

President of India. Pratibha Patil will inaugurate the event. Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Gulam Nabi Azad will be the Guest of Honour. As part of the conference, there will be a book launch on October 15, on the latest in clinical trials related to MDR TB.