rki.news | Source: Anadolu
Seven candidates have been nominated by member states for the post of World Health Organization (WHO) director-general, the UN health agency announced Thursday.
The nominees include Qatar’s former health minister and current adviser to the prime minister on public health, Hanan Mohammed Al-Kuwari; Saudi Arabia’s Hanan Balkhy, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean; and Belgium’s Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe.
Other candidates are Spain’s Maria P. Neira, former director of WHO’s environment and health department; Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin; China’s Li Song, a women’s federation official and former health official; and Armenian pediatric oncologist Gevorg Tamamyan, nominated by Botswana.
The candidates will attend a public forum at WHO headquarters in Geneva on Nov. 18-19, allowing member states to engage with them.
The WHO Executive Board will narrow the field to five candidates in early 2027, conduct interviews and nominate up to three for consideration by the World Health Assembly.
A second public forum is scheduled for March 15, 2027.
The assembly will appoint the next director-general in May 2027. The successful candidate will take office on Aug. 16, 2027.
Seven Candidates Nominated for WHO Director-General Post
