WHO’s new director-general to be chosen from six candidates
Member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) have nominated six candidates for the position of WHOdirector-general in an upcoming election process.
The director-general is the organization’s chief technical and administrative officer and oversees WHO’s international health work.Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO’s incumbent director-general who has held the office since 2006, will be replaced by the successful candidate who will take office in July 2017.
The following are the six candidates from Asia, Africa and Europe:
1. Professor Philippe Douste-Blazy (France)
A former cardiologist as well as a former health and foreign minister, Professor Douste-Blazy is currently a United Nations (UN) special adviser on innovative funding for development, and has been lauded for his work in promoting the millennium development goals and raising money for Unitaid to fight HIV, malaria and tuberculosis.
2. Dr. Flavia Bustreo (Italy)
Currently the WHO’s assistant director general for family, women’s and children’s health, Dr. Bustreo has focused on developing policy for child and maternal health. A former clinician for children with disabilities, she has worked all over the world and has published a number of articles on public health, and women and children’s health.
3. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Ethiopia)
A long-time senior Ethiopian government official, Dr. Ghebreyesus is a popular minister and a member of the country’s most powerful political party. Widely respected as a malaria researcher, he has a significant social media presence. According to insiders, the minister has excellent standing with donors and major development partners, and as a health minister, has helped push forward delivery of basic services through the pioneering “health extension workers” program. He is also backed by a number of African governments, who have joined forces to help fund his WHO candidacy.
4. Dr. David Nabarro (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
Dr. Nabarro trained as a doctor and has years of experience working abroad in child health and nutrition programs in South Asia, East Africa, and Iraq. His postings have included stints at the Department for International Development (DfID), the WHO and universities. The Briton calls himself “Dr. Who” on his website.
5. Dr. Sania Nishtar (Pakistan)
One of the only two women in the running, Dr. Nishtar is founder and president of health think-tankHeartfile, and co-chair of the WHO’s commission on ending childhood obesity. As a former federal minister in the Pakistan government, Nishtar has thrown herself wholeheartedly into her nomination, and is the only candidate with a website devoted exclusively to her bid.
6. Dr. Miklós Szócska (Hungary)
Lauded as the first health minister to manage a full four years in office, Dr. Szócska has implemented a wide range of public health regulations, from banning smoking in public to adding a tax on food and beverages with added salt and sugar.
The candidates will be given a chance to answer questions on their candidacy and present their visions to WHO member states and the public on November 1 and 2. WHO’s Executive Board will draw up a shortlist with a maximum of 5 candidates on January 2017. Up to three candidates will be nominated to go forward for consideration the World Health Assembly, the organization’s decision-making body, on May 2017. Member states will then vote for a new director-general.
