Election process for the new WHO Director-General, 6 candidates proposed
The period has closed for Member States to propose candidates for the post of Director-General of the World Health Organization, with six candidates being proposed from six countries.
The process began on 22 April 2016 and ended 22 September 2016. During that time, WHO's 194 Member States could propose candidates for the post of Director-General, the Organization's chief technical and administrative officer who oversees WHO's international health work.
The current Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, was appointed in 2006 and will complete her second term on 30 June 2017. The new Director-General will take office on 1 July 2017.
Member States proposed the following candidates for the post of Director-General of WHO:
- The Government of Ethiopia has submitted the nomination of Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus;
- The Government of Italy has submitted the nomination of Dr Flavia Bustreo;
- The Government of France has submitted the nomination of Professor Philippe Douste-Blazy;
- The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has submitted the nomination of Dr David Nabarro;
- The Government of Pakistan has submitted the nomination of Dr Sania Nishtar;
- The Government of Hungary has submitted the nomination of Dr Miklós Szócska.
On 1-2 November, a forum will be held for candidates to present their visions to WHO Member States, and the public, and answer questions from Member States on their candidacy. The forum will be webcast in all languages on the WHO website.
In January 2017, WHO's 34-member Executive Board will draw up a shortlist of no more than 5 candidates. Executive Board members will then interview the candidates and nominate up to 3 to be put before the World Health Assembly in May 2017, when Member States will appoint a new Director-General by ballot.
Previously, WHO's Executive Board submitted just 1 nominee to the World Health Assembly, which then made the final appointment. The World Health Assembly is WHO's decision-making body and is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States. The Assembly's main functions are to determine WHO's policies, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.