In brief
Seven candidates have been presented by WHO member states for the role of Director‑General, with a selection process that includes public forums and executive board interviews. The final appointment will be made by the World Health Assembly in May 2027, and the new director‑general is scheduled to take office on 16 August 2027.
On 15 March 2027, the World Health Organization announced that seven individuals had been nominated by member states to become its next Director‑General. The nominees represent a range of nationalities and professional backgrounds, including former health ministers, regional directors, a pediatric oncologist, and a health minister.
The candidates are Hanan Mohammed Al‑Kuwari of Qatar, a former health minister and adviser to the prime minister on public health; Hanan Balkhy of Saudi Arabia, the WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean; Hans Henri P. Kluge of Belgium, the regional director for Europe; Maria P. Neira of Spain, a former director of WHO’s environment and health department; Budi Gunadi Sadikin, the Indonesian Minister of Health; Li Song of China, secretary of the All‑China Women’s Federation and former senior health official; and Gevorg Tamamyan, an Armenian pediatric oncologist and professor who was nominated by Botswana.
Nomination Process and Timeline
According to the announcement, the nominee list will be presented to the public at two forums hosted by the organization’s headquarters in Geneva. The first forum is scheduled for 18–19 November 2026, during which member states will be able to engage directly with each candidate. A subsequent public forum is planned for 15 March 2027 for those who are shortlisted by the WHO Executive Board.
Following the public forums, the World Health Organization’s Executive Board will narrow the field to five candidates in early 2027. Those five will then undergo interviews and the board will nominate up to three finalists for consideration by the World Health Assembly. The Assembly, in turn, is slated to appoint the new Director‑General in May 2027.
The chosen director‑general will officially assume the position on 16 August 2027, taking over from the outgoing chief and continuing WHO’s mandate to promote global health, respond to disease outbreaks, and coordinate international health policy.
The announcement was made by the WHO’s Press Office, citing that the selection process will uphold transparency and inclusiveness. This approach follows the WHO’s 2019 guidelines for global leadership appointments, which emphasize the need for broad consultations and evidence‑based assessments.
WHO member states expressed support for a diverse set of applicants, noting that the broad range of professional expertise reflects the organization’s multifaceted priorities, including pandemic preparedness, non‑communicable disease control, and health equity.
With the final appointment pending, analysts anticipate that the leadership contest will attract heightened attention from the international health community, as the next Director‑General will play a pivotal role in addressing emerging health challenges over the coming decade.
