In brief
The agency’s member states have nominated seven candidates for the WHO director‑general post, including leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Spain, Indonesia, China, and Armenia. A public forum in Geneva on November 18‑19 will enable member states to engage with the nominees, followed by executive board narrowing to five candidates and further interviews before a final selection by the World Health Assembly in May 2027. The chosen director‑general is set to take office on 16 August 2027.
Anadolu Agency reported on 15 March 2027 that seven candidates have been nominated by World Health Organization member states to become the agency’s next director‑general.
The nominees include Qatar’s Hanan Mohammed Al‑Kuwari, former health minister and adviser to the prime minister; Saudi Arabia’s Hanan Balkhy, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean; Belgium’s Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe; Spain’s Maria P. Neira, former director of WHO’s environment and health department; Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin; China’s Li Song, secretary of the All‑China Women’s Federation and former senior health official; and Armenian pediatric oncologist Gevorg Tamamyan, a professor and department chair at Yerevan State Medical University, nominated by Botswana.
The 2027 selection process will begin with a public forum at WHO headquarters in Geneva on 18‑19 November, enabling member states to engage directly with the candidates. The WHO Executive Board will then narrow the field to five candidates in early 2027, conduct interviews, and nominate up to three for the World Health Assembly’s consideration.
The Assembly is scheduled to appoint the next director‑general in May 2027, and the successful candidate will take office on 16 August 2027.
