Seven candidates enter race to succeed Dr Tedros at the helm of WHO

What the report says

Seven candidates have been put forward by WHO member states to compete for the next Director-General post, beginning a succession process that will replace Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus when his final term ends in August 2027. The nominees come from seven countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Spain, Indonesia, China and Botswana, according to the report.

The candidates named are Dr Hanan Mohammed Al-Kuwari, Dr Hanan Balkhy, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, Dr María P. Neira, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Dr Li Song and Dr Gevorg Tamamyan. The first major opportunity for them to present their platforms will be a WHO candidates’ forum set for November 18-19, 2026, at the agency’s headquarters in Geneva. WHO said the sessions will be webcast in its six official languages.

After that, the selection will move to the WHO Executive Board, which is expected to narrow the field in early 2027 before interviews and further nominations. A second forum for board-backed candidates is planned for March 15, 2027. The final choice is scheduled to be made by the World Health Assembly in May 2027, with the new leader due to take office on August 16, 2027.

The article notes that the transition follows WHO rules limiting the director-general to two five-year terms. In broader context, the next leader will inherit responsibility for guiding the global health body through ongoing public health challenges and coordinating international health responses.