Member states can nominate new WHO Director-General

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday said the process to elect the next Director-General of the WHO is now underway. As of Friday, member states can nominate candidates to be the new head of the global public health body.

The Director-General is WHO's chief technical and administrative officer and oversees policy for WHO's international health work.

The incumbent WHO Director-General, Margaret Chan, was elected in 2006 and will complete her second term on June 30 next year.

The process for nominating and appointing WHO's Director-General has been substantially revised since the last election took place in 2012.

Changes such as a code of conduct and forums for candidates to interact with member states will be part of the election process to promote transparency and fairness in the selection procedures.

In 2017, the World Health Assembly will appoint the new Director-General from among up to three candidates.

Previously, just one nomination was submitted by WHO's executive board to the World Health Assembly who then made the final appointment.

Source: XINHUA