Five candidates from five different countries have submitted applications to lead the World Health Organization as director-general, with Spain’s Maria Neira entering the race on the final day of submissions on September 24. The candidates are vying to replace Ethiopia’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who has led the global health agency since 2017.
The Candidates Seeking to Lead the Global Health Agency
The field of applicants features public health leaders and former ministers from across international regions. The candidates include Qatar’s former health minister Hanan Mohammed Al-Kuwari, Saudi Arabia’s physician and head of the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean office Hanan Balkhy, and Belgium’s physician and WHO’s regional director for Europe Hans Kluge. Rounding out the five-person field are Spain’s physician, epidemiologist, and former WHO director Maria Neira, alongside Indonesia’s health minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.
The WHO website confirmed that submissions closed overnight, finalizing the roster of contenders for the agency’s top post. Tedros’s tenure since 2017 includes overseeing the organization’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as outbreaks of Ebola and mpox. During this same leadership period, the agency lost its top donor when the United States ordered a withdrawal in 2025. President Donald Trump accused the WHO of mishandling COVID-19, an allegation that the organization denies.
Did You Know? The World Health Organization’s leadership election cycle moves forward with a candidates’ forum scheduled to take place in November, followed by an Executive Board session in January 2027 to shortlist up to three candidates.
Next Steps in the Selection Process
A candidates’ forum scheduled for November will allow the contenders to present their platforms to the global health community. Following the forum, the WHO’s Executive Board will meet in January 2027 to shortlist up to three candidates for the final selection phase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the candidates running for WHO director-general?
The five candidates are Qatar’s Hanan Mohammed Al-Kuwari, Saudi Arabia’s Hanan Balkhy, Belgium’s Hans Kluge, Spain’s Maria Neira, and Indonesia’s Budi Gunadi Sadikin.
When will the WHO Executive Board narrow down the list of candidates?
The WHO’s Executive Board will shortlist up to three of the candidates in January 2027, following a candidates’ forum in November.
Who is the current director-general of the WHO?
Ethiopia’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has led the global health agency as director-general since 2017.