Four Candidates Put Forward for the Next WHO Director-General

The selection process for the next Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) is taking shape, with four potential candidates currently published by the Organization: Dr Hanan Mohammed Al-Kuwari of Qatar, Dr Hanan Balkhy of Saudi Arabia, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge of Belgium, and Mr Budi Gunadi Sadikin of Indonesia. As explored in GWL Voices’ recent insight, The Next WHO Director-General: A Test for Gender Equality in Global Health Leadership, this selection will be an important test of how global health leadership can become more representative and gender-balanced.

The four candidates have been proposed by their respective Member States as part of the process to select the successor to Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, whose second term concludes on 15 August 2027. The next Director-General will serve a five-year term, with the possibility of one reappointment. Given the significance of the position and the decisions that will shape the future of global health governance, GWL Voices will continue to follow the selection process closely, tracking its developments and examining what it means for representation, gender equality and leadership in the global health system.

Four candidates, different leadership profiles

Dr Hanan Mohammed Al-Kuwari, proposed by Qatar, is a physician and health administrator who has served as Qatar’s Minister of Public Health since 2016. Her career has focused on health-system development, healthcare delivery and public health policy.

Dr Hanan Balkhy, proposed by Saudi Arabia, is a physician and public health specialist. She currently serves as WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean and previously held senior positions focused on antimicrobial resistance, infection prevention and control, and infectious diseases.

Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, proposed by Belgium, currently serves as WHO Regional Director for Europe, a position he has held since 2020. His work has included health-system resilience, health security, universal health coverage and the response to major public health challenges across the European Region.

Mr Budi Gunadi Sadikin, proposed by Indonesia, has served as Indonesia’s Minister of Health since 2020. His tenure has included work on health-system transformation, pandemic preparedness, access to health products and strengthening domestic and regional health manufacturing capacity.

A process still open to further nominations

The current field remains provisional. WHO Member States have until 24 September 2026 to submit proposals for candidates. The Organization has indicated that the names of candidates and the proposals received will be formally published following the conclusion of the last Regional Committee session, expected in late October or early November.