Harsh Vardhan set to be WHO Executive Board chairman, says officials

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan is set to become the chairman of the 34-member WHO Executive Board on May 22, officials said on Tuesday (May 19). Harsh Vardhan, who is at the forefront of India's fight against coronavirus COVID-19, would succeed Dr Hiroki Nakatani of Japan.

According to reports, the proposal to appoint a nominee from India as the new head of the WHO Executive Board was signed by the 194-nation World Health Assembly on Tuesday.

Notably, Harsh Vardhan's taking over the crucial post is nothing moe than a formality as it was decided in 2019 that India's nominee would be elected to the executive board for a three-year-term in May 2020. The post of WHO Executive Board chairman is held by rotation for one year among regional groups.