In August 2022, Dr. Takeshi Kasai, who was then head of the WHO’s Western Pacific regional office, was put on administrative leave amid an internal probe over staff accusations of racism and abusive conduct by the senior official. Kasai was eventually fired from his position.
In October this year, WHO member states from the region will vote to select their new regional director. Five candidates are vying for the position, and none of them are from Japan or South Korea, breaking a four decadeslong duopoly.
That’s not the only position up for a vote. Regional director elections are also taking place for WHO’s Southeast Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions in the same month, prompting over 60 health experts based in different countries globally to issue a letter — seen by Devex — to WHO leadership and its governing bodies, asking for more transparency and greater public scrutiny of the candidates through an online public forum and an open town hall.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
