The rumor mill around potential candidates to be the next World Health Organization director-general, or DG, is already buzzing. Names being floated include WHO and United Nations insiders, global health leaders, and country ministry of health officials.
The election will take place in 2027, but contenders are expected to start emerging later this year, ahead of the World Health Assembly. As in the 2017 race, every member state that is up to date with its dues will get the chance to vote for the next WHO chief. In previous elections, the candidate was selected by the executive board and confirmed by the WHA.
But whoever takes up the mantle at the agency will have their work cut out for them.