Hanan Balkhy says Saudi nomination for WHO chief builds on lifetime in global health

RIYADH — Dr. Hanan Balkhy has expressed her gratitude to Saudi Arabia following her nomination for Director-General of the World Health Organization for the 2027–2032 term, outlining a career spanning frontline clinical care, infectious disease response and senior global health leadership.In her first remarks following the nomination, Balkhy thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for their continued support for healthcare in the Kingdom and Saudi Arabia’s contribution to global health.“I am deeply grateful to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for nominating me as a candidate for Director-General of the World Health Organization,” Balkhy wrote on X.Reflecting on more than three decades in medicine and public health, Balkhy said her experience as a pediatrician, infectious disease specialist and scientist including working on the frontlines of the MERS-CoV outbreak years before the COVID-19 pandemic, shaped her approach to global health.“That experience shaped my belief in the power of science, preparedness and collaboration to turn evidence into action,” she said.Balkhy later became WHO’s first Assistant Director-General for Antimicrobial Resistance, before taking office in 2024 as Regional Director for the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, where she works with 22 member states covering more than 750 million people.She thanked the health professionals and colleagues who have contributed to her career, as well as WHO staff working around the world.Looking ahead to the campaign for WHO’s top position, Balkhy said the organization must demonstrate its value to every member state while maintaining public confidence and delivering tangible results.“I believe WHO must earn trust, deliver impact and demonstrate value for every Member State,” she said.“I look forward to listening, learning and working with colleagues, Member States and partners around the world as we shape the future of WHO and global health.”Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel, announcing the Kingdom’s nomination, described Balkhy as a leader with more than three decades of scientific, clinical and public health experience spanning national, regional and global levels.He said her career had combined scientific expertise with practical leadership in strengthening health systems, improving preparedness and working across countries and institutions to achieve better health outcomes.Al-Jalajel said Balkhy’s candidacy reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to a WHO that is trusted for its science, prepared for emerging health challenges and capable of delivering lasting impact for all member states.