[International] Thailand Selects Candidates for WHO Head, Striving for Global Health Leadership
bella@@ 央廣 新聞1d ago
Tai-Thai Times reported today (20th) that the Thai government has officially launched the selection process for candidates for the Secretary-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), opening applications for qualified individuals to compete for the position of WHO Secretary-General, whose term ends in 2027, representing Thailand. The aim is to further enhance Thailand's influence and international visibility in the global public health field.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Periswiwatana stated today that the government highly values Thailand's role on the international stage, especially in public health. Thailand's medical and public health systems have long been internationally recognized, and therefore, the government hopes to demonstrate Thailand's strength and contributions to global health governance through participation in WHO leadership elections.
She pointed out that the cabinet resolved on April 28, 2026, to agree to Thailand nominating a candidate for WHO Secretary-General and authorized the Ministry of Public Health to handle the selection process. The relevant selection committee has been established, with members covering experts in public health, diplomacy, and international organization affairs, to ensure the selection process is transparent, fair, and professional.
According to the announcement, applicants must be Thai nationals, be at least 45 years old by the application deadline, and meet the WHO's relevant qualification requirements, including outstanding achievements in the medical and public health fields, extensive international public health experience, demonstrated excellent leadership abilities, and endorsement of the WHO's core mission to promote global health development.
The Ministry of Public Health is open for applications from today until July 17, 2026. After the qualification review, candidates must present their policy vision to the selection committee on July 23, outlining their ideas for promoting global public health cooperation and health governance in the future. The final recommended candidate will be submitted to the cabinet for review and officially nominated by the Thai government.
Lalida stated that the WHO Secretary-General is one of the most important public health leadership positions globally, responsible for formulating global health policies, responding to emerging infectious diseases, promoting health security, and fostering international health cooperation.
She emphasized that if Thailand successfully nominates a representative to run, it will not only reflect the international community's recognition of Thailand's public health system but also help expand Thailand's space for participation in global health issues, further enhancing the nation's influence in global public health policy formulation and cooperation mechanisms. (Editor: Liu Xianghua)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=215655
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