Harsh Vardhan to take over as Chairman of WHO executive board on May 22

New Delhi:Union Health and Family Welfare minister Harsh Vardhan will take over as chairman of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Executive Board on May 22. 

He succeeds Dr Hiroki Nakatani of Japan, currently the Chairman of the 34-member WHO Executive Board.The chairman of the board is selected on a rotational basis for one year from among regional groups.

The executive board, which is composed of 34 technically qualified members elected for three-year terms, will hold a meeting on Friday, official sources said.

India was among the 10 nations elected by the 73rd World Health Assembly to the Executive Board of the WHO for a three-year term. The other new members are Botswana, Colombia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Oman, Russia, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

The Board implements the decisions and policies of the WHA, the decision-making body of the WHO, and facilitates its work. (UNI)