Belgian physician enters race to lead WHO

Belgian doctor Hans Kluge, head of the World Health Organization’s Europe region, is running for director-general of the agency. In an email to WHO staff this evening, which was seen by POLITICO, incumbent Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that Kluge would step back from his role, effective Aug. 21, to campaign for the job. Kluge is the third confirmed candidate in the race alongside Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari from Qatar and Hanan Balkhy from Saudi Arabia. Balkhy, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, has also stepped back from her role during the campaign, as per the agency’s rules. Al Kuwari, who is a former public health minister, is serving as adviser to Qatar’s prime minister. Nominations for the post opened in April, with a deadline of Sept. 24, 2026. Corinne Capuano, director of programme management at WHO Europe, will head the European region on a temporary basis in Kluge’s absence.