Director-General of the World Health Organization

Director-General of the World Health Organization
Logo of the World Health Organization
Flag of the World Health Organization
since 1 July 2017
World Health Organization Secretariat
StyleHonourable
StatusHead of World Health
Member ofWorld Health Organization
Reports toWorld Health Assembly
NominatorExecutive Board
AppointerWorld Health Assembly
Term length5 years, renewable
Formation7 April 1948; 76 years ago (1948-04-07)
First holderBrock Chisholm
DeputyDeputy Director-General

The director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) is the chief executive officer of the World Health Organization and the principal advisor to the United Nations on matters pertaining global health. The director general is elected by and answers to the World Health Assembly (WHA).[1] The current director-general is Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was appointed on 1 July 2017,[2] and re-appointed on 24 May 2022.[3] The Director-General also leads the World Health Organization Secretariat and is also the ex-officio Secretary of the World Health Assembly, the World Health Organization Executive Board, and of all commissions and committees, and conferences convened by the Organization.[4]

  1. ^ "WHO Governance". WHO.
  2. ^ "World Health Assembly elects Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as new WHO Director-General". WHO.
  3. ^ "Tedros re-elected to lead the World Health Organization". UN News. 24 May 2022.
  4. ^ Constitution of the World Health Organization Basic Documents, 45th edition, Supplement, October 2006 Archived 21 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine