Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today took charge as the chairman of the 34-member WHO Executive Board. The Health Minister, who is at the forefront of India’s battle against COVID-19, succeeded Dr Hiroki Nakatani from Japan.
“I am aware I am entering this office at a time of global crisis on account of this pandemic. At a time, when we all understand that there will be many health challenges in the next 2 decades. All these challenges demand a shared response,” the Union Health Minister was quoted by news agency ANI as saying after taking charge as the WHO Executive Board Chairman.
Last year, WHO’s South-East Asia group had unanimously decided to elect India’s nominee to the executive board for a three-year-term beginning May. The proposal to appoint India’s nominee to the executive board was signed by the 194-nation World Health Assembly on Tuesday.

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