Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan to chair WHO Executive Board

Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, who is at the forefront of India’s fight against COVID-19, will take charge as chairman of WHO Executive Board on May 22 as India was elected to the board. He will succeed Dr. Hiroki Nakatani of Japan, who is current chairman of the WHO Executive Board. His appointment came as India was elected by 73rd World Health Assembly to Executive Board of the WHO for a period of three years.
Along with India, nine other nations are also elected to the Executive Board. The Executive Board Dr. Harsh is elected to comprise of 34 individuals from the field of health, each from elected member states.

Dr. Harsh will hold the post for one year and will chair the bi-annual meetings to be held in January and May.

Dr.Harsh will hold the post for one year and will chair the bi-annual meetings to be held in January and May

He will be working closely with WHO Director General Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus,

and will be responsible to implement the decisions and policies laid down by the World Health Assembly. India also voted in favour of the independent probe into the origins of COVID-19 and the WHO’s response along with 61 nations.

The virus that is speculated to originate from China’s Wuhan, is spreading across India. The number of coronavirus infected patients in the country has already crossed one lakh count. Though the government has brought in lockdown 4.0 with various relief, the number is speculated to still rise in the days to come. In the face of conflict between US and China, India’s nomination to the board will play an important role in balancing the diplomatic relations between these nations.