Update

Global health partners reflect on priorities for the new WHO Director-General

26 May 2017

Global health partners came together on 23 May to reflect upon the key priorities for the new Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). Meeting on the sidelines of the 70th World Health Assembly, taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 22 to 31 May, the panellists shared recommendations for a stronger WHO, from pandemic preparedness and global health security, to United Nations reform and innovation in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) era.

Keynote remarks were made by Tom Price, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, who emphasized that the United States of America strongly supports WHO and looks forward to working with the next Director-General to promote and achieve global health security. He underlined the need to ensure that decisions are made on the basis of science and emphasized the need to continue to make WHO more effective, transparent and efficient.

The panellists represented the broad array of multisectoral partners, including academia (Ashish Jha, the Director of the Harvard Global Health Institute), the nongovernmental organization community (Loyce Pace, the President and Executive Director of the Global Health Council), the private sector (John Flannery, the President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Healthcare), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Mark Dybul, the Executive Director) and UNAIDS (Jan Beagle, Deputy Executive Director). The event was moderated by Jennifer Healy of the global law firm Dentons.

The panellists emphasized the need for the new Director-General to quickly articulate a compelling vision and strategy, together with clear prioritization, and facilitate buy-in of these, both inside and outside of the organization. The role of health within the SDGs and the focus on rapid emergency response were underlined.

Ms Beagle recognized the important role of WHO, a UNAIDS Cosponsor, and reflected on a number of key themes for consideration, including the importance of building inclusive, multisectoral partnerships and ensuring a focus on prevention, innovation and gender parity and women’s empowerment.

The recommendations of the panel will be shared with the incoming WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. 

Quotes

“The World Health Organization needs the brightest minds and skilled technicians to defeat diseases that are difficult to end, where we are on the cusp. It is critical we remain vigilant and finish the job—it will be a remarkable success for global health.”

Tom Price United States Secretary of Health and Human Services

“Enhanced multisectoral approaches will be critical. We cannot look at health in a silo—it has relevance and impact across the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Jan Beagle Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS

“The World Health Organization’s primary goal is to achieve the highest attainable standard of health for everyone, everywhere. It is important for us to communicate this.”

Loyce Pace President and Executive Director, Global Health Council

“It will be important for the new World Health Organization’s Director-General to take time to listen, to hear and engage with stakeholders and constituents.”

John Flannery President and Chief Executive Officer, GE Healthcare

“Focusing the strategy, and prioritizing, will be key. Strategy is also knowing what you “don’t do”, prioritizing—with Member States, with the Board—on the key areas that the World Health Organization will tackle.”

Ashish Jha Director, Harvard Global Health Institute

“It will be important to firm up, and articulate, the mission and vision, and get buy-in externally and throughout the organization, getting everyone feeling motivated when they go to work.”

Mark Dybul Executive Director, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria