Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav assumed responsibilities as WHO Representative to Sri Lanka in December 2025. An Indian national, Dr Pandav is a senior global public health leader with over three decades of experience in epidemiology, health policy, health systems strengthening, program management, emergency preparedness and response.

Dr Pandav previously served as the WHO Representative to Nepal from September 2020 to November 2025, and to Timor-Leste from April 2015 to September 2020. His association with WHO started in 2004 with Mental Health and Substance Abuse Unit in the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia Region. Since then, he has served WHO in various capacities that include: Medical Officer (Public Health), WHO Country Office for Maldives (2009-2011); and Health Policy Advisor, WHO Country Office for Timor-Leste (2011-March 2015).

Dr Pandav’s leadership has been recognized through several prestigious awards, including the WHO Director-General’s Excellence Award (2017), WHO DG’s Award for Excellence for championing the Walk the Talk initiative (2018–2019), and the Special Initiative for Mental Health Award (2022). He was conferred the Order of Timor-Leste by President José Ramos-Horta in May 2023 and received the Alumni Award for Practice from the University of Pittsburgh in November 2023.

He has authored several scientific publications. Prior to joining WHO, Dr Pandav served as Senior Research Associate, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA. He received his MBBS degree from Grant Medical College, Mumbai, India; and a Master's in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh, USA.