To strengthen transparency around the election of the next World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific, a live forum of candidates will be held 09:00−15:00 Manila time on Friday, 15 September 2023.
The forum was requested by the current Chairperson of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, the Honourable Dr Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, Minister of Health of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and agreed by WHO’s Member States in the Region. It will be chaired by Dr Bounfeng.
The five candidates, who are expected to attend the forum in person, are:
- Dr Song Li, proposed by China
- Dr Susan Mercado, proposed by the Philippines
- Dr Jimmie Rodgers, proposed by Solomon Islands
- Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, proposed by Tonga
- Dr Tran Thi Giang Huong, proposed by Viet Nam
The candidates will each give a presentation of less than 20 minutes on their experience and expertise, and present the vision for what they hope to achieve as Regional Director to deliver on the core mandates of WHO in the Western Pacific.
In addition, the candidates will answer questions from Member States who will be connected virtually. This will provide a further opportunity for Member States to acquaint themselves with the candidates and assess their suitability for the role.
Selection of questions
Each Member State joining the virtual forum may ask questions, if it so wishes. Member States are invited to indicate the candidate(s) to whom they wish to ask a question by writing to the Regional Office at the email address wprordoffice@who.int no later than 13 September 2023, at 17:00 Philippine time. The tokens bearing the names of the Member States wishing to ask questions will be put in the relevant receptacles (one for each candidate). Member States that nominated candidates are expected not to ask questions of candidates they nominated.
After each candidate has made an oral presentation, the Chairperson will pull the tokens one-by-one, on a random basis, until the time available is exhausted. After each token is drawn, the corresponding Member State will be invited to ask a question and the candidate invited to provide an answer.
Questions and answers
Member States will have up to one minute to ask one question only. Questions with multiple parts will not be permitted. Candidates will have up to three minutes to respond to each question. Each interview will conclude when the 60 minutes for the interview have elapsed, even if there are still questions pending. However, a candidate will be permitted to complete their answer to the question being addressed if the 60 minutes elapse.
Timekeeping
A clock displayed on the screen will likely be used to assist participants in keeping within time limits during both parts of the interview.
How to watch
The forum will be livestreamed on this page and social media accounts - YouTube, Facebook and X (Twitter), with channels in Chinese, English and French.
English Livestream
French Livestream
Chinese livestream
Journalists and any other members of the public are invited to watch it here.
Watch Chinese recordingWatch English recording
Watch French recording
About the election of the Regional Director
At the next session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, taking place 16−20 October in Manila, the Region’s Member States will vote to nominate the new Regional Director. The nomination will then be submitted to the next meeting of the WHO Executive Board taking place 22−27 January 2024 in Geneva. The newly appointed Regional Director will take office on 1 February 2024. Learn more about the election process and candidates.
The 30 Member States of the Western Pacific Region which will vote in the upcoming election for the Regional Director are: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, France (which has responsibility for French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Wallis and Futuna), Japan, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (which has responsibility for the Pitcairn Islands), United States of America (which has responsibility for American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), Vanuatu and Viet Nam.