Health Minister Harsh Vardhan to be Chairman of WHO Executive Board

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Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan will take over as the new Chairman of the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation on Friday, 22 May. The board consists of 34 members.

The proposal to appoint an Indian as the new chairman of the WHO Executive Board was finalized by the World Health Assembly consisting of 194 nations on Tuesday, 19 May.

According to sources, “It is not a full-time assignment…But Dr Harsh Vardhan will be required to chair the executive board’s bi-annual meetings.”

Dr Harsh Vardhan’s appointment comes at a time when the WHO has adopted a resolution to launch an independent probe into the coronavirus outbreak.