Indian Health Minister to head WHO Executive Board

Indian Health Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan to take charge of the World Health Organisation executive board, succeeding Dr Hiroki Nakatani of Japan.

Indian Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has been elected as the chairman of the World Health Organization's Executive Board. He takes over the charge succeeding Dr Hiroki Nakatani of Japan.

The proposal to appoint India's nominee to the Executive Board was signed by the 194-nation World Health Assembly on Tuesday. The chairman's post is held by rotation for one year among regional groups and it was decided last year that India's nominee would be the Executive Board chairman for the first time starting today.

It is not a full-time assignment and the minister will just be required to chair the Executive Board's meetings. The board comprises of 34 executives related to the field of health, each representing a member country.

Addressing the World Health Assembly via video conferencing, Vardhan had said India took all necessary steps well in time to combat the deadly virus. He asserted that India has done well in dealing with the disease and is confident of doing better in the months to come.