The World Health Organization has released the names of 13 candidates vying to lead the agency, following the death of Director-General Lee Jong-wook of South Korea in May 2006.
Among the contenders is Dr. Tomris Turmen of Türkiye, a pediatrician with medical training in Türkiye, the United States, and Canada. She previously served in the Turkish Ministry of Health overseeing maternal and child health and family planning, joined WHO in 1992 in senior advisory roles, and was named executive director in 2000.
Other notable candidates include Hong Kong's Dr. Margaret Chan, who is currently leading WHO's global bird flu preparedness efforts, former French Health Minister Dr. Bernard Kouchner, and former Mozambique Prime Minister Dr. Pascoal Manuel Mocumbi.
WHO's executive board is scheduled to convene on 6 and 8 November to select a recommended candidate. The World Health Assembly, the organization's top governing body representing 192 countries, will then meet on 9 November to vote on that recommendation.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in September 2006, in its own words.