The International Council of Nurses (ICN), which says it represents more than 30 million nurses worldwide, has written to all publicly disclosed candidates for the next Director-General of the World Health Organization, asking each of them how they would strengthen nursing’s “authority, resources and influence” within WHO and across global health.
The move, announced by ICN in mid-October, comes as the race to succeed Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, whose second term ends in August 2027, enters a crucial stage.
Why ICN is asking
Nurses and midwives make up the largest share of the global health workforce, yet nursing leaders have long argued that they are under-represented where health decisions are made. WHO’s own State of the World’s Nursing reports have documented a global nursing workforce approaching 30 million, with deep inequalities: most nurses are concentrated in high-income countries, while Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean face the steepest shortages.
ICN’s letter is designed to turn general expressions of support for nurses, which candidates commonly make, into concrete commitments that can be tracked. Nursing organisations have previously pressed WHO leadership candidates on issues such as maintaining a strong Chief Nursing Officer role at WHO, investment in nursing education and jobs, safe staffing, and ethical international recruitment.
Who is running?
Nominations closed on 24 September 2026. According to Health Policy Watch, six candidates had been publicly declared at that point:
- Dr Hans Kluge (Belgium), WHO Regional Director for Europe.
- Dr Hanan Balkhy (Saudi Arabia), WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.
- Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari (Qatar), former Minister of Public Health.
- Budi Gunadi Sadikin (Indonesia), Minister of Health.
- Dr María Neira (Spain), former long-time director of WHO’s environment, climate change and health department.
- Prof. Gevorg Tamamyan, a paediatric oncologist nominated by Botswana.
WHO is expected to publish the full official list of candidates and their proposals in early November.
The election timeline
- Early November 2026: candidates and their proposals published.
- 18 November 2026: Candidates’ Forum begins in Geneva, where Member States can question candidates.
- January 2027: WHO Executive Board shortlists up to three candidates and nominates one.
- May 2027: the World Health Assembly votes by secret ballot.
- 16 August 2027: the new Director-General takes office.
Young nurses gain a seat at WHO
In a separate development, ICN announced on 14 October that its Alliance of Student and Early Career Nurses has been selected to join the WHO Youth Council, giving young and emerging nurses a stronger voice in global health decision-making.
Why it matters to you
WHO’s leadership shapes global guidance on health workforce planning, the WHO Code of Practice on international recruitment of health personnel, the Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List, and investment priorities that influence ministries of health worldwide. For nurses in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, the Philippines, India and elsewhere, these decisions affect jobs at home, migration routes abroad, and the conditions nurses work in.
Nurses can engage by following the Candidates’ Forum, contacting their national nursing association (most are ICN members), and asking their own health ministries where they stand. We’ll report on candidates’ responses as they emerge.
Related: ICN chief on misinformation after Ebola nurse killed · WHO health workforce report 2026
Sources: International Council of Nurses news releases (14 and 15 October 2026); Health Policy Watch (25 September 2026); WHO election process information.