§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What job description and criteria for selection will be agreed by member states before arrangements are put in place to appoint the next Director-General of the World Health Organisation.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health (Baroness Jay of Paddington)The Director-General of the World Health Organisation is responsible for implementation of WHO policy although there is no formal job description for this post. In 1996 member states at the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution identifying the following criteria which candidates for the director general post are expected to meet:
- (1) a strong technical and public health background and extensive experience in international health;
- (2) competency in organisational management;
- (3) proven historical evidence for public health leadership;
- (4) sensitiveness to cultural, social and political leadership;
- (5) a strong commitment to the work of WHO;
- (6) the good physical condition required of all staff members of the organisation; and
- (7) sufficient skills in at least one of the official0 and working languages of the executive board and health assembly.