India's Health Min Dr Harsh Vardhan set to be WHO Executive Board chairman: Officials

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who is at forefront of India's battle against COVID-19, is set to take charge as chairman of WHO Executive Board on May 22, officials said on Tuesday. Vardhan would succeed Dr Hiroki Nakatani of Japan, currently Chairman of 34-member WHO Executive Board.

proposal to appoint India's minee to executive board was signed by 194-nation World Health Assembly on Tuesday, officials said on condition of anymity. His taking over post seems to be a formality after decision that he will be India's minee as WHO's South-East Asia group h unanimously decided last year that India would be elected to executive board for a three-year-term beginning May.

Vardhan would be elected at Executive Board meeting of World Health Organisation on May 22, officials said. chairman's post is held by rotation for one year among regional groups and it was decided last year that India's minee would be Executive Board chairman for first year starting Friday.

It is t a full time assignment and minister will just be required to chair Executive Board's meetings, an official said. Executive Board is composed of 34 individuals technically qualified in field of health, each one designated by a member state elected to do so by World Health Assembly. Member States are elected for three-year terms.

Board meets at least twice a year and main meeting is rmally in January, with a second shorter meeting in May, immediately after Health Assembly. main functions of Executive Board are to give effect to decisions and policies of Health Assembly, to vise it and generally to facilitate its work. dressing 73rd World Health Assembly via video conferencing on Monday, Vardhan h said India took all necessary steps well in time to combat COVID-19 pandemic.

He h asserted that country has done well in dealing with disease and is confident of doing better in months to come. India is set to take over chairmanship of Executive Board amid growing calls, including by US President Donald Trump, to investigate how coronavirus originated in China's Wuhan city and subsequent action by Beijing.