Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin Officially Enters WHO Director-General Candidate Race
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has officially entered the race for Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). Budi’s name is listed as one of four prospective candidates who will compete for the top position.
According to the official WHO website, Budi was nominated by Indonesia as a candidate for WHO Director-General. He is competing against Hanan Mohammed Al-Kuwari, nominated by Qatar, Hanan Balkhy from Saudi Arabia, and Hans Henri P. Kluge, nominated by Belgium.
WHO stated that these names remain prospective candidates. The list and nomination status will be updated after WHO officially publishes all candidates and their nomination proposals.
Budi’s entry into the race has drawn attention because his background differs from most WHO leaders. Budi is neither a medical doctor nor a public health professional, but rather holds an educational background in nuclear physics and a long career in banking and the corporate sector.
Budi began serving as Health Minister in December 2020 and led the Ministry of Health when Indonesia faced the Covid-19 pandemic. Before entering government, he held a number of important positions in the business world.
Budi served as President Director of Bank Mandiri from 2013. He then led the state-owned mining holding company PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) before eventually entering government as Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises and then Health Minister.
Although his non-medical background is seen by some observers as a potential challenge, Budi’s experience in finance is also considered a valuable asset. This is particularly relevant as WHO is currently facing significant funding pressures.
Budi also has a track record in global health diplomacy. He was one of the figures involved in establishing the Pandemic Fund, a global funding mechanism launched during Indonesia’s G20 Presidency in Bali in 2022 and managed through the World Bank.
In July, Indonesia also provided an additional voluntary contribution of approximately US$30 million to WHO to help cover the organisation’s funding shortfall. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus previously expressed appreciation to Budi after the contribution was made. However, Tedros has not yet publicly endorsed any candidate to replace him.
Budi’s candidacy brings the number of prospective WHO Director-General candidates to four. Besides Budi, there are Hanan Balkhy from Saudi Arabia, Hanan Mohammed Al-Kuwari from Qatar, and Hans Kluge from Belgium. These names are currently viewed as initial candidates in the WHO Director-General election scheduled to take place in May 2027 in Geneva, Switzerland.
However, the competitive landscape may still change. Member states still have time to nominate other candidates until the nomination deadline on 24 September 2026.
This election is taking place as WHO faces major changes. The withdrawal of the United States from the organisation has caused funding pressures and forced WHO to implement various cost-cutting measures.
The funding crisis has led to a staff reduction of approximately 25% over the past year. A number of senior WHO officials have also left the organisation, including British doctor and researcher Jeremy Farrar.
WHO member states will elect the new Director-General at the 80th World Health Assembly. The elected candidate is scheduled to take office on 16 August 2027, after Tedros’s term ends.