Hans Kluge

Hans Kluge
Dr. Hans Kluge in 2024
Regional Director for Europe of the World Health Organization
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 February 2020
Preceded by	Zsuzsanna Jakab
Personal details
Alma mater	KU Leuven

Hans Henri Marcel Paul Kluge (born 29 November 1968, in Roeselare) is a Belgian medical doctor and public health expert. As of 1 February 2020^[update], he served as the World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe after being nominated in September 2019 by the WHO Regional Committee for Europe.[1][2][3]

In 2019, Belgium proposed Kluge as a candidate for the position of WHO Regional Director for Europe.[4]

He qualified in medicine, surgery and obstetrics at KU Leuven in 1994.[5]

As WHO Regional Director for Europe, Kluge introduced a new strategic vision for the WHO European Region, called "United action for better health".[6] When introducing the vision, Kluge said, "Together, we must build a pan-European culture of health, where health and well-being goals guide public and private decision-making, and everyone can make healthy choices". This vision was translated into the European Programme of Work 2020-2025 (EPW), which was formally adopted by the Region in September 2020.[7]

Kluge also initiated the Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development, an independent and interdisciplinary group of leaders convened to rethink policy priorities in the light of pandemics.[8] In December 2021 Kluge said: "We can see another storm coming".[9] In February Kluge said "This period of higher protection should be seen as a 'ceasefire' that could bring us enduring peace."[10]

In June 2022, during the 2022 monkeypox outbreak, Kluge called on governments and the public to increase efforts to prevent the disease from extending its geographical reach.[11]

References

1. "Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge". Euro.who.int. Archived from the original on 24 April 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
2. "Dr Hans Kluge elected as WHO Regional Director for Europe". Efna.net. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
3. "Radiology Management, ICU Management, Healthcare IT, Cardiology Management, Executive Management". Healthmanagement.org. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
4. "Dr Hans Kluge is the nominee for WHO Regional Director for Europe". Euro.who.int. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
5. "Hans Henri P. Kluge". KU Leuven Congres. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
6. "Vision and strategic directions". Euro.who.int. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
7. "European Programme of Work (2020–2025) – United Action for Better Health in Europe". Euro.who.int. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
8. "Inaugural meeting of Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development takes place". Euro.who.int. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
9. "Dec 22, 2021 Omicron variant and coronavirus news". Cnn.com. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
10. "Europe entering Covid pandemic 'ceasefire', says WHO". BBC News. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
11. "No room for complacency over monkeypox, says WHO". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 July 2022.

External links

• Hans Kluge on Twitter