Dr Ala Alwan assumed his duties as WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean on 1 February 2012. From 2008 until the end of 2011, he was Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at WHO headquarters, where he led WHO’s work that resulted in the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2011 of the Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases.

A native of Iraq, Dr Alwan graduated in medicine from the University of Alexandria, Egypt. He practised medicine in Scotland and obtained his postgraduate training and qualifications in the United Kingdom. Following his return to Iraq, he held several positions in clinical and academic medicine and public health. He was Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Mustansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq.

In 1992, he joined the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean as Regional Adviser for Noncommunicable Diseases. He then served as WHO Representative in Oman, and Director, Division of Health Systems Development in the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. In 1998, Dr Alwan moved to WHO headquarters as Director for Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention and then Director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases Management. In 2001, he became WHO Representative in Jordan. From 2003 to 2005, he was Minister of Education and Minister of Health in the Government of Iraq. From 2005 to January 2008, he was Representative of the Director-General and Assistant Director-General for Health Action in Crises.

Dr Alwan was appointed as Regional Director by the WHO Executive Board at its 130th session in January 2012. In his acceptance speech, Dr Alwan drew attention to the current challenges facing the Region. “This is a region with considerable health, socioeconomic and political challenges as well as diverse needs. But it is also a region with solid historical achievements and great promise,” said Dr Alwan. “I will focus on achieving the results that we, collectively, know are essential, especially in tackling the health challenges impacting the region during the current economic and political climate.”

Regional Director Emeritus