Candidate for Director-General of the World Health Organization · 2027–2032

Healthy Long Lives for All.

A WHO that listens, responds and delivers, with countries and for people.

BuildStrong national health systems
GrowRegional resilience
ScaleGlobal impact
Meet Budi

A system transformer who delivers at scale.

Budi Gunadi Sadikin has served as Indonesia’s Minister of Health since December 2020. Appointed at the height of COVID-19, he led one of the world’s largest vaccination programmes and turned emergency response into a mandate for long-term health-system reform.

280M+people served by Indonesia’s national health system
453M+COVID-19 vaccine doses administered
100M+people reached by free annual screening in 15 months
US$8.75Bin grants and development-bank financing mobilised
Vision and mission

From strong countries to a stronger world.

The path to better global health begins with national ownership, grows through regional cooperation, and achieves scale through collective global action grounded in science.

01

Build Strong National Health Systems

A WHO that strengthens country leadership and national health systems.

  • One credible, country-led and costed National Health Plan
  • Greater domestic financing, efficiency and accountability
  • Prevention-led primary care, UHC and pandemic preparedness
  • Ethical use of digital technology
02

Grow Regional Resilience

A WHO that advances regional cooperation.

  • Diversified manufacturing and technology transfer
  • Pooled procurement and stronger market shaping
  • Cross-border surveillance and laboratory networks
  • Coordinated emergency workforces and response
03

Scale Global Impact

A WHO that leads collective action on shared global health challenges.

  • Trusted, scientifically independent norms and standards
  • Equitable participation by all Member States
  • A broader funding base and transparent accountability
  • Faster global early warning and emergency coordination
Delivering at scale

A record built on action.

COVID-19 response

From crisis response to transformation

More than 453 million vaccine doses, genomic surveillance expanded from 16 to 41 laboratories, and 5,000 tonnes of oxygen delivered to 500 hospitals during the Delta surge.

Financing

US$8.75 billion mobilised

Including US$4 billion for a government-led programme equipping over 10,000 primary facilities, 500 public-health laboratories and 600 hospitals.

Primary care

Prevention at national scale

Integrated Primary Care across more than 10,000 centres and 300,000 community posts; free annual health screening reached 100 million people in its first 15 months.

Emergency response

Restore essential services fast

All 87 hospitals affected by the 2025 Sumatra floods were restored within two weeks. After the 2026 East Nusa Tenggara earthquake, two field hospitals were operational within four days.

Trusted transformation

Four qualities for the next WHO.

Experience spanning national reform, multilateral diplomacy, finance, technology and large-scale institutional leadership.

System Transformer

Six pillars of health reform anchored in a new Health Law consolidating 11 fragmented laws.

Consensus Builder

Coalitions across nine parliamentary parties and G20 agreement that helped establish the Pandemic Fund.

Trusted Steward

Financial discipline that saved US$553 million on advanced medical devices and 32% on selected medicines.

Future-Shaping Leader

Science, AI, genomic surveillance, digital systems, local manufacturing and next-generation vaccines.

Global health in action

Country leadership. Collective progress.

G20 · Bali, 2022

Advancing the Pandemic Fund

Helped unite health and finance leaders around a fund launched with US$1.4 billion from 24 donors. By February 2026, it had built a portfolio of 67 projects across 128 countries and catalysed more than US$10 billion.

ASEAN · 2023

Making One Health a regional priority

Championed the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on One Health, followed by a regional network and joint action plan for 2023–2030.

Accra Reset · 2026

A more equitable global health architecture

Co-chairing work to move from fragmented, externally driven arrangements toward country agency, sustainable financing and collective provision of global public goods.

Voices of support

Leadership trusted across borders.

“His vision for WHO is grounded in equity, solidarity, innovation, accountability, and sustainable financing.”

Prabowo SubiantoPresident of the Republic of Indonesia

“He is the kind of person who can bring together people from different backgrounds, build strong momentum, and develop strategies and systems to achieve lasting results.”

Dr Yohei SasakawaWHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination; Honorary Chair, The Nippon Foundation
Walk the talk

Health leadership begins by example.

Budi enjoys running and good food, embracing a healthy life that is enjoyable and fulfilling. At 60 he completed his first marathon in Berlin, followed by London in 2026. In Jakarta, he runs with communities including runners with visual impairments, and shares practical guidance to help millions exercise, eat and sleep well.

Selected experience

Leadership across systems.

National leadership

2020–present · Minister of Health
Led Indonesia’s COVID-19 response and six-pillar health transformation.

2019–2020 · Vice Minister of State-Owned Enterprises
Oversaw 64 enterprises across strategic sectors.

2017–2019 · Group CEO, MIND ID / President Director, Inalum
Led the US$3.85 billion Freeport Indonesia divestment.

2013–2016 · President Director, Bank Mandiri
Led Indonesia’s largest bank, with nearly 2,500 branches and 100,000 personnel.

Global and regional leadership

Accra Reset · Co-Chair, High-Level Panel on Reform of the Global Health Architecture and Governance

Gavi · Board Member representing Western Pacific and South-East Asia

TB Vaccine Accelerator Council · Co-Chair

Stop TB Partnership · Board Member

The Lancet · Commissioner on Health System Performance Assessment

Credentials

B.Sc., Physics
Bandung Institute of Technology, 1988

A WHO that delivers
“I would lead a WHO that listens, responds and delivers, with countries and for people, so that everyone can live a long and healthy life.”

Budi Gunadi Sadikin · Candidate for Director-General of the World Health Organization, 2027–2032

Download the complete vision booklet