Politics · Indonesia · 1 hr ago
Indonesia’s WHO chief nominee says no country can face a pandemic alone
Budi Sadikin, Indonesia’s health minister and nominee to lead the WHO, says countries cannot fight a pandemic alone.
He spent much of his career as an executive at Indonesia’s largest bank before moving into health.
He says his business experience could help reform the WHO, which is facing major cuts in donor funding.
Sadikin believes emergency treatments should be shared as global public goods during a pandemic.
His ties to the United States, he suggests, could help Washington return to the WHO.
He warns that no country can protect its people from a pandemic on its own.
The WHO is preparing for a leadership election in 2027.
Indonesia has nominated Health Minister Budi Sadikin to become the next director-general of the World Health Organization.
Sadikin says no country can protect its population alone during a future pandemic.
He argues that emergency treatments during a global pandemic should become global public goods.
He says his experience as a banking executive could help him address WHO reform amid major cuts in donor funding.
Sadikin suggests his good relations with the United States could help pave the way for Washington to rejoin the WHO.
- Who
- Budi Sadikin, Indonesia’s health minister and nominee for WHO director-general.
- What
- He says no country can safeguard its population alone during the next pandemic.
- When
- The article was published on 9 November 2026; it does not state when Sadikin made the remarks.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- Sadikin says facing a pandemic alone is scientifically and practically impossible.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with Sadikin at WHO headquarters.
Health Policy Watch published its article about Sadikin’s candidacy and views.
- Nominee
- Budi Sadikin
- Country
- Indonesia
- Current role
- Minister of Health
- WHO election
- 2027
- Prior career
- Top executive at PT Bank Mandiri TBk
- WHO meeting
- Tedros met Sadikin at WHO headquarters in July 2026
What people are saying
if any country believes it can safeguard its population on its own during the next pandemic, that is scientifically and practically impossible.
Before, my job was to make my clients wealthy; now my job is to make my people healthy.
should become global public goods