Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Ambassador to the United States, hosted a reception this week celebrating Dr. Hanan Balkhy, the Kingdom’s candidate for the position of World Health Organization director general. The gathering coincided with meetings of the Pan American Health Organization taking place in Washington.
During the event, Princess Reema praised Dr. Balkhy’s long professional career and her deep background in both public and global health. She told attendees that this experience gives Dr. Balkhy a strong foundation as she seeks to become the World Health Organization’s director general, noting that such credentials add real weight to her bid for the role.
Guests at the reception discussed pressing challenges facing global health today, alongside the value of deeper international cooperation. Conversation centered on how nations might work together to reinforce health systems worldwide and achieve outcomes that can be sustained over time. The reception offered a platform for diplomats and health officials to engage directly with Dr. Balkhy’s candidacy while examining broader questions shaping the future of global health policy and cross-border collaboration among health institutions and governments alike.
