During one of the most difficult times in public health, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has guided the WHO to great success. Because he is the first African WHO director and has studied malaria, as well as extensive political knowledge, he has led with crisis management, equal treatment for all and reforms.
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Leading Through a Worldwide Crisis
Nothing in recent years has tested the skills of health leaders as much as COVID-19. During the virus’s spread worldwide, Dr. Tedros occupied a central role in organising, communicating and debating with others globally. Even though there were many extraordinary cases, political influences and major logistical issues, Dr. Tedros led the WHO to supply daily updates, assistance and emergency help to 190 countries. He was seen as leading the way by expanding COVID-19 testing, getting vaccines to people and fighting false information.
Lesson: A good leader comes forward in a crisis, not to direct communication, but to guide people with clear ideas and caring.
Promoting equal health for everyone across the world
Dr. Tedros has worked continuously to support fair distribution of healthcare, mainly for the Global South, during his role. He fought for justice in distributing vaccines, creating COVAX as a way for nations worldwide to receive equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Dr.Tedros was right when he claimed that vaccine nationalism could keep the pandemic going and result in more deaths and he had data and principles to prove it. Even in the face of opposition, he put equity at the heart of world discussions, continuing to do so as large countries focused on their own interests.
Dr. Tedros’s leadership forced the world to confront an uncomfortable truth: Health is a political choice, and justice in healthcare is far from guaranteed without persistent advocacy.
Lesson: A good leader’s fight is not only for advancement but also for fair advancement.
A Leader Developed by Trial and Error
Before the WHO, Dr. Tedros was Ethiopia’s Minister of Health and then its Minister of Foreign Affairs. By implementing health care policies, he made it far easier for Ethiopians to receive treatment and reduced the death rate for children. He built up the health workers’ numbers and launched a model for community health that other countries used as a guide. Thanks to his early days, he was able to combine electrical engineering with skills in politics. It influenced his view on leading health systems: that each system must grow from the community and public health has to be connected with diplomacy, economics and human rights.
Lesson: Knowing how policy works combined with how it gets carried out is vital for leaders.
Diplomacy in Today’s World
Tackling the challenges of global health politics is very difficult. Throughout the pandemic, Dr. Tedros was caught between the disputes and tensions between the U.S. and China, broken funding and inaccurate global news. Borderline accused of playing into China’s hands and losing funding, he stayed committed to the WHO’s aim of safeguarding health and saving lives. He decided to engage diplomatically, instead of engaging in harsh talk or conflict. Under its head, the WHO worked together with many partners such as the United Nations, GAVI, CEPI, the Gates Foundation and various national health ministries.
Being calm and practical no matter the situation is characteristic of multilateralism and supporting peace processes.
Lesson: Leaders in charged environments know they cannot do without diplomacy.
Reforms in Institutions and Preparing for the Future
Besides addressing crises, Dr. Tedros has focused on making the WHO faster, more transparent and able to recover after challenges. He addressed the need for more flexible money for relief organisations, advanced improvements in emergency plans and urged partnership between nations and private companies. Under President Biden, there have been efforts to form worldwide deals for future health emergencies, including discussing the Pandemic Accord. Instead of focusing on the pandemic, Dr. Tedros led changes that made sure the WHO is ready for anything ahead.
Lesson: Successful leaders tackle challenges and ensure their organisations can avoid them in the future.
The Tedros Blueprint for Healthcare Leadership
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has clearly made a mark as a global health leader in his last months as director. He has helped the world face important difficulties with the help of science, morals and diplomacy. He pointed out that being empathetic, fair and resilient within an institution is of great importance. Dr. Tedros proved that extraordinary care helps communications, that support for all is important in healthcare and that diplomacy matters in our divided world. By focusing on the relationship between science and policy and leading with humility, he has proven to others what to do.
