KU Leuven: WHO CEO Hans Kluge receives faculty honorary medal

On May 12, the KU Leuven Faculty of Medicine will award an honorary medal to Dr Hans Kluge. With this, the faculty recognizes the exceptional merit of the KU Leuven alumnus as Regional Director for Europe at the World Health Organization (WHO) and his efforts for better health and healthcare.

dr. Hans Kluge obtained his medical degree from KU Leuven in 1994. He then specialized in tropical and infectious diseases at the Institute of Tropical Medicine. After a short stint as a general practitioner, Dr. Hans Kluge found his calling with Doctors Without Borders, for which he started tuberculosis programs in various war zones and prisons.

In 1999, Dr Hans Kluge joined the World Health Organization. He worked there on projects on tuberculosis, HIV and malaria in various regions. Since 2009 he has been associated with the regional division for Europe. Here he developed the new strategy on health systems in the European region and strengthened partnerships with organizations such as the World Bank, the European Commission and the OECD.

In 2020, Dr Hans Kluge was appointed as WHO Director for Europe. In his current position, he wants to strengthen European health systems by stepping up a gear in the fight against tuberculosis, HIV, diabetes, obesity and cancer, in collaboration with ministries of health.