Halfdan T. Mahler

Halfdan T. Mahler ( * April 21, 1923 in Vivild, Denmark) was a Danish physician and 1973-1988 Director General of the World Health Organization ( WHO).

He graduated from medical school in Copenhagen in 1948. In 1951 he joined the WHO and was responsible for tuberculosis control in India. From 1962 he was head of the tuberculosis unit of the WHO in Geneva. In 1973 he was elected Director-General of WHO. This office he held for three parliamentary terms from to 1988. 1988, the Four Freedoms Award for Freedom from Want, he was awarded.

During his tenure, he was responsible for the global health policy concept of primary health care. It was founded in 1978 on the occasion of the international conference of Alma- Ata declared for the first time and adopted in 1979 with the goal of Health for All by the Year 2000 by the 32th World Health Assembly.