Hiroshi Nakajima

Hiroshi Nakajima (Japanese中 嶋 宏, Hiroshi Nakajima, born May 16, 1928 in Chiba, † January 26, 2013 in Poitiers ) was a Japanese physician and 1988-1998 Director General of the World Health Organization ( WHO).

Nakajima studied at the Medical University of Tokyo ( Tōkyō Daigaku Ika ) and the University of Paris. At the latter, he specialized in the connection in neuropharmacology. In 1974, he joined as a research associate of the WHO, where he was cared for with pharmacological issues. In 1976 he became head of the department for drugs policy, where he played an important role in the development of the concept of essential medicines. From 1978 to 1988 he was director of the Western Pacific Regional Office. In 1988 he was elected as the fourth Director General of WHO. The U.S. and other Western countries do not support this option. Prior to his candidacy for re-election were allegations that Japan had bought votes of developing countries in the WHO Executive Board by promises of official posts or financing of prestige objects. Then accused Japan the U.S. to carry out a systematic campaign of disinformation. Only after a fight election against the Algerian Mohammed Abdelmoumene he was elected in May 1993 by the World Health Assembly for a second term. For a third choice he no longer went to, so that his term ended in 1998.

Nakajima started in his term as WHO Director several campaigns to combat infectious diseases, especially AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and dengue fever. He attached great importance to the prevention of infection by vaccination. His tenure was overshadowed by budget overruns and mismanagement, which led to a reputational damage to the WHO.