WHO has announced the appointment of Professor Keizo Takemi as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Universal Health Coverage.

Professor Takemi is an internationally renowned advocate on global health and development. He was the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan in 1998-1999 and the Senior Vice Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan in 2006-2007. As the son of prominent physician and scientist Dr Taro Takemi, he has a strong interest in health and welfare, and played an important role negotiating reform of the Japanese health system and the introduction of the elderly care insurance scheme in 2000.

 “I look forward to working with Professor Takemi to spread the message about universal health coverage,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.  “As a strong advocate for public health, Professor Takemi will help us to raise awareness of the importance of universal health coverage and mobilize the international community to join us in working for health for all.”

Professor Takemi taught international politics at Tokai University, Japan, since 1995 and was Harvard School of Public Health Research Fellow from 2007-2009. Since 2007, as a senior fellow of Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE), he has led a high-level working group advocating for Japan’s collective action on global health.