Political leadership is crucial to improving national health and well-being. Health is a cornerstone of economic progress, sustainable development, democratic governance and global security. Many countries are embarking on efforts to provide universal access to health care, increase the efficiency and quality of public health services, and improve health outcomes particularly for women and children.

Even for seasoned leaders the greatest challenges can be securing sustainable financing; investing in infrastructure, equipment and human resources; and streamlining management systems needed for improving efficiency, standards of care and outcomes in public health services.

Securing the political commitment necessary for increasing domestic investment in health and achieving better health outcomes depends mainly on the leadership of the health minister together with the finance minister. Improving a nation’s health is just as crucial to the finance minister’s concern for jobs, development and economic growth as the health minister’s focus on national health indicators.

The Ministerial Leadership in Health Program provides the time and expertise for ministers to explore opportunities for an enduring impact on health sector strengthening and improved national well-being.

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Minister Beqaj was appointed in 2013. He has been a Member of Parliament for the National Assembly of the Socialist Party since 2007, representing Shkodra district and most recently Durres County. Before assuming the role of Minister of Health, he served as Secretary of the Socialist Party from 2011-2013 and Undersecretary of the Party from 2007-2011. Prior to pursuing his political career, Mr. Beqaj spent more than a decade working for Albania’s Institute for Social Security. He has a postgraduate degree in Enterprise Administration from the French Institute of Management at the Polytechnic University of Tirana and a Bachelor’s degree in computing from the University of Tirana.

Minister Van-Dúnem was appointed in 2008. He received his medical degree from the University of Agostinho Neto, in Luanda, Angola. He completed coursework in Public Health and Tropical Diseases in Portugal, as well as receiving certification in Primary Health Care management from the Aga Khan Foundation. Dr. Van-Dúnem previously held other political positions including Deputy Minister of Health and Technical Manager in the Ministry of Finance. During his tenure as Minister of Health, Dr. Van-Dúnem has focused attention on prevention and vaccination, which has led to many successes including zero contracted cases of polio for 2012.

Minister Kinde-Gazard was appointed in 2005.  She has a specialty in Parasitology-Mycology, and has spearheaded health initiatives around malaria, AIDS and tuberculosis. She has also focused health priorities around preventative care by expanding immunization programming and providing health education to school children and the public in French and seven national languages.

Minister Sebgo became Health Minister in January 2013. Between 1999 and 2012, he successively served as Director-General for Cooperation at the Ministry of Economy and Finance as well as Director of Multilateral Cooperation. In the past he served as the Alternate Governor of the Islamic Development Bank and as Deputy Governor. From 2009 to 2013 he also served as Chairman of the Regional Council for Public Savings and Financial Markets of the West African Economic and Monetary Union.

Minister Fontes Lima was appointed to her current position in 2011. She previously served as the Minister of State Reform and National Defense, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, State Reform and National Defense, and the Minister of Justice for Cape Verde. During her tenure as the Minister of Health, she has been committed to increasing access to care and reducing gaps in coverage by strengthening primary care services and building health infrastructure. She holds degrees in both law and public administration.

Minister Subramaniam became Health Minister in May, 2013. Prior to his appointment, he served as the country’s Minister of Human Resources from 2008-2013. Dr. Subramaniam is also the Deputy President of the Malaysian Indian Congress, which is a major component of the ruling Barisan National government. He has been a Member of Parliament since 2004, representing the Segamat District. He is a dermatologist by training and has received degrees from National University of Singapore, The University of Wales, and the Royal College of Physicians, Ireland.

Minister Coll-Seck was appointed to a second term as Minister in 2011, having previously served as Health Minister from 2001-2003. During her previous tenure as Minister, Dr. Coll-Seck initiated far-reaching reforms in the national health system, helped to shore up political commitment to health and increased national health investment. Dr. Coll-Seck has worked in senior posts at UNAIDS and, before returning to Senegal, she was the Executive Director of the Roll Back Malaria Campaign, based in Geneva. She holds a degree in Medicine from the University of Dakar. She spent 20 years as a physician specializing in infectious diseases before becoming Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the University of Dakar in 1989 and Chief of Services for Infectious Diseases at the University Hospital in Dakar.

Minister Ndlela-Simelane was appointed in November 2013 after being elected to the Senate in the Parliament of Swaziland. She formerly worked for the National Curriculum Centre as a coordinator for the Shiselweni region. Additionally, she has a number of years of experience working for NGOs on health related issues, including six years with the Nhlangano AIDS Training, Information and Counseling Centre.

Minister Chiu has been Minister since 2011. Prior to his appointment as Minister he held a series of high-level positions at the Taipei Medical University, including; Principal from 2008-2011; Superintendent of Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital from 2008-2009; Vice Principal from 2004-2008; Dean of the Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control from 2000-2004; Superintendent of Taipei Medical University-Wan Fang Hospital from 1997-2008; and Dean of the School of Public Health from 1993-1996. Dr. Wen-Ta is also a Professor of Medicine at the Taipei Medical University, having been a lecturer since 1985. His areas of expertise include epidemiology, health policy planning, implementation and administration, injury prevention, hospital management, and neurology. He holds a medical degree from Chung Shan Medical College Graduate School of Medicine, a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh and a PhD in Neurology from the School of Medicine at Nihon University in Japan.

Minister Sey was inaugurated in 2014. Previously, Mr. Sey held the cabinet position of Foreign Minister from 1987-1994. He holds a Master’s degree in Community Eye Health from the University College of London and a diploma in nursing from the Gambian college. He is committed to expanding health services to the most remote areas of the Gambia and ensuring quality primary care for all citizens.

Minister Rugunda was appointed Health Minister in May, 2013.  Dr. Rugunda has held a number of high-level ministerial positions throughout his distinguished career; most recently as Minister of Information and Communication Technology (2011-2013), Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Works, Transport and Communication, and Minister of Water, Lands and the Environment. Dr. Rugunda served as Uganda¹s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2009 to 2011, where he twice sat as the President of the Security Council. He was an elected Member of Parliament, representing the Kabale Municipality from 1989 to 2001. He received a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Zambia, a Master of Science in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley, and studied pediatrics at the University of Nairobi. Dr. Rugunda has worked as a Physician in Lusaka, Zambia, at Washington DC General Hospital, and at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi Kenya.

Minister Duarte was appointed in 2006. She has previously served as Director General of the Ministry of Rural Development and Fisheries, a Consultant for both the African Development Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization, and as Vice President of Citibank in Angola. She has an MBA in International Management from University of Arizona and a degree in economics from the Technical University of Lisbon.

Cabinet Secretary Rotich was appointed in April of 2013. He served as the Head of macroeconomics at the Treasury from 2006 to 2013. He holds an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Master’s in Economics from the University of Nairobi.

Dr. Ketso was appointed in June of 2012. Dr. Ketso holds a PhD in Economics from Dalhousie University in Canada, has been a university professor in Labor Economics and Regional Development as well as a consultant for the Lesotho Government and private businesses. He is also an author of several books in Economics, immigration and welfare spending in Lesotho.

Minister Salum recently assumed office in 2014. She is also a Member of Parliament. Prior to her appointment as Minister, she served as the Deputy Minister of Finance under the late William Mgimwa and was also the Commissioner of Finance for Zanzibar. She holds a Masters in Finance from the Open University of Tanzania.

Minister Touray was appointed in 2013. He formerly served as the Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment from 2012-2013. Additionally he was Ambassador Etrxa-ordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdon of Spain from 2007-2012, Chief Executive Officer of Gambia Investment Promotion from 2003-2007 and Director of Finance and Administration from 2001-2003 of Free Zones Agency, and Director of Finance and Administration at the Gambia Public Transport Corporation. He holds numerous degrees and certificates including an MBA in Finance from the Maastricht School of Management and a BBA from the City College of Higher Education, London.