WHO Fires Head of Western Pacific Regional Office After Internal Investigation Finds Violations

WHO Wikimedia Commons Guilhem Vellut illustration

JAKARTA - The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday it had the head of the Western Pacific Regional office, after an internal investigation found misconduct by the officials concerned.

The WHO did not release details, but chief office Takeshi Kasai has been suspended as Regional Director for the Western Pacific since August last year, after allegations of racist and abusive behavior towards staff members in his Manila office.

The UN health agency based in Geneva, Switzerland launched a formal investigation into the allegations, which were first reported by The Associated Press in January 2022.

The decision to terminate Kasai was taken following a closed meeting of the West Pacific Regional Office last month and the Executive Board earlier this week, reported Kyodo News March 9.

According to the AP report, internal complaints filed by current and former staff in October 2021, describe a “toxic atmosphere” with a “culture of systemic intimidation and public ridicule” at the WHO West Pacific Regional office located in Manila, Philippines.

Kasai's authoritarian style led to the departure of more than 55 key staff members. In addition, he was also accused of making derogatory remarks based on nationality, said the AP report.

After the reports came out, Kasai confirmed to Kyodo News through his office that he had mistreated his subordinates, but denied engaging in discrimination based on any particular nationality.

As a replacement, Zsuzsanna Jakab, deputy director general of the UN entity who has acted as interim replacement for Kasai, will serve as regional director until a successor is selected. The selection process will begin next month, although a new director may not take office before next February.

Kasai was appointed regional director for the Western Pacific for a five-year term in February 2019. The Japanese doctor has worked for the WHO in various positions for nearly 20 years, according to the organization.

It is known, there are six WHO regional offices. The regional office for the Western Pacific is located in Manila and covers nearly 1.9 billion people in 37 countries and territories, including Japan, China and Australia.