The 1997 H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in Hong Kong marked a pivotal moment in the career of Margaret Chan, then the head of the Department of Health. Her initial public assurances regarding the safety of consuming chicken were later contrasted by her decisive, if controversial, action to cull 1.5 million birds, an effort credited with controlling the spread of the virus.
Early Career and Education
Born in 1947 in Hong Kong, Chan pursued education in Canada and Singapore. She earned a bachelor of arts in home economics in 1973 and a doctor of medicine in 1977 from the University of Western Ontario. Later, she obtained a master of science in public health from the National University of Singapore in 1985. She joined the British Hong Kong government in December 1978 as a medical officer, eventually rising to become the first woman to lead the Department of Health in 1994.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Public Health Challenges in Hong Kong
Chan's tenure as Director of Health saw significant public health crises. Beyond the 1997 H5N1 outbreak, she faced the 2003 SARS epidemic, which resulted in 299 deaths in Hong Kong. While the Legislative Council criticized her for perceived passivity and reliance on mainland information, an official expert committee determined that systemic issues regarding data sharing between the hospital and public health authorities hampered the response, rather than individual failures.
Leadership at the World Health Organization
In 2003, Chan transitioned to the World Health Organization, eventually serving as Director-General from 2007 to 2017. Her two terms were defined by a focus on universal health coverage and the health of women in Africa. Her leadership faced scrutiny, including criticism regarding the WHO's response to the 2009 flu pandemic, the 2013 polio resurgence in Syria, and the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. In 2016, she launched the Health Emergencies Programme to address systemic weaknesses.
Post-WHO Professional Activity
Since leaving the WHO in 2017, Chan has remained active in global and regional health policy. In 2018, she joined the Task Force on Fiscal Policy for Health, organized by Michael R. Bloomberg and Lawrence H. Summers to address noncommunicable diseases. Additionally, she holds membership in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and serves on the Council of Advisors for the Boao Forum for Asia.
Fast facts
- Born: 1947, Hong Kong
- Education: University of Western Ontario; National University of Singapore
- Director-General of the World Health Organization: 2007-2017
- Director of Health, Hong Kong: 1994-2003
- Citizenship: Canada; People's Republic of China
- Notable Award: Officer of the Order of the British Empire
- Professional Status: Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London
Questions readers ask
What was the result of Chan's management of the 1997 H5N1 outbreak?
She was heavily criticized for her initial public statements about eating chicken, but she was later credited for containing the epidemic by ordering the culling of 1.5 million chickens.
Which organization did Chan join after her tenure at the WHO?
In 2018, she joined the Task Force on Fiscal Policy for Health and the Council of Advisors of the Boao Forum for Asia.
Achievements
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire
- Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London
- Held posts at World Health Organization, Government of Hong Kong and Department of Health
- Fields: global health
