Tim Nguyen is the Head of Unit for Medical Countermeasures in the Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Management of the WHO Health Emergencies Preparedness and Response Programme (WHE). The medical countermeasure (MCM) landscape is highly complex, requiring strong coordination among multiple partners to ensure the world is ready to face future health emergencies in a fair and effective way.
The unit work focuses on making sure that communities can protect themselves during crises by securing timely, sufficient, and equitable access to essential tools—such as diagnostics, treatments, vaccines, medical supplies, and other critical health products—at prices that are both affordable and sustainable. Tim joined WHO in 2006 working as a Technical Officer in the Yellow Fever Programme which coordinated an initiative funded by the GAVI Alliance to provide 40 million doses of vaccine to most at risk populations. In 2008, he joined WHO’s Global Influenza Programme and took part in the global response work to the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century. From 2014-2017, he was the Unit leader for Knowledge Management, Evidence and Research for Policy-Making at the WHO Regional Office for Europe based in Copenhagen, Denmark. There, he established the scientific journal Public Health Panorama and developed the WHO/Europe resolution and action plan for evidence-informed policy-making. Since 2017 he leads various governance mechanisms for access and allocation of MCMs in health emergencies.
