The Centre has cleared Soumya Swaminathan, Director General (DG) of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), to take up foreign assignment as a Deputy DG at the World Health Organisation (WHO) for about two years.

"The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved grant of cadre clearance to Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research and Department of Health Research, to take up foreign assignment of the post of Deputy Director General for Programme (DPP), WHO Geneva, for the period from Dec 1, 2017, to Nov 18, 2019," said an order.It also said that the ACC has approved a Search-cum-Selection Committee for identifying the successor of Soumya Swaminathan.

Swaminathan, who is widely recognised for her research on tuberculosis, is a well-known paediatrician by profession.