NEW DELHI: India on Thursday regained the position of regional director of World Health Organization 's South-East Asia Region (SEAR) after a gap of 44 years with its nominee Poonam Khetarpal Singh , a former IAS officer, being elected on Thursday by member countries.

India had last occupied the post from 1948 to 1968 but has not held it since then.

64-year-old Singh takes over from Samlee Plianbangchang of Thailand, who has served as regional director for 10 years now (two consecutive terms since 2004). She will hold the post for five years.

The delegates of 11 countries comprising of WHO-SEAR region elected her at the 31st meeting of health ministers and 66th session of WHO regional committee for South-East Asia.

Announcing her election, India's health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said it is an opportunity to strengthen India's commitment to perform its role in health and development with WHO as a key partner.

He said Singh is an acknowledged public health specialist and administrator with vast experience and recognition in public health and the UN system. She would be able to contribute to regional as well as global initiatives and further strengthen cooperation amongst SEAR members states, Azad noted.

"I want to focus and improve upon the public health agenda in the region, which has changed rapidly over the last decade," Singh told PTI after being elected.

A retired Punjab-cadre IAS officer of 1975 batch, Singh has been executive director, sustainable development and healthy environments in WHO at Geneva and has also served the World Bank for three years earlier. She was a member of the cabinet of director-general in Geneva. She was also deputy regional director, WHO-SEAR from 2000 to 2013.