U.S. should reconsider its decision, says WHO

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

“We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the U.S.A. and the WHO,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general, World Health Organization (WHO), said in a statement issued on Monday following an announcement by President Donald Trump that the U.S. would exit the WHO. Mr. Trump cited the global health agency’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health crises as a reason for the exit.

Stating that American institutions have both contributed to and benefited from membership in the WHO, the global health agency expressed its regret over the announcement and said that the U.S. should reconsider its decision for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe.

Founded in 1948, the WHO is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners, and people to promote health. According to the WHO, the organisation gets its funding from two main sources – Member States paying their assessed contributions (countries’ membership dues), and voluntary contributions from Member States and other partners. 

Assessed contributions are a percentage of a country’s gross domestic product (the percentage is agreed by the United Nations General Assembly). Member States approve them every two years at the World Health Assembly. They cover less than 20% of the total budget.

The remainder of the WHO’s financing is in the form of voluntary contributions, largely from Member States as well as from other United Nations bodies, intergovernmental organisations, philanthropic foundations, the private sector, and other sources. 

From 2020 to 2021, Germany was the largest donor to the WHO, contributing over one billion U.S. dollars. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation contributed the second highest amount at 751 million U.S. dollars, the United States contributed the third highest amount of funding at 693 million U.S. dollars. Funding for the WHO from 2020 to 2021 includes increased efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as funding from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), according to research data experts.

Meanwhile, in his statement on Monday, Dr. Ghebreyesu said that the United States has been a founding member of the WHO in 1948 and has participated in shaping and governing the WHO’s work ever since, alongside 193 other member states, including through its active participation in the world health assembly and executive board. For over seven decades, the WHO and the U.S.A. have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all people from health threats.

“Working together the world has seen the end of smallpox and brought polio to the brink of eradication,’’ it added stating that with the participation of the United States and other Member States, the WHO has over the past seven years implemented the largest set of reforms in its history, to transform our accountability, cost-effectiveness, and impact in countries.

India is also among the top ten global contributors of core funding to the WHO and has committed to give more than $300 million for the organisation’s core programme of work from 2025 to 2028. The biggest chunk of $250 million will be spent on the Centre of Excellence for Traditional Medicine.

In India, the WHO has extended support in major health initiatives including intensified pulse polio immunisation, mission indradhanush etc. and worked closely during the COVID pandemic in terms of response and vaccination. 

Sudarshan Jain, secretary general, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance speaking about the U.S. withdrawal said, “The relationship between India and the U.S. has been growing from strength to strength over the years. Healthcare security and affordability are key priorities for the new Trump administration. India and the U.S. have an opportunity to collaborate in these areas to advance the healthcare agenda.’’