U.S. Formally Withdraws From the World Health Organization

Source: FE

Subject: International Organisation

Context: The United States is set to formally withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) after serving a one-year notice, despite warnings about adverse impacts on U.S. and global health governance.

About U.S. Formally Withdraws From the World Health Organization:

What is the WHO?

• The World Health Organization is the specialised health agency of the United Nations responsible for coordinating international public health, responding to health emergencies, and setting global health standards to ensure the highest attainable level of health for all.

Establishment and Headquarters:

• Established: 7 April 1948 (World Health Day)

• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

• Membership: 194 Member States

Historical background:

• Emerged from earlier international sanitary efforts such as the International Sanitary Conferences (1851–1938).

• Incorporated the League of Nations Health Organization after World War II.

• Played a decisive role in landmark achievements like eradication of smallpox, near-eradication of polio, and coordination during Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks.

Core functions of WHO:

• Global health leadership: Coordinates international responses to pandemics, epidemics, and health emergencies.

• Standard setting: Develops global norms such as the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and health regulations.

• Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Promotes equitable access to essential health services.

• Technical assistance: Supports countries with policy advice, data, and capacity building.

• Data and surveillance: Collects and disseminates global health statistics and early-warning alerts.

Process of withdrawal from WHO:

• Under U.S. domestic law, withdrawal requires: One-year advance notice, and Full payment of outstanding financial obligations.

• One-year advance notice, and

• Full payment of outstanding financial obligations.

• The current withdrawal has raised legal concerns as membership dues reportedly remain unpaid, and final modalities are under discussion within WHO’s Executive Board.

Significance of the U.S. withdrawal:

• For WHO: Loss of ~18% of total funding, leading to staff reductions and scaled-back programmes.

• For global health: Weakens pandemic preparedness, disease surveillance, and coordinated emergency response.

• For the U.S.: Reduced access to real-time global health data, early warnings, and multilateral influence in setting health norms.