US withdrawal from WHO

Syllabus: Multilateral Institution

Source: IE

Context: Recently, the United States, under President Donald Trump, has signed an executive order to withdraw from WHO, citing reasons such as mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of reforms within the organization.

About WHO: Aim and Functions

• Aims Ensure universal health coverage and promote health equity. Strengthen disease prevention and control worldwide. Enhance global preparedness and response to health emergencies.

• Ensure universal health coverage and promote health equity.

• Strengthen disease prevention and control worldwide.

• Enhance global preparedness and response to health emergencies.

• Functions Set global health standards and guidelines. Monitor emerging health issues and coordinate responses. Provide technical assistance to countries for capacity building. Facilitate health research and policy development.

• Set global health standards and guidelines.

• Monitor emerging health issues and coordinate responses.

• Provide technical assistance to countries for capacity building.

• Facilitate health research and policy development.

WHO’s Role in Global Health:

• Global Coordination: Leads international efforts in combating pandemics, such as COVID-19 and Ebola. Collaborates with governments, NGOs, and private entities to strengthen healthcare systems.

• Leads international efforts in combating pandemics, such as COVID-19 and Ebola.

• Collaborates with governments, NGOs, and private entities to strengthen healthcare systems.

• Disease Eradication: Played a key role in eradicating smallpox and reducing polio cases by 99%.

• Capacity Building: Assists low- and middle-income countries in improving health infrastructure, access to medicines, and training healthcare workers.

• Health Policy Advocacy: Advocates for funding and policies addressing non-communicable diseases, mental health, and nutrition improvement.

USA’s Decision to Leave WHO:

• Reasons Cited: Mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Perceived political bias within the organization. Unequal financial burden on the US compared to other countries, particularly China.

• Mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Perceived political bias within the organization.

• Unequal financial burden on the US compared to other countries, particularly China.

• Key Provisions in the Executive Order: Cease funding and resources to WHO. Recall all US personnel working with the organization. Seek alternative international partnerships for health initiatives.

• Cease funding and resources to WHO.

• Recall all US personnel working with the organization.

• Seek alternative international partnerships for health initiatives.

Process to Leave WHO:

• The WHO Constitution does not explicitly outline a withdrawal process.

• However, the US Congress established conditions in 1948 allowing withdrawal with a one-year notice and payment of any outstanding financial commitments.

Impact of USA’s Exit:

• On WHO:

• Financial Strain US withdrawal could lead to a loss of approximately 20% of WHO’s funding. Affects ongoing health programs globally, particularly in disease eradication and pandemic preparedness. Expertise Gap Loss of collaboration with US agencies like CDC reduces WHO’s effectiveness in health surveillance.

• Financial Strain US withdrawal could lead to a loss of approximately 20% of WHO’s funding. Affects ongoing health programs globally, particularly in disease eradication and pandemic preparedness.

• US withdrawal could lead to a loss of approximately 20% of WHO’s funding.

• Affects ongoing health programs globally, particularly in disease eradication and pandemic preparedness.

• Expertise Gap Loss of collaboration with US agencies like CDC reduces WHO’s effectiveness in health surveillance.

• Loss of collaboration with US agencies like CDC reduces WHO’s effectiveness in health surveillance.

• On Global Health:

• Pandemic Preparedness Disruption in global frameworks for managing pandemics and health emergencies. Reduced resources for equitable vaccine distribution and treatment initiatives. Increased Global Inequity The vacuum created by the US could lead to greater reliance on philanthropy or nations like China, potentially shifting the balance of influence in global health governance.

• Pandemic Preparedness Disruption in global frameworks for managing pandemics and health emergencies. Reduced resources for equitable vaccine distribution and treatment initiatives.

• Disruption in global frameworks for managing pandemics and health emergencies.

• Reduced resources for equitable vaccine distribution and treatment initiatives.

• Increased Global Inequity The vacuum created by the US could lead to greater reliance on philanthropy or nations like China, potentially shifting the balance of influence in global health governance.

• The vacuum created by the US could lead to greater reliance on philanthropy or nations like China, potentially shifting the balance of influence in global health governance.

• On India:

• Health Programmes Reduced WHO support for India’s programs on tuberculosis, malaria, HIV, and maternal health. Challenges in implementing WHO guidelines for vaccine coverage and disease prevention. Collaborative Research Loss of expertise impacts India’s capacity-building partnerships with WHO.

• Health Programmes Reduced WHO support for India’s programs on tuberculosis, malaria, HIV, and maternal health. Challenges in implementing WHO guidelines for vaccine coverage and disease prevention.

• Reduced WHO support for India’s programs on tuberculosis, malaria, HIV, and maternal health.

• Challenges in implementing WHO guidelines for vaccine coverage and disease prevention.

• Collaborative Research Loss of expertise impacts India’s capacity-building partnerships with WHO.

• Loss of expertise impacts India’s capacity-building partnerships with WHO.

Way Ahead:

• Strengthen Global Partnerships: Nations like India, along with countries from the Global South, should enhance their contributions and leadership roles in WHO initiatives.

• Diversify Funding: WHO must reduce reliance on single-member contributions and increase voluntary funding from philanthropic organizations and regional coalitions.

• Transparency and Reform: Address concerns regarding governance, accountability, and equitable representation of member states in decision-making processes.

Conclusion:

The US withdrawal from WHO presents significant challenges to global health governance and international cooperation. However, it also highlights the need for structural reforms within WHO to enhance efficiency, transparency, and equitable resource allocation. By leveraging collective leadership and sustainable funding, nations can safeguard WHO’s critical role in addressing global health crises.

Insta Links:

• India-contributes-to-WHO

• Appropriate local community-level healthcare intervention is a prerequisite to achieve ‘Health for All’ in India. Explain. (UPSC-2018)