Why in the News?

On his first day in office, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order to pull the country out of the World Health Organization (WHO).

What will be the Impact of USA’s withdrawal from WHO?

Funding Shortfall for WHO: The USA accounted for 22.5% of WHO’s assessed contributions and approximately 13% of voluntary contributions in 2023.
- The funding gap may affect WHO’s ability to implement health programs globally.
Disruption of Global Health Programs: WHO’s work in areas such as pandemics, neglected tropical diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and vaccination programs could face setbacks.
- Loss of technical collaboration between the US CDC and WHO may weaken disease surveillance and pandemic preparedness.
Increased Influence of China: The vacuum left by the US could amplify China’s role within WHO, leading to concerns over political influence and transparency.
Undermining Global Health Equity: Withdrawal may hinder equitable access to healthcare resources, including vaccines and medicines, in developing nations.
Undermining Pandemic Treaty: The US will cease negotiations on the WHO pandemic treaty, affecting the framework for global cooperation on future pandemics.

United Nations (UN): Political divisions among member states, limited enforcement power, and funding constraints. The UN’s peacekeeping missions and humanitarian efforts often face resource shortages and geopolitical interference.
World Health Organization (WHO): Criticism for its pandemic response, reliance on voluntary funding, and political influence from member states. The WHO struggles to maintain independence and effectiveness in global health governance.
World Trade Organization (WTO): Increasing protectionism, trade disputes among major economies, and calls for reform to address inequities in global trade rules. The WTO faces difficulties in resolving conflicts like U.S.-China trade tensions.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank: Criticism of conditional lending practices, perceived bias favoring wealthier nations, and inefficiencies in addressing poverty and economic disparities. Both institutions face calls for governance reforms to better represent developing countries.
Regional Organizations (e.g., EU, African Union): Economic disparities among members, political instability, and resource limitations. For example, the EU faces challenges like migration issues and the aftermath of Brexit, while the African Union struggles with conflict resolution and development goals.

Funding Shortfalls for WHO Programs: The U.S. contributes approximately 15-20% of WHO’s budget, amounting to around $600 million annually.
- This withdrawal could lead to significant funding gaps for various health programs like India’s immunisation programs that India benefits from, such as those addressing neglected tropical diseases, HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Loss of Technical Expertise: The departure of U.S. experts from WHO committees could limit the organization’s ability to provide comprehensive guidelines and support for health policies in India.

Enhanced Representation and Inclusivity: Need to expand the UN Security Council and restructure voting power in organizations like the IMF and World Bank to ensure equitable decision-making.
Increased Transparency and Accountability: There is a pressing need for improved transparency in decision-making processes within global institutions. This includes establishing clear accountability mechanisms to address concerns about corruption, inefficiency, and lack of responsiveness to member states’ needs.

Q Critically examine the role of WHO in providing global health security during the Covid-19 pandemic. (UPSC IAS/2020)