Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – International Organization
In news:
Trump administration formally started the withdrawal of the U.S. from the World Health Organization (WHO), due to its failed response to the coronavirus.
WHO, the Geneva-based body, leads the global fight on maladies from polio to COVID-19.
Trump had threatened to suspend the $400 million in annual U.S. contributions and had that US will withdraw from WHO.
Important Value Additions:
About WHO
WHO, founded in 1948, is a specialized agency of the United Nations with a broad mandate to act as a coordinating authority on international health issues.
The main decision-making body at WHO is the annual World Health Assembly (WHA), attended by all member-states.
There is also the Executive Board (EB) comprising technically qualified persons from 34 countries, elected based on geographic representation from across the globe.
Consequences of the US decision
Politicization of the Pandemic
Reduces WHO’s ability to coordinate the fight against pandemic in coming months
WHO’s significance will decline in long run if the shortfall in funding is not addressed
Impacts the Public Health prospects of Africa: Half of all spending of WHO was in Africa.
Impacts Health programs of WHO: A quarter of WHO budget went to polio eradication, 12% on access to healthcare, 5% on outbreak prevention and control
It provides further scope for China to increase its funding and influence in WHO
Signals US intention of retreating from Global affairs thus creating vacuum in Global Leadership role
