The US Formally Exits the World Health Organization

The United States has formally communicated its immediate withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), denying the global body one of its largest donors. The withdrawal follows the signing of an executive order to this effect during the first months of Trump’s current administration. 

Trump based his decision to withdraw from the body on his strong criticism of the WHO as being excessively “China-centric” during the time when the world was paralyzed by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The U.S. Health & Human Services department revealed that this withdrawal decision was taken because the World Health Organization mishandled the pandemic, was unable to reform, and was politically influenced by its member states. The WHO rejects these claims and says the world and the U.S. would lose as a result of this withdrawal. 

The global body pointed to some of its pivotal efforts, such as its worldwide efforts to combat HIV, polio, maternal mortality and a treaty it brokered globally to control tobacco as some of the tangible results of its activities. It also mentioned its successful undertaking to get member countries to sign a global treaty on pandemics to foster future prevention, preparation and response to any other pandemic that may break out as proof of its effectiveness. That treaty is geared at making it easier to share drugs and vaccines during pandemics more fairly. 

It should be noted that all member states of the WHO, except the U.S., signed this pandemic agreement that was completed last year in April. 

The U.S. has been one of the leading donors supporting the WHO but hasn’t paid up its dues for last year and the year before. This lapse in funding has caused the organization to cut many jobs within its ranks. WHO lawyers are of the view that despite pulling out of the global body, the U.S. is still obliged to pay these arrears that amount to about $260 million. Washington counters that it sees no reason to release those funds. 

The U.S. says it has terminated all its funding to the body, recalled all its contractors and personnel from the organization’s headquarters and around the world, and either discontinued or suspended any existing engagements with the WHO. 

Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the DHHS Secretary, say the WHO veered away from its core mission and acted in ways that were against U.S. interests. They add that the body “trashed” all that America had done for the international body. The two officials say the only engagement that the U.S. is now going to have with the WHO will be centered on effecting the country’s withdrawal from the UN agency. 

Stakeholders like Astiva Health in health care will be watching this unprecedented decision of the U.S. government and analyzing any repercussions of such a move. 

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