In a closed-door meeting in Geneva, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) implored nations globally to convince the United States to reconsider its recent decision to withdraw from the health agency. This move, initiated by President Donald Trump, could place U.S. access to critical disease outbreak information in jeopardy. As the meeting materials revealed, numerous countries sought clarity on how the WHO plans to address the potential exit of its most significant donor.
A standout voice in the meeting, German envoy Bjorn Kummel, expressed urgency by stating, The roof is on fire, and we need to extinguish it at the earliest. For the biennium 2024-2025, the United States' financial contributions to the WHO stand at an estimated $988 million, a significant 14% of the organization's $6.9 billion budget. Highlighting the heavy reliance on U.S. funding, the budget document indicated that up to 40% of WHO's emergency operations could face financial risk.
The potential withdrawal could impact several health initiatives, particularly in the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan. Programs aimed at eradicating polio and controlling HIV face significant funding gaps. Notably, U.S. contributions are critical, covering 95% of tuberculosis-related activities in Europe and significant operations in Africa, the Western Pacific, and WHO's headquarters.
During a specialized financial meeting, WHO Finance Director George Kyriacou warned of a hand-to-mouth financial condition if current spending continues into 2026. Attempts to recover past dues from the U.S. were mostly unsuccessful, placing the organization’s financial stability in a precarious position.
Despite the severed ties, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized continued provision of information to U.S. scientists, acknowledging their need for vital data. He urged countries to keep the dialogue open with U.S. officials to reverse the decision. Tedros argued against Trump's claims of WHO's mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and unfair financial burdens, citing reforms and alerting the world early about coronavirus risks.
As the WHO's executive board commenced its session to discuss budget issues, the urgency to secure funding became apparent. Officials from various countries, including Bangladesh and France, questioned WHO's contingency plans in light of the funding shortfall, speculating on potential cuts to health programs. Internal documents suggested drastic budget reductions, including potential halving of major departments.
Experts propose that, though the U.S. departure signifies a severe crisis, it might also pave the way for a rejuvenated direction in global health policies. As Matthew Kavanagh from Georgetown University observed, while the U.S. benefits from global health intelligence and vaccine materials, its contributions are modest compared to the accrued benefits. With WHO described as “massively underfunded,
