The World Health Organization (WHO) has again called on the United States to reverse its decision to withdraw from the UN health agency, warning of potential global health consequences and budget problems.
In his opening remarks at the executive board meeting on Monday (3/2), WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the audience that his agency regretted the US decision and hoped Washington would reconsider.
“We would welcome constructive dialogue to maintain and strengthen WHO’s historic relationship with the US that has helped make major impacts, such as the eradication of smallpox,” Tedros said, according to a transcript of his remarks provided by WHO.
Two weeks ago, US President Donald Trump signed a presidential order to withdraw the US from WHO membership.
According to WHO funding data, the US contributed approximately $988 million (around Rp16.1 trillion) between January and November 2024, about 14 percent of WHO's total budget of $6.9 billion (around Rp112.9 trillion).
A document presented at a WHO budget meeting last week and obtained by the Associated Press said U.S. funding “underpins many of WHO’s large-scale emergency operations.”
This funding is used to eradicate disease around the world. For example, US funding covers 95% of WHO's tuberculosis (TB) eradication in Europe, and 60% in Africa, the Western Pacific, and the Geneva headquarters.
In addition, the document says, the US withdrawal would jeopardize WHO operations in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan, including polio eradication and HIV programs.
The presidential directive signed by President Trump outlines four reasons for Washington's withdrawal from membership.
Washington says the WHO has mishandled global health projects, such as COVID-19, and failed to carry out reform programs.
It also said the WHO had failed to “demonstrate independence from inappropriate political influence by WHO member states” and “continues to demand burdensome funding from the United States, far out of proportion to the funding provided by other countries.”
In calling on the US to reconsider its stance, Tedor said the WHO had implemented its deepest and most sweeping reforms in seven years. The reforms “cover every part of our work: our strategy, operating model, processes, partnerships, financing, workforce and culture.”
In WHO’s defense, he added, the agency has undertaken reforms focused on addressing funding imbalances, responded appropriately to the COVID-19 crisis, and has acted impartially to serve the needs of all countries and peoples.
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