Donald Trump resigned from the World Health Organization (WHO) due to concerns over COVID-19 mismanagement, failure to adopt reforms, political influence, and unfair payments. The US contributes 20% of WHO's funds, while China's contribution is criticized. Despite uncertainty, the organization secured 53% of the required funding, potentially impacting countries like India.
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United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO): https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/world-health-organisation-who |
The decision to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO) originated from several reasons, including;
The U.S. contributes about 20% of the WHO’s funds, so losing this contribution could cause a major funding shortfall.
President Trump has expressed concern over China’s contribution to the WHO. He points out that although China has a much larger population than the U.S. (1.4 billion compared to 300 million), its contribution to the WHO is nearly 90% less than that of the U.S. This disparity is a key reason behind his criticism.
The WHO receives funding through two main sources:
In terms of assessed contributions, the United States is the largest contributor, paying 22.5% of the total, followed by China at 15%. The U.S. contributes around USD 138 million, while China’s contribution is about USD 87.6 million.
In voluntary contributions, the U.S. is still the biggest donor, accounting for approximately 13% (USD 356.3 million) of the total contributions in 2023. In contrast, China’s voluntary contribution is much smaller, at only 0.14% (USD 3.9 million). The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the second-largest voluntary donor.
Despite the uncertainty around U.S. funding, WHO has managed to secure more voluntary contributions. For example, in the 2024 funding round, countries like Australia, Indonesia, and Spain pledged USD 1.7 billion. This helped WHO secure 53% of the USD 7.1 billion it needs for its programs between 2025-2028, a significant increase from 17% in the previous four-year period (2020-2024).
WHO supports several health initiatives in India, including efforts against neglected tropical diseases, tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, and antimicrobial resistance.
WHO plays an Important role in the country’s vaccination programs, and a reduction in funding and the loss of US expertise would affect the health outcomes in India.
While the US withdrawal creates a vacuum, other countries and organizations may step in to fill the gap. China and countries from the global south, including India, are likely to play a bigger role. For example, philanthropies like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) could increase their involvement, as could other countries that have pledged financial support.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Discuss the potential consequences of the United States pulling out of the WHO for global health initiatives. 150 words |
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