What was recently reported from the team of US President-elect Donald Trump that his administration may announce the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization on the day of his inauguration by next January 20 has raised many questions and concerns about the repercussions of such a decision – if it is taken – in limiting the capabilities of… The organization and its funding sources, in the midst of countless health crises that the world is experiencing.
The organization approved a budget for the years 2024 and 2025 amounting to $6,834.2 million to finance its strategic priorities and other related projects.
However, what is currently being raised about the new Trump administration’s intention to withdraw from the World Health Organization – which the US President-elect’s team was said to be pushing for – has not been officially announced, nor has the organization commented on these leaks yet.
There is no doubt that the United States’ withdrawal from the organization by next January 20 – if it happens – is a great loss for the World Health Organization, given that Washington is one of the countries that fund it the most, which may limit the organization’s ability to confront challenges and crises and respond to the many health pandemics that affect it. Facing today’s world, such as epidemics and new variants of the Corona pandemic, and other issues related to vaccines and health emergencies, and the emergence of new viruses that have been discovered thanks to scientific and technological progress, if the organization does not find Other means to fill this deficit.
Specialized experts and scholars believe that if the administration of the US President-elect withdraws from the organization, it may lose about a quarter of its funding, especially since it relies in its budget on two sources: fees due from member states and voluntary contributions from these countries, charitable and international governmental organizations, and the private sector.
The president-elect attributed his first decision to withdraw from the organization in early July 2021 to the fact that the organization “refused to implement the required reforms,” accusing it of covering up the extent of the spread of the Coronavirus epidemic in favor of China and of mismanaging the crisis at the time.
But the process of the United States’ withdrawal from the organization was not completed at that time, as the decision was supposed to enter into force after one year, specifically on July 6, 2021.
The failure to implement and complete the procedure is due to the fact that the current US President, Joe Biden, signed an executive order on the first day of his presidency in January 2021 to withdraw the withdrawal notification, retain his country’s membership in the World Health Organization, fulfill its financial obligations to it, and cooperate jointly to defeat the pandemic. Covid-19″ at the time.
International sources and specialized experts indicate that if the reasons for the first American decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization are due to the fact that the organization’s handling of the Corona pandemic did not live up to the required level, or rather was not ideal, then they believe that the organization’s handling of the crisis was more than good, enough to provide A great deal of early warning regarding the epidemic and its risks and reducing its spread.
No clear reasons
According to experts, there are currently no clear reasons to justify any withdrawal by the United States or any member state except with regard to the process of reforming the organization that Washington called for in 2021.
In the same context, international scientific and medical sources have now warned again – the same warnings and alerts they issued when Trump issued his previous decision at the beginning of his first term – that the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization will certainly threaten its programs and plans for the needy, poorest and most suffering countries. Crises, instability, asylum, displacement and armed conflicts.
The same sources pointed out that American support amounts to about a quarter of the organization’s annual budget, which is large and influential funding that the organization needs in light of the countless health crises and challenges afflicting many countries and regions of the world.
International medical and scientific sources point out that any country wishing to withdraw from the World Health Organization must meet the conditions for final withdrawal, including giving one year’s notice and fully fulfilling the established financial obligations.
The sources warn that if the organization were to lose important funding that would have a catastrophic impact on its health programs and plans, Washington would also lose the advantage of providing it with health information and data regarding the health situation and global health developments, in addition to accusing it of being lax in its solidarity with the international community in this vital and important aspect. Of the health needs of people anywhere, and by endangering the lives of millions of people and the poor who are in dire need of medical medicines and vaccines, which consequently makes it lose its strong international influence in any decisions taken by the world and the organization specifically in such matters. These are vital health issues.
It is noteworthy that since the founding of the World Health Organization in 1948, people’s right to health has been an essential element in its mission to achieve health for all, noting that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulated in the same year the right to health.
To realize this right, the organization strives in a world suffering from multiple crises – from diseases and disasters to conflicts and climate change – to ensure that this right, health services, education and health information are available, acceptable and accessible to all and of high quality more than ever before, including also access to… On potable water, food, healthy housing, and appropriate working conditions and environment for all without discrimination.
Pivotal role
It is noteworthy that the World Health Organization – which was established in 1948 – plays a pivotal and important role in terms of emphasizing that health is an inherent human right, and the necessity of following a common collective approach to protect the health of people around the world, and for this reason the organization chose the slogan “My health is my right.” To be the theme of World Health Day 2024.
However, the organization’s stated goals will not be fulfilled in the required manner except through concerted international efforts, including countries, governments, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and civil society sectors, in addition to mobilizing the necessary funding and financial investments, to achieve universal health coverage within the framework of the sustainable development goals by 2030, at a time when it faces – According to international reports, more than two billion people face financial hardship in obtaining only basic health care.