10.3: The World Health Organization
- Page ID
- 238110
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, founded in 1948, and it serves as the global authority on health, coordinating international responses to health threats and establishing universal standards for medicines and disease classification (such as the ICD -International Classification of Diseases). By monitoring global health trends and providing technical expertise, the WHO helps nations strengthen their health systems, promote health equity, and address the social determinants of health. Their work spans emergency leadership, disease prevention, and advancing universal health coverage through evidence-based guidelines and community empowerment (World Health Organization, 2025).
The WHO responsibilities can be divided into four parts:
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Global surveillance and early warning: It monitors thousands of data points daily to identify potential outbreaks before they become pandemics. It provides International Health Regulations, which legally require countries to report specific disease outbreaks, such as Ebola, polio, plague, and anthrax (Travers, 2025; Adams, 2014).
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Setting norms and standards: It establishes the scientific guidelines that national health departments use to make decisions. It provides treatment protocols that ensure evidence-based guidelines (Thomas, 2024).
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Emergency preparedness and response: It coordinates the international response to ensure resources are deployed where they are needed most (Thomas, 2024).
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Strengthening health systems: It helps countries build the capacity to care for their own citizens by working with governments to expand access to essential health services and reduce the financial burden on patients, and provides technical support to train doctors, nurses, and laboratory technicians in regions with weak health infrastructure (World Health Organization, 2026).
| Region | Regional Office | HQ Location |
|---|---|---|
| Africa (AFRO) | Regional Office for Africa | Brazzaville, Republic of Congo |
| Americas (PAHO/AMRO) | Pan American Health Organization | Washington, D.C., USA |
| South-East Asia (SEARO) | Regional Office for South-East Asia | New Delhi, India |
| Europe (EURO) | Regional Office for Europe | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) | Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean | Cairo, Egypt |
| Western Pacific (WPRO) | Regional Office for the Western Pacific | Manila, Philippines |
WHO's budget comprises two distinct streams: assessed contributions—set according to each country's wealth—and flexible voluntary contributions from public and private stakeholders (World Health Organization, 2026). As noted in Figure 1 below, the United States is one of the largest contributors to WHO funding, with a contribution of $490 million. The next-largest contributors are the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, contributing $460 million, and the United Kingdom, with $450 million. The middle-tier countries are Germany with $380 million and the European Commission with $260 million. The lower third of the list consists of China, Romania, and Qatar, each contributing under $50 million.
On January 20, 2025, President Trump withdrew the United States from membership in the WHO (The White House, 2025). The administration's reasons for the withdrawal were (The White House, 2025; Emanuel & Lambert, 2026; Dall, 2025):
- Mishandling of COVID-19: Trump accused the WHO of "severely mismanaging and covering up" the spread of the virus and failing to hold China accountable for its origins.
- Political Bias: The executive order claimed the organization lacked independence and was subject to "inappropriate political influence" from member states, specifically citing a bias toward the Chinese government.
- Unfair Financial Burden: Trump argued that U.S. financial contributions were "unfairly onerous" and "far out of proportion" relative to those of other countries. He noted that while the U.S. was the largest donor, China contributed significantly less despite having a much larger population.
- Failure to Reform: The administration cited a long-standing "failure to adopt urgently needed reforms" despite repeated U.S. demands for transparency and accountability.
- Sovereignty Concerns: Trump opposed the WHO Pandemic Agreement then under negotiation, viewing it as an infringement on American sovereignty, primarily because it was seen as centralizing global authority over national health decisions (Hart, 2025).
Leaving the WHO is not immediate, as withdrawal requires a 1-year notice. However, public health professionals warn that the potential impacts of this action extend not only to the WHO’s health and humanitarian efforts around the globe but also to the U.S.'s capacity to respond to future global health threats (Yazdi-Feyzabadi et al., 2025).
World leaders and public health experts have expressed deep concern over the United States' withdrawal from the World Health Organization. The following are the primary reasons they view the departure as a mistake:
- Weakened global pandemic defenses: Leaders argue that pandemics by nature do not respect borders. By withdrawing, the U.S. disrupts the unified global surveillance system used to track emerging pathogens. This includes loss of early warning, global surveillance, and a fragmented response to the other members (countries) because the United States is a significant technical and financial contributor to the coordination center (John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2025; Infectious Diseases Society of America, 2026).
- Diminished U.S. diplomatic influence: Leaders see the withdrawal as a "surrender" of global leadership. Experts warn that the U.S. departure creates a leadership vacuum that other powers, such as China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and India, can fill, allowing them to exert greater influence over international health standards and policies. Former health officials argue that the best way to "fix" or reform the WHO is from the inside. By leaving, the U.S. loses its ability to advocate for the very transparency and accountability reforms it seeks (Park, 2026).
- Immediate threat to life-saving programs: The U.S. has historically been the WHO’s largest donor (contributing roughly 15–20% of its budget; see the graphic above for the budget breakdown). Its departure creates a massive funding gap for critical initiatives, such as eradication efforts (such as polio) and control of chronic diseases (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria), potentially leading to millions of preventable deaths (Park, 2026).
- Economic instability: World leaders point out that global health security is tied to economic stability. When a population's health fails, its economy follows. Sick people cannot work, and poor nations fall deeper into financial ruin. This desperation breeds instability, leading to war and mass migration that no longer stays confined within one country’s borders, but threatens global security. Political decay, fueled by health crises, creates a dangerous feedback loop: as foreign institutions crumble, the resulting spread of disease eventually reaches and impacts the United States (Park, 2026).
In short, public health leaders see that withdrawing from the WHO doesn't just hurt the world; it leaves the United States more vulnerable to disease, less competitive in the global economy, and isolated from the vital data we need to keep Americans safe (John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2025).
To ponder: The U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) will undoubtedly reshape global public health. Many experts contend that the U.S. will eventually face domestic repercussions due to the restrictive nature of its exclusion from the international body. While the exact timing and nature of these consequences remain difficult to forecast, they will likely manifest during future health crises. Ultimately, was the decision to withdraw from the WHO truly a strategic and wise move?
Reference
Adams D. A, Thomas, K. R, Jajosky, R., et al. Summary of Notifiable Infectious Diseases and Conditions — United States, 2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;63:1-152 DOI: dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6354a1.
Dall, C. (2025). Trump issues order to withdraw US from WHO. University of Minnesota www.cidrap.umn.edu
Emanuel, G. & Lambert, J. (2026). The divorce between the U.S. and WHO is final this week. Or is it? NPR www.npr.org
John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. (2025). The U.S. and the WHO: An imperfect but essential relationship. John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health www.publichealth.jhu.edu
Hart, D. (2025). Trump Administration rejects 'Ill-Advised' WHO pandemic regs. The Washington Stand www.washingtonstand.com
Infectious Diseases Society of America. (2026). Statement on U.S. withdrawal from WHO. Infectious Diseases Society of America www.idsociety.org
Ogbu, U. C., & Arah, O. A. (2016). World Health Organization. International Encyclopedia of Public Health. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-803678-5.00499-9
Park, A. (2026). The U.S. has pulled out of the WHO. Here's what that means for public health. Time www.time.com
Thomas, L. (2024). The role of WHO guidelines in shaping global health policies. Medical Life Science News www.news-medical.net
Travers, E. (2025). What is the World Health Organization, and why does it matter? United Nations www.news.un.org
World Health Organization. (2025). Essential Public Health Functions. WHO www.paho.org
World Health Organization. (2026). How WHO is funded. WHO www.who.int
World Health Organization. (2026). What we do. WHO www.who.int
The White House. (2025). Withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization. The White House www.whitehouse.gov
Yazdi-Feyzabadi, V., Haghdoost, A.A., McKee, M., Takian, A., Bradley, E., Brugha, R., Eyal, N., Eybpoosh, S., Gostin, L., Ikegami, N., Kickbusch, I., Labonté, R., Mannion, R., Norheim, O.F., Shiffman, J., & Karamouzian, M. (2025). The United States Withdrawal From the World Health Organization: Implications and Challenges. International journal of health policy and management. 14:9086. doi: 10.34172/ijhpm.9086