President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Monday ordering the US to pull out of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which he has frequently criticised for how it handled the COVID-19 outbreak.
In a White House speech hours after taking office, Trump claimed that the US was paying the UN organisation significantly more than China, saying, “World Health ripped us off.”
The greatest donor to the Geneva-based WHO, the United States, contributes significant money essential to its functioning.
Its absence can cause more disruptions to global health programs and is anticipated to lead to a major restructuring of the institution.
Trump has now attempted to cut off relations with the WHO for the second time.
In the early stages of the pandemic, the United States accused the organisation of being unduly influenced by China. It issued a notice of intent to quit during his first term.
Later, under former President Joe Biden’s administration, the action was undone.
Trump instructed agencies in his new executive order to “identify credible and transparent United States and international partners to assume necessary activities previously undertaken by the WHO” and to “pause the future transfer of any United States Government funds, support, or resources to the WHO.”
Additionally, the government declared its intention to examine and revoke Biden’s 2024 US Global Health Security Strategy, which aimed to prevent, identify, and respond to risks of infectious diseases “as soon as practicable.”
Growing concerns about the current bird flu outbreak’s (H5N1) pandemic potential, which has infected dozens and killed one person in the US, coincide with the US pullout.
In the meantime, since late 2021, WHO member states have been negotiating the first pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response pact in history; these talks are now expected to move forward without US involvement.
