World Health Organization / Donald Trump is preparing to leave WHO, what will be its impact?

World Health Organization: Donald Trump's association with controversies is nothing new. His sharp statements and aggressive policies have often caused a stir on the international stage. Now, discussions are hot in the US media about the possibility of his return to power in 2024. One of the major speculations is that Trump, upon becoming president, may separate the US from the World Health Organization (WHO). This move can not only bring about a major change in the global health system but can also seriously affect the global ability to deal with epidemics and health crises.

Trump and WHO: Old dispute

Donald Trump's dispute with WHO started in his first term itself. He accused the WHO of favoring China and not taking effective steps in the early stages of the Kovid-19 pandemic. In 2020, at the peak of the pandemic, he decided to separate the US from the WHO and also stopped funding. However, his successor Joe Biden reversed the decision and restored the US membership.

Trump's plan to exit the WHO has raised concerns among global health experts. If Trump becomes president and takes this step, the US will have to give notice to WHO a year in advance, and during this time decide on funding and other legal procedures.

US withdrawal from WHO: Possible impact

The US is WHO's largest financial partner, contributing 16% of the organization's total budget. If the US leaves the membership, many major plans of WHO may be affected, such as:

Polio eradication: Polio eradication costs about 19% of WHO's total budget.

Global surveillance: The monitoring system for epidemics and new diseases may be weakened.

Aid to African countries: Funding provided by WHO to deal with health crises in African countries may be cut.

China's growing influence

Experts believe that the absence of the US will give China and other influential countries a chance to strengthen their hold on the WHO. This may upset the balance of power in global health policies. Apart from this, Trump's move can also affect Europe and other countries, where the demand for separation from international organizations by right-wing leaders may intensify.

WHO funding structure

The WHO receives funding in three ways:

Assessed Contribution: Amount determined by member countries based on population and economic status.

Voluntary Contribution: Voluntary donations by governments and charity organizations, often for special projects.

Two-year budget: The WHO budget is fixed for two years, such as $5.6 billion in 2018-2019 and $4.8 billion in 2020-2021.

Impact on global health system

The biggest impact of the US withdrawal from the WHO will be on the global ability to fight epidemics and health crises. The lack of funding will weaken the organization, and international cooperation will decrease. Also, with the growing influence of China and other countries, transparency and accountability in global health policies may also be questioned.

Conclusion

Donald Trump's possible decision could cause an upheaval in the global health system. This move will reflect the priorities of the US, but it can have an impact on countries around the world, especially developing countries. Global cooperation and strong leadership are needed to deal with health crises. In such a situation, the weakening of an organization like WHO can affect the world for a long time.