• The WHO executive board meeting concluded amid the U.S. withdrawal process, with discussions focusing on financial stability and global health priorities.
  • The board recommended a 20% membership fee increase to ensure sustainable funding and adopted resolutions on health emergencies, mental health, and more.

The World Health Organization (WHO) concluded its eight-day executive board meeting on Tuesday, addressing key global health issues while navigating the implications of the United States’ decision to withdraw from the agency.

The meeting at WHO’s Geneva headquarters followed U.S. President Donald Trump's January 20 announcement to begin the one-year process of leaving the organization. As WHO’s largest donor, the U.S. move has raised concerns about financial stability and international collaboration on health matters.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged the absence of significant U.S. participation during the meeting.

“We regret the announcement by the United States of its intention to withdraw, and it was also sad to see them participating less this week,” he said in his closing remarks.
“I think we all felt their absence. We very much hope they will reconsider and we would welcome the opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue.”

Despite the challenges posed by the U.S. withdrawal, the board reached a consensus on 40 decisions and seven resolutions.

“We have had to face new realities, with the announcement of the withdrawal of the U.S. from the WHO,” said Barbados’s health minister Jerome Walcott, who chairs the board.
“Despite the many challenges we faced, we have come together and found agreement.”

One key issue discussed was WHO’s financial stability. The organization has historically depended heavily on voluntary contributions from major donors. In response to funding concerns, the board recommended a 20% increase in membership fees as part of a long-term plan to have such contributions cover at least half of WHO’s budget by 2030. The move aims to reduce dependence on a small number of large donors and ensure more predictable funding.

“This is a very strong signal of your support, and it's a major step towards putting WHO on a more predictable and sustainable financial footing,” Tedros noted.

He emphasized the organization’s commitment to improving efficiency, enhancing oversight, and reducing unnecessary expenditures.

Beyond financial matters, the board discussed a wide range of global health issues, including non-communicable diseases, mental health, environmental health, air pollution, substandard medicines, maternal and newborn health, and universal health coverage.

The meeting also saw the re-adoption of a resolution on responding to health conditions in Palestinian territories, with a planned implementation cost of $648 million, including emergency response and rehabilitation efforts.

The resolutions and decisions made during the meeting will now be presented at the World Health Assembly in May, where member states will further discuss and finalize global health strategies.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah