United States officially withdraws from the World Health Organization (WHO)

Key facts

• The United States (US) has officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), a United Nations (UN) agency.
• The US Department of Health and Human Services cited the WHO's alleged mishandling of the pandemic and political influence from member states as reasons for the exit.
• Washington has terminated all government funding and recalled personnel and contractors from the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
• The US has not paid its membership fees for 2024 and 2025, with estimated arrears amounting to $260 million.
• In April last year, the US was the only member state that did not agree to the international pandemic treaty designed for future pandemic response.
• The WHO board is scheduled to discuss the US withdrawal during its upcoming meeting from 2-7 February.
• US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that future engagement with the WHO will be limited to safeguarding American health interests.
• The WHO Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted that the withdrawal represents a loss for both the US and the global community.
• India link not mentioned in the article.