For a global leader known to defy conventions, President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organisation (WHO) was only expected. Earlier, he pledged to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, the world’s most concerted effort to tackle rising temperatures. His hard-line policies were evident in the past when he withdrew from Iran’s nuclear deal.
Trump’s executive order against WHO outlines four significant actions:
- Halting all US financial contributions to WHO
- Recalling US personnel engaged with the organisation
- Seeking alternative US and international partners to assume WHO’s responsibilities
- Ceasing negotiations on a global pandemic treaty being spearheaded by WHO
Additionally, the WHO and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will no longer work together, which is crucial for global monitoring and health threat response.
The US has historically contributed around 20% of WHO’s budget, making its withdrawal a substantial financial blow to the organisation. Trump highlighted China’s disproportionately low contribution, noting that despite its large population, China’s financial commitment remains minimal.
The US is the largest donor in both assessed and voluntary contributions, and experts are increasingly worried that WHO will struggle to sustain crucial health programmes, particularly in nations like India, where it supports essential efforts in immunisation and disease control.
As highlighted by a section of the media, the US is the largest payer of assessed contributions, contributing 22.5% of total payments, with China coming in second at 15%. In voluntary contributions, China contributed only roughly 0.14% of the total in 2023, while the US remained the largest donor with about 13%. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was the second largest voluntary donor.
Of course, a course correction was due given that last year, WHO received increased voluntary contributions as a result of the uncertainties surrounding the US elections. Australia, Indonesia, and Spain donated USD 1.7 billion in the 2024 financing round, which concluded in November, the report noted. As a result, WHO received 53% of the USD 7.1 billion required to implement its plans between 2025 and 2028. This represents an increase from the 17% it had obtained for its prior four-year period in 2020.
How will Trump’s decision impact India?
The WHO hitherto participated in several Indian government health programmes such as those addressing antibiotic resistance, HIV, malaria and TB, and often ignored tropical illnesses. Crucially, the WHO was involved in India’s immunisation programme and monitored vaccine coverage.
Now, with the US’s exit from WHO, countries like China and those in the Global South, including India, are poised to take on greater leadership in global health governance. Experts believe that nations like India, which have committed to holistic health strategies, will be indispensable in filling the void left by the US’s exit, ensuring that global health standards are upheld and expanded.
