India Braces for US Withdrawal from WHO Amid Global Health Funding Concerns

Public health experts are expressing concerns over the United States' recent decision to exit the World Health Organization (WHO), citing possible adverse effects on global health funding and initiatives. The move, which comes after an anticipated exit initiated under former President Donald Trump in 2020 due to perceived biases within the agency, has raised alarms regarding support for vulnerable regions worldwide.

Although India's robust health systems may cushion the impact, experts warn that the departure could hinder critical health programs in smaller, underdeveloped nations, which heavily rely on WHO funding. The US historically contributes approximately 18-19% of the organization's budget.

Dr. K Srinath Reddy, a prominent public health figure, described the exit as "extremely unfortunate" in the current era where multilateral cooperation is crucial for addressing global health challenges. Meanwhile, Dr. Anurag Agrawal from Ashoka University noted that while India may navigate through the funding shortfall, other nations could face significant challenges without the necessary support.

Amidst this shake-up, experts suggest that other nations, particularly China, EU countries, and BRICS members, might step in to compensate for the US withdrawal. However, they caution that the impact of these changes will likely become more visible in the next one to two years, emphasizing the need for increased international collaboration and self-reliance in global health efforts.

As the WHO grapples with this financial shift, the future of global health stability remains uncertain, raising critical questions about how to effectively respond to ongoing and emerging health threats.