Key points
- High-ranking officials are set to gather for annual decision-making assembly next week
- Much of focus next week will be on adoption of hard-won global agreement
- Countries will also be asked to adopt 2026-2027 budget
ISLAMABAD: Next week promises to be a crucial one for the World Health Organization (WHO), with member states coming together in Geneva to adopt a landmark pandemic agreement and a slimmed-down budget amid US funding cuts.
AFP reported that dozens of high-ranking officials and thousands of delegates are set to gather for the United Nations health agency’s annual decision-making assembly, due to last from May 19 to 27.
“This huge gathering comes… at a pivotal moment for global health,” AFP cited Catharina Boehme, WHO’s assistant director-general for external relations and governance as saying.
It comes as nations are confronting “emerging threats and major shifts in the landscape for global health and international development”, she added.
“Millions of people”
Over five years after the emergence of Covid-19, which killed millions of people, much of the focus next week will be on the likely adoption of a hard-won international agreement on how to better protect against and tackle future pandemics, Barron’s reported.
After more than three years of talks, nations reached consensus on a text last month but final approval by the World Health Assembly is needed — a discussion expected to take place on Tuesday, AFP reported.
The US, which has thrown the global health system into crisis by slashing foreign aid spending, was not present during the final stretch of the talks. US President Donald Trump ordered a withdrawal from the WHO and from the pandemic agreement talks after taking office in January.
The agreement “is a jab in the arm for multilateralism, even if it is multilateralism in this case without the US”, AFP cited a European diplomat as saying.
WHO operations
Also high on the agenda next week will be the dramatic overhaul of WHO operations and finances. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told member nations last month that the agency would need to slim down due to deep US funding cuts.
The agency has been bracing for Trump’s planned full withdrawal of the United States — by far its largest donor — next January.
The United States gave WHO $1.3 billion for its 2022-2023 budget, mainly through voluntary contributions for specific projects rather than fixed membership fees.
If the increase in membership fees is approved, the WHO estimates it can raise more than $2.6 billion, or more than 60 percent of the budget. “That leaves an anticipated budget gap of more than $1.7 billion,” Tedros said.
Countries will also be asked to adopt the 2026-2027 budget, at a time when development assistance funding, including for health resources, are dwindling globally, according to Barron’s .
