KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 — Monash University Malaysia president and pro-vice chancellor Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman has expressed alarm at the United States’ plan to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO).
In a joint op-ed published in the British Medical Journal yesterday, Kent Buse, Larry Gostin, Dr Adeeba, and Martin McKee wrote that President Donald Trump’s decision for the US to pull out from the WHO would weaken the global body and leave the US isolated.
“This severing of ties between the world’s largest economy and its foremost public health body represents a major setback for health diplomacy, scientific collaboration, and funding,” wrote the public health experts.
“For decades, WHO has stood as a beacon of international cooperation, coordinating outbreak responses, fostering scientific exchange, setting norms, and providing invaluable technical assistance. The benefits of membership are immense, including disease surveillance, health system strengthening, and health diplomacy.”
They pointed out that the US helped create WHO and has been a core funder and leader for over 75 years.
“Historically, the US has been the world’s largest global health funder, supporting programmes to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, pandemic preparedness and response, and to improve maternal and child health. Its withdrawal undermines not just WHO’s finances and programmes, but also America’s influence and standing in the world.”
The public health experts believe that European countries won’t be able to fill the void in funding and leadership, unlike during Trump’s first term when he announced his intention to withdraw from WHO.
“Moreover, the problems will likely be exacerbated if the Trump administration reduces funding to other global organisations in the health and development sectors. We especially envisage a major reduction of funding for sexual and reproductive health.”
In response to Trump’s executive order to withdraw the US from the WHO, which was issued about eight hours after taking his oath of office, the United Nations body noted that the US was a founding member of WHO in 1948.
“For over seven decades, WHO and the USA have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all people from health threats. Together, we ended smallpox, and together we have brought polio to the brink of eradication. American institutions have contributed to and benefited from membership in WHO,” said the WHO, which expressed “regret” over Trump’s decision.
“With the participation of the United States and other Member States, WHO has over the past seven years implemented the largest set of reforms in its history, to transform our accountability, cost-effectiveness, and impact in countries. This work continues.
“We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe.”
