Context:

Recently, the United States newly elected President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the US from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

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The order also highlighted that the US government will cease negotiations on the WHO pandemic treaty while the withdrawal is in progress. 

• The Treaty aims to better prepare countries to respond to pandemics, create a framework for global cooperation if a pandemic happens, and develop mechanisms for equitably sharing medical countermeasures such as drugs and vaccines. 

Trump’s order to withdraw from WHO is on expected lines as the US notified to withdraw from WHO in 2020 as well during his first term as president.

Reason for Withdrawal

The executive order enumerated the following reasons for the withdrawal from WHO:

• Mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and failure to adopt urgently needed reforms
• Inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states
• The US will identify credible and transparent United States and international partners to assume necessary activities previously undertaken by the WHO.
• The United States will cease negotiations towards the pandemic treaty the WHO is working on.

Withdrawal Process:

• There is no provision for withdrawing in WHO’s constitution. 
• However, when the United States joined the WHO in 1948, the U.S. Congress had laid down a condition that it could withdraw after giving a one-year notice and meeting the financial obligations of the current year.
• In 2020 as well, the USA initiated the withdrawal process under the Trump administration. However, before the withdrawal could be finalized, President Joe Biden reversed the decision on his first day in office on January 20, 2021. 

Impact of US exiting WHO

Any transfer of US funds and resources to the WHO will be paused.

• The United States is by far the WHO's biggest financial backer, contributing 22.5% of its mandatory assessed contributions and 13% of its voluntary contribution. 

All US government personnel or contractors working in any capacity with the WHO will be recalled.

The loss of expertise from the United States would also impact WHO’s role of providing guidance.

According to experts, the vacuum created by the United States is likely to be filled by China and countries from the global south, including India.

About World Health Organisation (WHO)

• WHO is the United Nations agency founded in 1948 to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. 
• The WHO constitution was adopted by the International Health Conference in 1946 and signed by representatives of 61 states.
• The Constitution came into force on April 7, 1948, a date now celebrated annually as World Health Day. 
• Currently, WHO has 194 Member States.
• India became a party to the WHO Constitution on 12 January 1948.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Governance of WHO takes place through the World Health Assembly, the main decision-making body, and the Executive Board, which implements the Assembly's decisions. 
• The Director-General, who leads the Organization, is appointed by the Health Assembly based on the Executive Board's nomination.