Argentina follows U.S. lead, withdraws from World Health Organization

SWITZERLAND – President Javier Milei has announced that the country would follow the United States in withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO).

He explained that the decision was driven by “profound differences in health management,” especially regarding the pandemic, which led to what he called “the longest confinement in the history of humanity.”

Milei’s announcement is a significant blow to the WHO, a specialized agency of the United Nations that has received broad support from member countries since its founding in 1948.

Although Argentina’s financial contribution to the WHO is relatively small—about US $8 million for the 2024-25 budget period—this move adds to the growing concerns about the organization’s future.

By contrast, the U.S. contributes nearly US $1 billion, including over US $260 million in assessed contributions.

The timing of Milei’s announcement coincides with a critical meeting of the WHO’s Executive Board in Geneva, where members were debating resolutions for the upcoming World Health Assembly.

These resolutions cover various global health issues, including rare diseases and health financing. However, due to financial constraints, decisions on these issues were postponed for further evaluation of their cost implications.

The WHO has suggested three possible paths forward for member states to address the budgetary concerns.

These options include either adopting resolutions with adjustments to priorities, delaying the adoption of resolutions for a year, or postponing their implementation until the 2026 review of the program budget.

While the U.S. withdrawal has led to a halt in the approval of new initiatives, one resolution that gained widespread support was focused on rare diseases.

Twenty-one countries co-sponsored the initiative, which calls for greater inclusion of rare diseases in healthcare systems.

Some countries, like Somalia, emphasized the challenges they face in diagnosing and treating rare diseases, highlighting the need for increased political commitment and international collaboration.

The resolution also seeks to develop a global action plan for rare diseases, which would help integrate them into national health priorities and promote research, diagnosis, and treatment.

Though the cost of implementing this resolution is estimated at US $9 million, civil society organizations have suggested cost-effective solutions, such as conducting low-cost surveys on the prices of medical products related to rare diseases.

Amid these discussions, the issue of Taiwan’s exclusion from the WHO was also raised. Some countries, including China, Pakistan, and Belarus, reiterated their stance on the “One China” policy, arguing that Taiwan should not be allowed to participate in WHO activities.

However, the U.S. delegate made a rare statement advocating for Taiwan’s re-admission to the WHO as an observer, a status it held until 2016.

As the WHO faces financial and political challenges, countries like Germany have urged caution in advancing new resolutions without first clarifying their budgetary implications.

Germany emphasized that the main focus should be on ensuring universal health coverage, with a particular focus on primary healthcare and health financing systems.