WHO reaches historic milestone in funding overhaul, increases membership fees by 20%

On May 22, the World Health Organization (WHO) won the basic approval of key member countries for a budget package worth 6.83 billion USD over the next 2 years.

WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. (Source: The Online Citizen)

The budget package also includes a 20% increase in mandatory membership fees for WHO's 194 member states.

The new budget package was first proposed at the annual World Health Assembly (WHA) session last year, when all member states agreed on an overhaul of WHO's more stable and reliable funding, after being hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Within the framework of the 76th WHA currently taking place in Geneva (Switzerland), the member countries of the core committee approved this budget with absolute support. However, it still needs the approval of all member countries during this 10-day meeting.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the support of countries, calling this an important and historic milestone.

The bulk of WHO's operating budget comes from its 194 member states. Over time, funding from mandatory membership fees - which are linked to wealth and population - has fallen to less than 20% of the budget, with voluntary contributions making up the rest.

This has limited WHO's financial resources in responding to global crises, notably the Covid-19 pandemic and a number of other health emergencies.

Last year, the WHA agreed to increase the proportion of membership fees in WHO's operating budget in stages, specifically, the 2024-2025 budget will account for 20% of the 2022-2023 budget and by the 2030-2031 budget it will reach 50%.

For its part, WHO has embarked on 96 reforms aimed at greater transparency in funding and recruitment, as well as greater accountability.

Director-General Ghebreyesus said that to date, the organization has completed 42 reforms and the remaining 54 reforms are being implemented.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/who-dat-cot-moc-lich-su-ve-dai-tu-nguon-tai-tro-tang-20-phi-thanh-vien-228203.html