US Exits WHO: A Game Changer for Global Health and India's Opportunity
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News18•23-01-2026, 16:17
US Exits WHO: A Game Changer for Global Health and India's Opportunity
- •The US officially severed ties with the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 22, 2026, 78 years after helping found it.
- •The Trump administration cited WHO's alleged pro-China stance during the COVID-19 pandemic and failure to alert the world in time as reasons for withdrawal.
- •The US, the largest donor, contributed approximately $400-500 million annually (15-20% of WHO's budget) and owes $260 million in outstanding dues.
- •WHO's core functions include pandemic control, setting international health standards, fighting major diseases, aiding poor countries, and emergency response.
- •The US withdrawal creates a significant funding gap, potentially impacting polio and vaccination programs, but presents a major opportunity for India to increase its influence through vaccine diplomacy.
Why It Matters: The US withdrawal from WHO creates a funding crisis but opens a strategic door for India to lead global health.
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