Our staff working in countries advise ministries of health and other sectors on public health issues and provide support to plan, implement and monitor health programmes. The appointment attracted widespread condemnation and criticism in WHO member states and international organizations due to Robert Mugabe's poor record on human rights and presiding over a decline in Zimbabwe's public health. It provides technical assistance to countries, sets international health standards, collects data on global health issues, and serves as a forum for scientific or policy discussions related to health. The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies.
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In 2007, the WHO organized work on pandemic influenza vaccine development through clinical trials in collaboration with many experts and health officials. This is in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other intergovernmental agreements, and means "empowering people, communities and civil society through inclusive participation in decision-making processes that affect health across the policy cycle and at all levels of the system." By 1967, the WHO intensified the global smallpox eradication campaign, contributing $2.4 million annually and adopting new disease surveillance methods at a time when 2 million people were dying of smallpox each year. The use of the word "world", rather than "international", emphasized the truly global nature of what the organization was seeking to achieve. The WHO has played a crucial role in coordinating the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing essential guidelines on preventive measures, supporting research on vaccines, and facilitating vaccine distribution through initiatives like COVAX.
The main functions of WHO country offices include being the primary adviser of that country's government in matters of health and pharmaceutical policies. The country office consists of the WR, and several health and other experts, both foreign and local, as well as the necessary support staff. As of 2010update, the only WHO Representative outside Europe to be a national of that country was for the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya ("Libya"); all other staff was international. During the first two years of the pandemic, American funding of the WHO declined by a quarter, although it is expected to increase during 2022 and 2023. There were 189 partnerships with international NGOs in formal "official relations" – the rest being considered informal in character. As of 2002update, a total of 473 nongovernmental organizations (NGO) had some form of partnership with WHO.
Publications
WHO’s work remains firmly rooted in the basic principles of the right to health and well-being for all people, as outlined in our 1948 Constitution. Our Triple Billion targets outline an ambitious plan for the world to achieve good health for all using science-based policies and programmes. We direct and coordinate the felicebet bonus world’s response to health emergencies. The objective of WHO is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. The World Health Organization is the directing and coordinating authority on international health within the United Nations system.
- As of 2010update, the only WHO Representative outside Europe to be a national of that country was for the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (“Libya”); all other staff was international.
- An international convention on pandemic prevention and preparedness is being actively considered.
- Together, we coordinate the world’s response to health emergencies, promote well-being, prevent disease and expand access to health care.
- WHO also aims to improve access to health research and literature in developing countries such as through the HINARI network.
- Each region has a regional committee, which generally meets once a year, normally in the autumn.
- After more than two decades of effort, a Global Commission declared in 1979 that smallpox had been eradicated—the first disease in history to be eliminated by human effort.
Regional offices
Many decisions are made at the regional level, including important discussions over WHO's budget, and in deciding the members of the next assembly, which are designated by the regions. The regional divisions of WHO were created between 1949 and 1952, following the model of the pre-existing Pan American Health Organization, and are based on article 44 of the WHO's constitution, which allowed the WHO to "establish a single regional organization to meet the special needs of each defined area". In 2017, the organization launched an international competition to redesign and extend its headquarters. Funds previously earmarked for the WHO were to be held for 60–90 days pending an investigation into the WHO's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in respect to the organization's purported relationship with China. However, Trump's successor, president Joe Biden, cancelled the planned withdrawal and announced in January 2021 that the U.S. would resume funding the organization. Taiwan's effective response to the 2019–20 COVID-19 pandemic has bolstered its case for WHO membership.
WHO runs the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, targeted at improving health policy and systems. In terms of health services, WHO looks to improve "governance, financing, staffing and management" and the availability and quality of evidence and research to guide policy. An international convention on pandemic prevention and preparedness is being actively considered. Security Council resolution aimed at promoting nonviolent international cooperation during the pandemic, and mentioning the WHO. On 30 January the WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), considered a "call to action" and "last resort" measure for the international community and a pandemic on 11 March.
We champion health and a better future for all
Between 1990 and 2010, WHO's help has contributed to a 40% decline in the number of deaths from tuberculosis, and since 2005, over 46 million people have been treated and an estimated 7 million lives saved through practices advocated by WHO. As of 2011update, it has been working to immunize young children and prevent the re-emergence of cases in countries declared "polio-free". It has also been successful in helping to reduce cases by 99% since WHO partnered with Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and smaller organizations.
The executive board is composed of members technically qualified in health and gives effect to the decisions and policies of the World Health Assembly. The World Health Assembly is attended by delegations from all member states, and determines the policies of the organization. All UN member states are eligible for WHO membership, and, according to the WHO website, "other countries may be admitted as members when their application has been approved by a simple majority vote of the World Health Assembly". On 5 February 2025, Argentinian president Javier Milei announced that Argentina would also be withdrawing from WHO.
- By 1967, the WHO intensified the global smallpox eradication campaign, contributing $2.4 million annually and adopting new disease surveillance methods at a time when 2 million people were dying of smallpox each year.
- The WHA elects and advises an executive board made up of 34 health specialists; selects the WHO’s chief administrator, the director-general (currently Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia); sets goals and priorities; and approves the budget and activities.
- Political pressure from the PRC has led to the ROC being barred from membership of the WHO and other UN-affiliated organizations, and in 2017 to 2020 the WHO refused to allow Taiwanese delegates to attend the WHO annual assembly.
- In May 2018, the WHO denied access to its annual assembly by Taiwanese media, reportedly due to demands from the PRC.
- The executive board is composed of members technically qualified in health and gives effect to the decisions and policies of the World Health Assembly.
The RD manages and/or supervises a staff of health and other experts at the regional offices and in specialized centres. Aside from electing the regional director, the regional committee is also in charge of setting the guidelines for the implementation, within the region, of the health and other policies adopted by the World Health Assembly. Each regional committee of the WHO consists of all the Health Department heads, in all the governments of the countries that constitute the Region.
Data handling and publications
The Country Health Intelligence Portal (CHIP), has also been developed to provide an access point to information about the health services that are available in different countries. Each year, the organization marks World Health Day and other observances focusing on a specific health promotion topic. WHO, a sector of the United Nations, partners with UNAIDS to contribute to the development of HIV responses in different areas of the world. WHO also aims to improve access to health research and literature in developing countries such as through the HINARI network.
According to Taiwanese publication The News Lens, on multiple occasions Taiwanese journalists have been denied access to report on the assembly. Political pressure from the PRC has led to the ROC being barred from membership of the WHO and other UN-affiliated organizations, and in 2017 to 2020 the WHO refused to allow Taiwanese delegates to attend the WHO annual assembly. This was the ROC's first participation at WHO meetings since 1971, as a result of the improved cross-strait relations since Ma Ying-jeou became the president of the Republic of China a year before. The Republic of China (ROC), whose government controlled Mainland China from 1912 to 1949 and currently controls Taiwan since 1945 following World War II, was the founding member of WHO since its inception and had represented "China" in the organization. Among the points made, it seems clear that although the prevalence of HIV transmission is declining, there is still a need for resources, health education, and global efforts to end this epidemic.
In 2024, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was the organization's major private contributor, funding 10% of its budget. The strong position of the regional offices has been criticized in WHO history for undermining its effectiveness and led to unsuccessful attempts to integrate them more strongly within 'One WHO'. The regional committee also serves as a progress review board for the actions of WHO within the Region.citation needed The regional director is effectively the head of WHO for his or her region.