US withdrawal from the WHO impacts all

Among the dozens of executive orders President Trump signed on his first day in office, one announced his intention to leave the World Health Organization. Trump justified the decision on four counts – his perception of the bungling of the Covid-19 pandemic, an unfinished reform agenda, an unfair financing burden placed on the US and undue political influence of member states – with China clearly in his sights. The order instructs his administration to pause further transfer of resources and recall US government personnel and contractors.

As the largest donor to the WHO, this decision represents a huge blow to the organisation - and by extension to the health of the American people, and in this interdependent world, the health of people everywhere, including Malaysia. Many WHO programmes are highly dependent on US support. For Malaysia, collaboration on issues such as universal health coverage and pandemic preparedness and outbreak response, for example on the recent rabies outbreak in Sarawak, could be affected.