World Health Organization#Membership

The International Sanitary Conferences (ISC), the first of which was held on 23 June 1851, were a series of conferences that took place until 1938, about 87 years.{{Cite book|url=http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/62873/1/14549_eng.pdf|title=The scientific background of the International Sanitary Conferences, 1851–1938|last=Howard-Jones|first=Norman|chapter=Introduction|pages=9–11|publisher=World Health Organization|year=1974|access-date=3 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820070452/http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/62873/1/14549_eng.pdf|archive-date=20 August 2017|url-status=live}} The first conference, in Paris, was almost solely concerned with cholera, which would remain the disease of major concern for the ISC for most of the 19th century. With the cause, origin, and communicability of many epidemic diseases still uncertain and a matter of scientific argument, international agreement on appropriate measures was difficult to reach.

Seven of these international conferences, spanning 41 years, were convened before any resulted in a multi-state international agreement. The seventh conference, in Venice in 1892, finally resulted in a convention. It was concerned only with the sanitary control of shipping traversing the Suez Canal, and was an effort to guard against importation of cholera.{{Cite book|url=http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/62873/1/14549_eng.pdf|title=The scientific background of the International Sanitary Conferences, 1851–1938|last=Howard-Jones|first=Norman|chapter=The seventh conference: Venice, 1892|pages=58–65|publisher=World Health Organization|year=1974|access-date=3 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820070452/http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/62873/1/14549_eng.pdf|archive-date=20 August 2017|url-status=live}}{{rp|65}}

Five years later, in 1897, a convention concerning the bubonic plague was signed by sixteen of the nineteen states attending the Venice conference. While Denmark, Sweden-Norway, and the US did not sign this convention, it was unanimously agreed that the work of the prior conferences should be codified for implementation.{{Cite book|url=http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/62873/1/14549_eng.pdf|title=The scientific background of the International Sanitary Conferences, 1851–1938|last=Howard-Jones|first=Norman|chapter=The tenth conference: Venice, 1897|pages=78–80|publisher=World Health Organization|year=1974|access-date=3 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820070452/http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/62873/1/14549_eng.pdf|archive-date=20 August 2017|url-status=live}} Subsequent conferences, from 1902 until the final one in 1938, widened the diseases of concern for the ISC, and included discussions of responses to yellow fever, brucellosis, leprosy, tuberculosis, and typhoid.{{Cite book|url=http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/62873/1/14549_eng.pdf|title=The scientific background of the International Sanitary Conferences, 1851–1938|last=Howard-Jones|first=Norman|chapter=The thirteenth and fourteenth conferences: Paris, 1926 and 1938|pages=93–98|publisher=World Health Organization|year=1974|access-date=3 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820070452/http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/62873/1/14549_eng.pdf|archive-date=20 August 2017|url-status=live}} In part as a result of the successes of the Conferences, the Pan-American Sanitary Bureau (1902), and the {{lang|fr|Office International d'Hygiène Publique|italic=no}} or "International office of Public Hygiene" in English (1907) were soon founded. When the League of Nations was formed in 1920, it established the Health Organization of the League of Nations. After World War II, the United Nations absorbed all the other health organizations, to form the WHO.{{Cite journal|last=McCarthy|first=Michael|date=October 2002|title=A brief history of the World Health Organization.|journal=The Lancet|volume=360|issue=9340|pages=1111–1112|doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(02)11244-x|pmid=12387972|s2cid=2076539}}

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.World Health Organization. (2021). "COVID-19 Dashboard." https://covid19.who.int/

During the 1945 United Nations Conference on International Organization, Szeming Sze, a delegate from China, conferred with Norwegian and Brazilian delegates on creating an international health organization under the auspices of the new United Nations. After failing to get a resolution passed on the subject, Alger Hiss, the secretary general of the conference, recommended using a declaration to establish such an organization. Sze and other delegates lobbied and a declaration passed calling for an international conference on health.{{Cite web|title=Request Rejected|url=http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=ascead;cc=ascead;q1=Szeming%20Sze;rgn=main;view=text;didno=US-PPiU-ua90f141|access-date=2025-04-10|website=digital.library.pitt.edu}} The use of the word "world", rather than "international", emphasized the truly global nature of what the organization was seeking to achieve.{{cite journal|title=World Health Organization|journal=The British Medical Journal|volume=2|number=4570|date=7 August 1948|pages=302–303|jstor=25364565|doi=10.1136/bmj.2.4570.302|pmc=1614381}} The constitution of the World Health Organization was signed by all 51 countries of the United Nations, and by 10 other countries, on 22 July 1946.{{cite journal|title=The Move towards a New Health Organization: International Health Conference|journal=Chronicle of the World Health Organization|volume=1|issue=1–2|pages=6–11|url=http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hist/chronicles/chronicle_1947.pdf|year=1947|access-date=18 July 2007|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809031008/http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hist/chronicles/chronicle_1947.pdf}} It thus became the first specialized agency of the United Nations to which every member subscribed.{{cite journal|title=The World Health Organization|first=Michael B.|last=Shimkin|journal=Science|volume=104|number=2700|date=27 September 1946|pages=281–283|jstor=1674843|doi=10.1126/science.104.2700.281|pmid=17810349|citeseerx=10.1.1.1016.3166|bibcode=1946Sci...104..281S}} Its constitution formally came into force on the first World Health Day on 7 April 1948, when it was ratified by the 26th member state. The WHO formally began its work on September 1, 1948.

The first meeting of the World Health Assembly finished on 24 July 1948, having secured a budget of {{US$|5 million}} (then {{GBP|1250000}}) for the 1949 year. G. Brock Chisholm was appointed director-general of the WHO, having served as executive secretary and a founding member during the planning stages,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nUWR85ThEfAC&pg=PA151|isbn=9780802082596|title=Normalizing the Ideal: Psychology, Schooling, and the Family in Postwar Canada|date=January 1999|publisher=University of Toronto Press|access-date=20 March 2023|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326164809/https://books.google.com/books?id=nUWR85ThEfAC&pg=PA151|url-status=live}} while Andrija Štampar was the assembly's first president. Its first priorities were to control the spread of malaria, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections, and to improve maternal and child health, nutrition and environmental hygiene.{{cite journal|title=Origins, history, and achievements of the World Health Organization|journal=BMJ|pmc=1985854|pmid=4869199|volume=2|issue=5600|year=1968|first=Charles|last=J|pages=293–296|doi=10.1136/bmj.2.5600.293}} Its first legislative act was concerning the compilation of accurate statistics on the spread and morbidity of disease. The logo of the World Health Organization features the Rod of Asclepius as a symbol for healing.{{cite web|url=http://www.who.org.ph/|title=World Health Organization Philippines|publisher=WHO|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425235921/http://www.who.org.ph/|archive-date=25 April 2012|url-status=live}}

In 1959, the WHO signed Agreement WHA 12–40 with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which says:

{{Cquote

| quote = whenever either organization proposes to initiate a programme or activity on a subject in which the other organization has or may have a substantial interest, the first party shall consult the other with a view to adjusting the matter by mutual agreement.

}}

The nature of this statement has led some groups and activists including Women in Europe for a Common Future to claim that the WHO is restricted in its ability to investigate the effects on human health of radiation caused by the use of nuclear power and the continuing effects of nuclear disasters in Chernobyl and Fukushima. They believe WHO must regain what they see as independence.{{cite web|last=Independence for WHO|title=Appeal by Health Professionals for Independence of the World Health Organization|url=http://www.ippnw-europe.org/commonFiles/pdfs/Atomenergie/appeal_healthprofessionals.pdf|access-date=19 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726185407/http://www.ippnw-europe.org/commonFiles/pdfs/Atomenergie/appeal_healthprofessionals.pdf|archive-date=26 July 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Women in Europe for a Common Future|title=Open letter on the WHO/IAEA Agreement of 1959|url=http://www.wecf.eu/download/2010/04/letterIAEA-WHO.pdf|access-date=19 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720173738/http://www.wecf.eu/download/2010/04/letterIAEA-WHO.pdf|archive-date=20 July 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.activistmagazine.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=703|title=World Health Organization Accommodates Atomic Agency|date=3 June 2007|work=Activist Magazine|access-date=27 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928232353/http://www.activistmagazine.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=703|archive-date=28 September 2007}} Independent WHO held a weekly vigil from 2007 to 2017 in front of WHO headquarters.{{Cite web|url=http://independentwho.org/en/|title=The World Health Organisation (WHO) is failing in its duty to protect those populations who are victims of radioactive contamination.|date=2020|website=IndependentWHO|language=en-US|access-date=8 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323034159/http://independentwho.org/en/|archive-date=23 March 2020|url-status=live}} However, as pointed out by Foreman{{Cite journal|last=Foreman|first=Mark R. St J.|date=2018-01-01|editor-last=Slawin|editor-first=Alexandra Martha Zoya|title=Reactor accident chemistry an update|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23312009.2018.1450944|journal=Cogent Chemistry|volume=4|issue=1|pages=1450944|doi=10.1080/23312009.2018.1450944|doi-access=free}} in clause 2 it states:

{{Cquote

| quote = In particular, and in accordance with the Constitution of the World Health Organization and the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency and its agreement with the United Nations together with the exchange of letters related thereto, and taking into account the respective co-ordinating responsibilities of both organizations, it is recognized by the World Health Organization that the International Atomic Energy Agency has the primary responsibility for encouraging, assisting and co-ordinating research and development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses throughout the world without prejudice to the right of the World Health Organization to concern itself with promoting, developing, assisting and co-ordinating international health work, including research, in all its aspects.

}}

The key text is highlighted in bold, the agreement in clause 2 states that the WHO is free to perform any health-related work.

1947: The WHO established an epidemiological information service via telex.{{rp|5}}

1949: The Soviet Union and its constituent republics quit the WHO over the organization's unwillingness to share the penicillin recipe. They would not return until 1956.{{Cite web|date=10 February 2024|script-title=ru:"Больше не считает себя членом Всемирной организации здравоохранения"|title="Bol'she ne schitayet sebya chlenom Vsemirnoy organizatsii zdravookhraneniya"|trans-title="No longer considers itself a member of the World Health Organization"|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/6507677|access-date=11 February 2024|website=Коммерсантъ|language=ru|archive-date=11 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240211063710/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/6507677|url-status=live}}

1950: A mass tuberculosis inoculation drive using the BCG vaccine gets under way.{{rp|8}}

1955: The malaria eradication programme was launched, although objectives were later modified. (In most areas, the programme goals became control instead of eradication.){{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/who60/media/exhibition_brochure.pdf|title=WHO at 60|publisher=WHO|access-date=31 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617063811/http://www.who.int/who60/media/exhibition_brochure.pdf|archive-date=17 June 2012|url-status=live}}{{rp|9}}

1958: Viktor Zhdanov, Deputy Minister of Health for the USSR, called on the World Health Assembly to undertake a global initiative to eradicate smallpox, resulting in Resolution WHA11.54.{{cite book|last1=Fenner|first1=Frank|last2=Henderson|first2=Donald A|last3=Arita|first3=Isao|last4=Jezek|first4=Zdenek|last5=Ladnyi|first5=Ivan Danilovich|title=Smallpox and its eradication|date=1988|publisher=World Health Organization|location=Geneva|isbn=92-4-156110-6|page=vii|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/39485|chapter=Foreword|hdl=10665/39485|access-date=29 June 2021|archive-date=26 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526044554/https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/39485|url-status=live}}{{cite book|last1=Fenner|first1=Frank|last2=Henderson|first2=Donald A|last3=Arita|first3=Isao|last4=Jezek|first4=Zdenek|last5=Ladnyi|first5=Ivan Danilovich|author1-link=Frank Fenner|author2-link=Donald Henderson|author3-link=Isao Arita|title=Smallpox and its eradication|date=1988|publisher=World Health Organization|location=Geneva|isbn=92-4-156110-6|pages=364–419|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/39485|chapter=Development of the global smallpox eradication programme, 1958-1966|hdl=10665/39485|access-date=29 June 2021|archive-date=26 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526044554/https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/39485|url-status=live}}{{rp|366–371, 393, 399, 419}}

1965: The first report on diabetes mellitus and the creation of the International Agency for Research on Cancer.{{rp|10–11}}

1966: The WHO moved its headquarters from the Ariana wing at the Palace of Nations to a newly constructed headquarters elsewhere in Geneva.{{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/archives/exhibits/galleries/building/en/|title=Construction of the main WHO building|year=2016|website=who.int|publisher=WHO|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611011659/http://www.who.int/archives/exhibits/galleries/building/en/|archive-date=11 June 2018|url-status=dead|access-date=11 June 2018}}

1967: The WHO intensified the global smallpox eradication campaign by contributing $2.4 million annually to the effort and adopted a new disease surveillance method,{{cite journal|url=http://www1.szu.cz/svi/cejph/archiv/2010-1-10-full.pdf|first=Vladimír|last=Zikmund|title=Karel Raška and Smallpox|journal=Central European Journal of Public Health|volume=18|issue=1|pages=55–56|date=March 2010|pmid=20586232|access-date=11 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011215018/http://www1.szu.cz/svi/cejph/archiv/2010-1-10-full.pdf|archive-date=11 October 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite journal|url=http://www1.szu.cz/svi/cejph/archiv/2010-1-11-full.pdf|last1=Holland|first1=Walter W.|title=Karel Raška – The Development of Modern Epidemiology. The role of the IEA|journal=Central European Journal of Public Health|volume=18|issue=1|pages=57–60|date=March 2010|pmid=20586233|access-date=11 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011215323/http://www1.szu.cz/svi/cejph/archiv/2010-1-11-full.pdf|archive-date=11 October 2017|url-status=live}} at a time when 2 million people were dying from smallpox per year.{{cite web|last1=Greenspan|first1=Jesse|title=The Rise and Fall of Smallpox|url=https://www.history.com/news/the-rise-and-fall-of-smallpox|website=History|access-date=26 January 2021|date=7 May 2015|archive-date=21 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121122259/https://www.history.com/news/the-rise-and-fall-of-smallpox|url-status=live}} The initial problem the WHO team faced was inadequate reporting of smallpox cases. WHO established a network of consultants who assisted countries in setting up surveillance and containment activities.{{cite book|last1=Orenstein|first1=Walter A.|last2=Plotkin|first2=Stanley A.|title=Vaccines|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?highlight=smallpox&rid=vacc.section.45#47|publisher=W.B. Saunders Co|location=Philadelphia|year=1999|isbn=978-0-7216-7443-8|access-date=18 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212062827/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?highlight=smallpox&rid=vacc.section.45#47|archive-date=12 February 2009|url-status=live}} The WHO also helped contain the last European outbreak in Yugoslavia in 1972.{{cite web|first=Colette|last=Flight|date=17 February 2011|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/smallpox_03.shtml|title=Smallpox: Eradicating the Scourge|work=BBC History|access-date=24 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214152400/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/smallpox_03.shtml|archive-date=14 February 2009|url-status=live}} After over two decades of fighting smallpox, a Global Commission declared in 1979 that the disease had been eradicated – the first disease in history to be eliminated by human effort.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/multimedia/podcasts/2010/smallpox_20100618/en/|title=Anniversary of smallpox eradication|website= WHO Media Centre|date=18 June 2010|access-date=11 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617073353/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/multimedia/podcasts/2010/smallpox_20100618/en/|archive-date=17 June 2012|url-status=dead}}

1974: The Expanded Programme on Immunization{{rp|13}} and the control programme of onchocerciasis was started, an important partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank.{{rp|14}}

1975: The WHO launched the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical diseases (the TDR).{{rp|15}} Co-sponsored by UNICEF, UNDP, and the World Bank, it was established in response to a 1974 request from the WHA for an intensive effort to develop improved control of tropical diseases. The TDR's goals are, firstly, to support and coordinate international research into diagnosis, treatment and control of tropical diseases; and, secondly, to strengthen research capabilities within endemic countries.{{cite journal|last1=WHO Division of Control of Tropical Diseases (CTD)|journal=Tropical Diseases|title=UNDP – World Bank – WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR)|url=http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/docs/001-614/001-614.html|via=Columbia.edu|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=11 July 2021|location=Geneva|id=TDR-CTD/HH 90.1|date=1990|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423152944/http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/docs/001-614/001-614.html|url-status=dead}}

1976: The WHA enacted a resolution on disability prevention and rehabilitation, with a focus on community-driven care.{{rp|16}}

1977 and 1978: The first list of essential medicines was drawn up,{{rp|17}} and a year later the ambitious goal of "Health For All" was declared.{{rp|18}}

File:Directors of Global Smallpox Eradication Program.jpg read the news that smallpox had been globally eradicated, 1980.]]

1986: The WHO began its global programme on HIV/AIDS.{{rp|20}} Two years later preventing discrimination against patients was attended to{{rp|21}} and in 1996 the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) was formed.{{rp|23}}

1988: The Global Polio Eradication Initiative was established.{{rp|22}}

1995: The WHO established an independent International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication (Guinea worm disease eradication; ICCDE).{{rp|23}} The ICCDE recommends to the WHO which countries fulfil requirements for certification. It also has role in advising on progress made towards elimination of transmission and processes for verification.{{cite book|last1=Division of Control of Tropical Disease|title=Criteria for the Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication|date=1996|publisher=World Health Organization|location=Geneva|page=2|edition=Revised|url=https://www.who.int/dracunculiasis/resources/Criteria_for_certification_dracunculiasis_1996.pdf|id=[WHO reference:WHO/FIL/96.187 Rev.1]|access-date=11 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020231617/https://www.who.int/dracunculiasis/resources/Criteria_for_certification_dracunculiasis_1996.pdf|archive-date=20 October 2014|url-status=dead}}

1998: The WHO's director-general highlighted gains in child survival, reduced infant mortality, increased life expectancy and reduced rates of "scourges" such as smallpox and polio on the fiftieth anniversary of WHO's founding. He, did, however, accept that more had to be done to assist maternal health and that progress in this area had been slow.{{cite web|url=http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/1998/WHD_98.1-13.pdf|title=World Health Day: Safe Motherhood|date=7 April 1998|publisher=WHO|page=1|access-date=31 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617063313/http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/1998/WHD_98.1-13.pdf|archive-date=17 June 2012|url-status=live}}

2000: The Stop TB Partnership was created along with the UN's formulation of the Millennium Development Goals.{{rp|24}}

2001: The measles initiative was formed, and credited with reducing global deaths from the disease by 68% by 2007.{{rp|26}}

2002: The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was drawn up to improve the resources available.{{rp|27}}

2005: The WHO revises International Health Regulations (IHR) in light of emerging health threats and the experience of the 2002/3 SARS epidemic, authorizing WHO, among other things, to declare a health threat a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.{{Cite journal|doi = 10.1177/0967010614535833|title = WHO decides on the exception? Securitization and emergency governance in global health|year = 2014|last1 = Hanrieder|first1 = Tine|last2 = Kreuder-Sonnen|first2 = Christian|journal = Security Dialogue|volume = 45|issue = 4|pages = 331–348|s2cid = 53580076|doi-access = free|hdl = 10419/190829|hdl-access = free}}

2006: The WHO endorsed the world's first official HIV/AIDS Toolkit for Zimbabwe, which formed the basis for global prevention, treatment, and support the plan to fight the AIDS pandemic.{{cite web|editor-first=Mu|editor-last=Xuequan|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-10/04/content_5167991.htm|title=Zimbabwe launches world's 1st AIDS training package|publisher=chinaview.cn|agency=Xinhua News Agency|date=4 October 2006|access-date=16 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005041107/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-10/04/content_5167991.htm|archive-date=5 October 2009|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=Zimbabwe Launches First Official HIV Prevention, Treatment, Support Toolkit|url=https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/dr00040239/|access-date=2025-04-10|website=KFF Health News|language=en-US}}

2006: The WHO launches the Global action plan for influenza vaccines

2016: The Global action plan for influenza vaccines ends with a report which concludes that while substantial progress has been made over the 10 years of the Plan, the world is still not ready to respond to an influenza pandemic.

2016: Following the perceived failure of the response to the West Africa Ebola outbreak, the World Health Emergencies programme was formed, changing the WHO from just being a "normative" agency to one that responds operationally to health emergencies.{{Cite web|title=Ebola then and now: Eight lessons from West Africa that were applied in the Democratic Republic of the Congo|url=https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/ebola-then-and-now|access-date=12 October 2021|website=World Health Organization|language=en|archive-date=24 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024161023/https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/ebola-then-and-now|url-status=live}}

2020: the World Health Organization announced that it had classified the novel coronavirus outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern. The novel coronavirus was a new strain of coronavirus that had never been detected in humans before. The WHO named this new coronavirus "COVID-19" or "2019-nCov".

2022: The WHO suggests formation of a Global Health Emergency Council, with a new global health emergency workforce, and recommends revision of the International Health Regulations.{{Cite web|title=Strengthening the Global Architecture for Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience|url=https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/strengthening-the-global-architecture-for-health-emergency-preparedness-response-and-resilience|access-date=13 May 2022|publisher=World Health Organization|language=en|archive-date=13 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513233126/https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/strengthening-the-global-architecture-for-health-emergency-preparedness-response-and-resilience|url-status=live}}

2024: WHO has declared the spread of mpox (formerly monkeypox) in several African countries a public health emergency of international concern, marking the second such declaration in the last two years due to the virus's transmission.{{Cite web|last=Branswell|first=Helen|date=14 August 2024|title=WHO declares mpox outbreak a global health emergency|url=https://www.statnews.com/2024/08/14/who-declares-mpox-outbreak-a-global-health-emergency/|access-date=14 August 2024|website=STAT|language=en-US|archive-date=14 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814200147/https://www.statnews.com/2024/08/14/who-declares-mpox-outbreak-a-global-health-emergency/?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Lo3IayMbqmClQ3ftlWpD_vCc7zY58cK2aPYEsfY1vLSBJhWxLv9n_pi_jUqcQkZY-Ts6igSZCp8pUj_f_agSEq7asDQ&_hsmi=320109701&utm_content=320109701&utm_source=hs_email|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2024-08-14|title=WHO declares mpox outbreaks in Africa a global health emergency as a new form of the virus spreads|url=https://apnews.com/article/who-mpox-africa-health-emergency-cc9bdf31b49d06bec5efd44fb55d5e42|access-date=2024-08-14|website=AP News|language=en|archive-date=16 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816004320/https://apnews.com/article/who-mpox-africa-health-emergency-cc9bdf31b49d06bec5efd44fb55d5e42|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|title=WHO declares Mpox global health emergency|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg35w27gzno|access-date=14 August 2024|work=BBC News|language=en-GB|archive-date=14 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814200751/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg35w27gzno|url-status=live}}

The WHO's Constitution states that its objective "is the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health".{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/entity/governance/eb/who_constitution_en.pdf|publisher=World Health Organization|title=Constitution of the World Health Organization|access-date=11 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623084506/https://www.who.int/governance/eb/who_constitution_en.pdf|archive-date=23 June 2020|url-status=live}}

The WHO seeks to fulfill this objective through its functions as defined in its Constitution:

• To act as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work;
• To establish and maintain effective collaboration with the United Nations, specialized agencies, governmental health administrations, professional groups and such other organizations as may be deemed appropriate;
• To assist Governments, upon request, in strengthening health services;
• To furnish appropriate technical assistance and, in emergencies, necessary aid upon the request or acceptance of Governments;
• To provide or assist in providing, upon the request of the United Nations, health services and facilities to special groups, such as the peoples of trust territories;
• To establish and maintain such administrative and technical services as may be required, including epidemiological and statistical services;
• To stimulate and advance work to eradicate epidemic, endemic and other diseases;
• To promote, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where necessary, the prevention of accidental injuries;
• To promote, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where necessary, the improvement of nutrition, housing, sanitation, recreation, economic or working conditions and other aspects of environmental hygiene;
• To promote co-operation among scientific and professional groups which contribute to the advancement of health;
• To propose conventions, agreements and regulations, and make recommendations with respect to international health matters and to perform (Article 2 of the Constitution).

{{As of|2012}}, the WHO has defined its role in public health as follows:{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/about/role/en/index.html|title=The role of WHO in public health|publisher=WHO|access-date=26 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311015020/http://www.who.int/about/role/en/index.html|archive-date=11 March 2012|url-status=live}}

• providing leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in partnerships where joint action is needed;
• shaping the research agenda and stimulating the generation, translation, and dissemination of valuable knowledge;{{cite journal|last1=Hoffman|first1=S. J.|last2=Røttingen|first2=J-A.|year=2012|title=Assessing Implementation Mechanisms for an International Agreement on Research and Development for Health Products|journal=Bulletin of the World Health Organization|volume=90|issue=12|pages=854–863|doi=10.2471/BLT.12.109827|pmid=23226898|pmc=3506410}}
• setting norms and standards and promoting and monitoring their implementation;
• articulating ethical and evidence-based policy options;
• providing technical support, catalysing change, and building sustainable institutional capacity; and
• monitoring the health situation and assessing health trends.
• CRVS (civil registration and vital statistics) to provide monitoring of vital events (birth, death, wedding, divorce).{{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/healthinfo/civil_registration/en/|title=Civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS)|website=who.int|access-date=12 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504144326/https://www.who.int/healthinfo/civil_registration/en/|archive-date=4 May 2020|url-status=dead}}

Since the late 20th century, the rise of new actors engaged in global health—such as the World Bank, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and dozens of public-private partnerships for global health—have weakened the WHO's role as a coordinator and policy leader in the field; subsequently, there are various proposals to reform or reorient the WHO's role and priorities in public health, ranging from narrowing its mandate to strengthening its independence and authority.{{Cite journal|last=Hanrieder|first=Tine|date=2020-11-23|title=Priorities, Partners, Politics: The WHO's Mandate beyond the Crisis|url=https://brill.com/view/journals/gg/26/4/article-p534_2.xml|journal=Global Governance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations|volume=26|issue=4|pages=534–543|doi=10.1163/19426720-02604008|issn=1075-2846}}

In line with a growing global trend, as documented by the OECD{{cite web|url=https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/innovative-citizen-participation-and-new-democratic-institutions_339306da-en.html|title=Innovative Citizen Participation and New Democratic Institutions: Catching the Deliberative Wave|date=9 June 2020|publisher=OECD, June 2020|access-date=16 December 2024}} and established at the EU,{{cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L_202302836#:~:text=Member%20States%20should%20introduce%20citizen,dialogue%20and%20co%2Dcreation%20formats.|title=COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION (EU) 2023/2836 of 12 December 2023 on promoting the engagement and effective participation of citizens and civil society organisations in public policy-making processes|publisher=EU Commission, December 2023|access-date=16 December 2024}} the WHO has embraced increased public participation in health policymaking.{{cite web|url=https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/131952/9789289050661-eng.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y|title=Smart governance for health and well-being: the evidence|publisher=World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe, 2014|access-date=9 January 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240061521|title=Implementing citizen engagement within evidence-informed policy-making: An overview of purpose and methods|publisher=WHO, November 2022|access-date=16 December 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240081413|title=Citizen engagement in evidence-informed policy making: A guide to mini-publics|publisher=WHO, February 2024|access-date=16 December 2024}} This is in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs){{cite web|url=https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-09/Final%20Policy%20Brief%2016%207%202_0.pdf|title=Measuring Peace, Justice and Inclusion - SDG 16 Policy Brief - SDG 16.7.2: Ensuring Inclusive and Responsive Decision-Making for Sustainable Development|publisher=UNDP Oslo Governance Centre, September 2022|access-date=17 December 2024}} 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."{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/news/item/29-05-2024-world-health-assembly-endorses-resolution-on-social-participation|title=World Health Assembly endorses resolution on social participation|publisher=WHO, May 2024|access-date=16 December 2024}}

During the 1970s, WHO had dropped its commitment to a global malaria eradication campaign as too ambitious, it retained a strong commitment to malaria control. WHO's Global Malaria Programme works to keep track of malaria cases, and future problems in malaria control schemes. As of 2012, the WHO was to report as to whether RTS,S/AS01, were a viable malaria vaccine. For the time being, insecticide-treated mosquito nets and insecticide sprays are used to prevent the spread of malaria, as are antimalarial drugs – particularly to vulnerable people such as pregnant women and young children.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs094/en/index.html|title=Malaria Fact Sheet|website=WHO Media Centre|publisher=WHO|date=April 2012|access-date=24 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527220008/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs094/en/index.html|archive-date=27 May 2012|url-status=live}}

In 1988, WHO launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to eradicate polio.{{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2003/pr78/en/|title=WHO|access-date=20 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050428052449/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2003/pr78/en/|archive-date=28 April 2005|url-status=dead}} 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. {{As of| 2011}}, it has been working to immunize young children and prevent the re-emergence of cases in countries declared "polio-free".{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs114/en/|title=Poliomyelitis Fact Sheet|website=WHO Media Centre|publisher=WHO|date=October 2011|access-date=11 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418105535/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs114/en/|archive-date=18 April 2017|url-status=live}} In 2017, a study was conducted as to why Polio Vaccines may not be enough to eradicate the Virus & conduct new technology. Polio is now on the verge of extinction, thanks to a Global Vaccination Drive. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated the eradication programme has saved millions from deadly disease.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/health-topics/poliomyelitis#tab=tab_1|title=Poliomyelitis (Polio)|access-date=26 January 2023|archive-date=7 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007002521/https://www.who.int/health-topics/poliomyelitis#tab=tab_1|url-status=live}}

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. These include engaging national governments and their financing, early diagnosis, standardizing treatment, monitoring of the spread and effect of tuberculosis, and stabilizing the drug supply. It has also recognized the vulnerability of victims of HIV/AIDS to tuberculosis.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs104/en/index.html|title=Tuberculosis Fact Sheet|website=WHO work mediacenter|publisher=WHO|date=April 2012|access-date=24 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230232509/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs104/en/index.html|archive-date=30 December 2013|url-status=live}}

In 2003, the WHO denounced the Roman Curia's health department's opposition to the use of condoms, saying: "These incorrect statements about condoms and HIV are dangerous when we are facing a global pandemic which has already killed more than 20 million people, and currently affects at least 42 million."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/09/aids|title=Vatican: condoms don't stop Aids|work=The Guardian|date=9 October 2003|access-date=18 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121222120/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/09/aids|archive-date=21 November 2016|url-status=live}} {{As of|2009}}, the Catholic Church remains opposed to increasing the use of contraception to combat HIV/AIDS.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/17/pope-africa-condoms-aids|title=Pope claims condoms could make African Aids crisis worse|website=The Guardian|date=17 March 2009|access-date=31 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906074226/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/17/pope-africa-condoms-aids|archive-date=6 September 2013|url-status=live}} At the time, the World Health Assembly president, Guyana's Health Minister Leslie Ramsammy, condemned Pope Benedict's opposition to contraception, saying he was trying to "create confusion" and "impede" proven strategies in the battle against the disease.{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hsk4RI5cPLSsvXTY9ZEyWSMrVElg|title=World Health Assembly: Pope Benedict "wrong"|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=21 March 2009|access-date=31 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524053152/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hsk4RI5cPLSsvXTY9ZEyWSMrVElg|archive-date=24 May 2012|url-status=dead}}

In 2007, the WHO organized work on pandemic influenza vaccine development through clinical trials in collaboration with many experts and health officials.{{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/immunization/diseases/influenza/clinical_evaluation_tables/en/|title=Tables on clinical evaluation of influenza vaccines|website=World Health Organization|access-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125083429/http://www.who.int/immunization/diseases/influenza/clinical_evaluation_tables/en/|archive-date=25 November 2017|url-status=dead}} A pandemic involving the H1N1 influenza virus was declared by the then director-general Margaret Chan in April 2009.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2009/06/who-declares-pandemic-novel-h1n1-virus|title=WHO declares pandemic of novel H1N1 virus|work=CIDRAP|access-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201093300/http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2009/06/who-declares-pandemic-novel-h1n1-virus|archive-date=1 December 2018|url-status=live}} Margret Chan declared in 2010 that the H1N1 has moved into the post-pandemic period.{{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/|title=Pandemic (H1N1) 2009|website=World Health Organization|access-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207110028/http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/|archive-date=7 December 2017|url-status=dead}} By the post-pandemic period, critics claimed the WHO had exaggerated the danger, spreading "fear and confusion" rather than "immediate information".{{cite news|date=12 April 2010|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna36421914|title=WHO admits errors in handling flu pandemic: Agency accused of overplaying danger of the virus as it swept the globe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525025823/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna36421914|archive-date=25 May 2024|work=NBC News}} Industry experts countered that the 2009 pandemic had led to "unprecedented collaboration between global health authorities, scientists and manufacturers, resulting in the most comprehensive pandemic response ever undertaken, with a number of vaccines approved for use three months after the pandemic declaration. This response was only possible because of the extensive preparations undertaken during the last decade".{{cite journal|last=Abelina|first=A.|year=2011|title=Lessons from pandemic influenza A(H1N1) The research-based vaccine industry's perspective|journal=Vaccine|volume=29|issue=6|pages=1135–1138|doi=10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.11.042|display-authors=etal|pmid=21115061|doi-access=free}}

The 2012–2013 WHO budget identified five areas among which funding was distributed.{{cite web|url=http://whqlibdoc.who.int/pb/2012-2013/PB_2012%E2%80%932013_eng.pdf|title=Programme Budget, 2012–2013|publisher=WHO|access-date=26 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617074331/http://whqlibdoc.who.int/pb/2012-2013/PB_2012%E2%80%932013_eng.pdf|archive-date=17 June 2012|url-status=dead}}{{rp|5, 20}} Two of those five areas related to communicable diseases: the first, to reduce the "health, social and economic burden" of communicable diseases in general; the second to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in particular.{{rp|5, 26}}

{{As of|2015}}, the World Health Organization has worked within the UNAIDS network and strives to involve sections of society other than health to help deal with the economic and social effects of HIV/AIDS.{{cite web|title=Global health sector strategy on HIV/AIDS 2011–2015|publisher=WHO|url=http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241501651_eng.pdf|year=2011|page=5|access-date=23 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513171221/http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241501651_eng.pdf|archive-date=13 May 2015|url-status=live}} In line with UNAIDS, WHO has set itself the interim task between 2009 and 2015 of reducing the number of those aged 15–24 years who are infected by 50%; reducing new HIV infections in children by 90%; and reducing HIV-related deaths by 25%.{{cite web|title=Global health sector strategy on HIV/AIDS 2011–2015|url=http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241501651_eng.pdf|publisher=WHO|year=2011|page=7|access-date=23 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513171221/http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241501651_eng.pdf|archive-date=13 May 2015|url-status=live}}

The World Health Organization's definition of neglected tropical disease has been criticized to be restrictive (focusing only on communicable diseases) and described as a form of epistemic injustice, where conditions like snakebite are forced to be framed as a medical problem.{{Cite journal|last1=Bhaumik|first1=Soumyadeep|last2=Zwi|first2=Anthony B.|last3=Norton|first3=Robyn|last4=Jagnoor|first4=Jagnoor|date=1 August 2023|title=How and why snakebite became a global health priority: a policy analysis|url=https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/8/e011923|journal=BMJ Global Health|language=en|volume=8|issue=8|pages=e011923|doi=10.1136/bmjgh-2023-011923|issn=2059-7908|pmid=37604596|pmc=10445399|access-date=25 August 2023|archive-date=24 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824061447/https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/8/e011923|url-status=live}}

One of the thirteen WHO priority areas is aimed at the prevention and reduction of "disease, disability and premature deaths from chronic noncommunicable diseases, mental disorders, violence and injuries, and visual impairment which are collectively responsible for almost 71% of all deaths worldwide".{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/en/|title=WHO Violence and Injury Prevention|publisher=Who.int|access-date=9 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221105509/http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/en/|archive-date=21 February 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Noncommunicable diseases|url=https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases|access-date=8 March 2021|archive-date=17 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017233123/https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases|url-status=live}} The Division of Noncommunicable Diseases for Promoting Health through the Reproductive Health has published the magazine, Entre Nous, across Europe since 1983.{{cite web|title=Entre Nous|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715203751/http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Life-stages/sexual-and-reproductive-health/publications/entre-nous/entre-nous|archive-date=15 July 2017|url=http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Life-stages/sexual-and-reproductive-health/publications/entre-nous/entre-nous|website=euro.who.int|publisher=WHO/Europe|oclc=782375711}}

WHO is mandated under two of the international drug control conventions (Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 and Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971) to carry out scientific assessments of substances for international drug control. Through the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD), it can recommend changes to scheduling of substances to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs.{{Cite web|last=Expert Committee on Drug Dependence|title=[Flyer] WHO's role under the international drug control conventions|url=https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/controlled-substances/whos-role-in-intl-drug-system-flyer.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522210526/https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/controlled-substances/whos-role-in-intl-drug-system-flyer.pdf|archive-date=22 May 2021|publisher=World Health Organization|publication-place=Geneva|access-date=22 May 2021}} The ECDD is in charge of evaluating "the impact of psychoactive substances on public health" and "their dependence producing properties and potential harm to health, as well as considering their potential medical benefits and therapeutic applications."{{Cite web|title=Role of the WHO under International Drug Control Conventions|url=https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/role-of-the-WHO-under-international-drug-control-conventions|access-date=22 May 2021|website=World Health Organization|language=en}}

The WHO estimates that 12.6 million people died as a result of living or working in an unhealthy environment in 2012 – this accounts for nearly 1 in 4 of total global deaths. Environmental risk factors, such as air, water, and soil pollution, chemical exposures, climate change, and ultraviolet radiation, contribute to more than 100 diseases and injuries. This can result in a number of pollution-related diseases.

• 2018 (30 October – 1 November): 1 WHO's first global conference on air pollution and health (Improving air quality, combatting climate change – saving lives); organized in collaboration with UN Environment, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC){{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/airpollution/events/conference/WHO_Conference_on_Air_Pollution_and_Health-Concept_Note-final.pdf|title=1 WHO's First Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health Improving air quality, combatting climate change – saving lives|access-date=21 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412084919/https://www.who.int/airpollution/events/conference/WHO_Conference_on_Air_Pollution_and_Health-Concept_Note-final.pdf|archive-date=12 April 2019|url-status=live}}

WHO works to "reduce morbidity and mortality and improve health during key stages of life, including pregnancy, childbirth, the neonatal period, childhood and adolescence, and improve sexual and reproductive health and promote active and healthy aging for all individuals", for instance with the Special Programme on Human Reproduction.{{rp|39–45}}{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/hrp/en/index.html|title=Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction|publisher=WHO|access-date=9 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218011849/http://www.who.int/hrp/en/index.html|archive-date=18 February 2012|url-status=dead}}

It also tries to prevent or reduce risk factors for "health conditions associated with use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs and other psychoactive substances, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity and unsafe sex".{{rp|50–55}}{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/topics/tobacco/en/|title=Tobacco|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415033541/http://www.who.int/topics/tobacco/en/|archive-date=15 April 2012|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/en/|title=Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health|publisher=WHO|access-date=26 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621140037/http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/en/|archive-date=21 June 2010|url-status=live}}

The WHO works to improve nutrition, food safety and food security and to ensure this has a positive effect on public health and sustainable development.{{rp|66–71}}

In April 2019, the WHO released new recommendations stating that children between the ages of two and five should spend no more than one hour per day engaging in sedentary behaviour in front of a screen and that children under two should not be permitted any sedentary screen time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/25/18516669/screen-time-limits-who-children-health-physical-activity-sleep-tv-phones|title=The WHO's new screen time limits aren't really about screens|last=Becker|first=Rachel|date=25 April 2019|website=The Verge|access-date=15 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610222207/https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/25/18516669/screen-time-limits-who-children-health-physical-activity-sleep-tv-phones|archive-date=10 June 2019|url-status=live}}

In January 2025, the WHO released a new guideline Use of lower-sodium salt substitutes which strongly recommends reducing sodium intake to less than 2 g/day and conditionally recommends replacing regular table salt with lower-sodium salt substitutes that contain potassium. This recommendation is intended for adults (not pregnant women or children) in general populations, excluding individuals with kidney impairments or with other circumstances or conditions that might compromise potassium excretion.{{Cite web|title=Overview of the WHO guideline on lower-sodium salt substitutes|url=https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/nutrition-and-food-safety/events/2025/launch-of-lsss-guideline-presentation-1-overview.pdf|first=Rain|last=Yamamoto|date=27 January 2025|access-date=31 January 2025|publisher=World Health Organization}}{{Cite web|title=Use of lower-sodium salt substitutes: WHO guideline|url=https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240105591|date=27 January 2025|access-date=31 January 2025|publisher=World Health Organization}}{{Cite web|title=Use of lower-sodium salt substitutes: WHO guideline|url=https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/380227/9789240105591-eng.pdf?sequence=1|date=27 January 2025|access-date=31 January 2025|publisher=World Health Organization}}

The World Health Organization promotes road safety as a means to reduce traffic-related injuries.WHO. [https://www.who.int/roadsafety/decade_of_action/en/ Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011–2020] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410142328/https://www.who.int/roadsafety/decade_of_action/en/|date=10 April 2020}} It has also worked on global initiatives in surgery, including emergency and essential surgical care,{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/surgery/globalinitiative/en/|title=Global Initiative for Emergency and Essential Surgical Care|publisher=WHO|date=11 August 2011|access-date=9 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727133635/http://www.who.int/surgery/globalinitiative/en/|archive-date=27 July 2017|url-status=dead}} trauma care,{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/emergencycare/trauma/essential-care/en/|title=Essential trauma care project|publisher=WHO|access-date=9 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510164151/http://www.who.int/emergencycare/trauma/essential-care/en/|archive-date=10 May 2016|url-status=dead}} and safe surgery.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/patientsafety/safesurgery/en/|title=Safe Surgery Saves Lives|publisher=WHO|date=17 June 2011|access-date=9 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215223614/http://www.who.int/patientsafety/safesurgery/en/|archive-date=15 February 2012|url-status=dead}} The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist is in current use worldwide in the effort to improve patient safety.

The World Health Organization's primary objective in natural and man-made emergencies is to coordinate with member states and other stakeholders to "reduce avoidable loss of life and the burden of disease and disability."{{rp|46–49}}

On 5 May 2014, WHO announced that the spread of polio was a world health emergency – outbreaks of the disease in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East were considered "extraordinary".{{cite press release|author=|title=UN: Spread of polio now an world health emergency|url=http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140505/eu-med-polio-emergency-6e6900dc37.html|date=5 May 2014|location=London|agency=AP News|publisher=Mindspark Interactkookve Network, Inc.|access-date=5 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505170700/http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140505/eu-med-polio-emergency-6e6900dc37.html|archive-date=5 May 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Gladstone|first=Rick|title=Polio Spreading at Alarming Rates, World Health Organization Declares|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/06/health/world-health-organization-polio-health-emergency.html|date=5 May 2014|work=The New York Times|access-date=5 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416184843/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/06/health/world-health-organization-polio-health-emergency.html|archive-date=16 April 2019|url-status=live}}

On 8 August 2014, WHO declared that the spread of Ebola was a public health emergency; an outbreak which was believed to have started in Guinea had spread to other nearby countries such as Liberia and Sierra Leone. The situation in West Africa was considered very serious.{{cite press release|first1=Kate|last1=Kelland|first2=Felix|last2=Onuah|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-ebola-africa-idUSKBN0G81Q820140808|title=WHO declares Ebola an international health emergency|location=London/Lagos|work=Reuters|date=8 August 2014|access-date=3 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924203334/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/08/us-health-ebola-africa-idUSKBN0G81Q820140808|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}}

Following the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the organization was heavily criticized for its bureaucracy, insufficient financing, regional structure, and staffing profile.{{cite journal|last1=Hoffman|first1=SJ|last2=Røttingen|first2=JA|title=Split WHO in two: strengthening political decision-making and securing independent scientific advice|journal=Public Health Journal|date=February 2014|volume=128|issue=2|pages=188–194|doi=10.1016/j.puhe.2013.08.021|pmid=24434035|s2cid=43679089}}

An internal WHO report on the Ebola response pointed to underfunding and the lack of "core capacity" in health systems in developing countries as the primary weaknesses of the existing system. At the annual World Health Assembly in 2015, Director-General Margaret Chan announced a $100 million Contingency Fund for rapid response to future emergencies,{{cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA69/A69_21-en.pdf|title=Report of the Review Committee on the Role of the International Health Regulations (2005) in the Ebola Outbreak and Response|date=13 May 2016|access-date=27 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519012647/http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA69/A69_21-en.pdf|archive-date=19 May 2016|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/05/21/408289115/who-calls-for-100-million-emergency-fund-doctor-swat-team|title=WHO Calls For $100 Million Emergency Fund, Doctor 'SWAT Team'|first1=Lawrence|last1=Gostin|newspaper=NPR|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221100655/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/05/21/408289115/who-calls-for-100-million-emergency-fund-doctor-swat-team|archive-date=21 February 2018|url-status=live}} of which it had received $26.9 million by April 2016 (for 2017 disbursement). WHO has budgeted an additional $494 million for its Health Emergencies Programme in 2016–17, for which it had received $140 million by April 2016.{{cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA69/A69_30-en.pdf|title=Reform of WHO's work in health emergency management / WHO Health Emergencies Programme|date=5 May 2016|access-date=27 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519011901/http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA69/A69_30-en.pdf|archive-date=19 May 2016|url-status=live}}

The program was aimed at rebuilding WHO capacity for direct action, which critics said had been lost due to budget cuts in the previous decade that had left the organization in an advisory role dependent on member states for on-the-ground activities. In comparison, billions of dollars have been spent by developed countries on the 2013–2016 Ebola epidemic and 2015–16 Zika epidemic.{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/05/25/479228380/who-aims-to-reform-itself-but-health-experts-arent-yet-impressed|title=WHO Aims To Reform Itself But Health Experts Aren't Yet Impressed|newspaper=NPR|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201131951/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/05/25/479228380/who-aims-to-reform-itself-but-health-experts-arent-yet-impressed|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}

{{main|World Health Organization's response to the COVID-19 pandemic}}File:World Health Organization Bangladesh.jpg

The WHO created an Incident Management Support Team on 1 January 2020, one day after Chinese health authorities notified the organization of a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown aetiology.{{cite news|title=Withholding funding from the World Health Organization is wrong and dangerous, and must be reversed|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01121-1|access-date=3 June 2020|publisher=Nature|date=17 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607033413/https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01121-1|archive-date=7 June 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=WHO: Pneumonia of unknown cause – China|url=https://www.who.int/csr/don/05-january-2020-pneumonia-of-unkown-cause-china/en/|website=WHO|access-date=9 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107032945/https://www.who.int/csr/don/05-january-2020-pneumonia-of-unkown-cause-china/en/|archive-date=7 January 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first=Julian|last=Borger|work=The Guardian|title=Caught in a superpower struggle: the inside story of the WHO's response to coronavirus|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/18/caught-in-a-superpower-struggle-the-inside-story-of-the-whos-response-to-coronavirus|date=18 April 2020|access-date=19 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423044038/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/18/caught-in-a-superpower-struggle-the-inside-story-of-the-whos-response-to-coronavirus|archive-date=23 April 2020|url-status=live}} On 5 January the WHO notified all member states of the outbreak,{{cite news|author=Amanda Watts and Veronica Stracqualursi|title=WHO defends coronavirus response after Trump criticism|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/08/politics/who-responds-trump-claims-coronavirus/index.html|access-date=9 April 2020|work=CNN|agency=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408192136/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/08/politics/who-responds-trump-claims-coronavirus/index.html|archive-date=8 April 2020|url-status=live}} and in subsequent days provided guidance to all countries on how to respond, and confirmed the first infection outside China.{{cite news|title=Thailand confirms first case of Wuhan virus outside China|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3045902/wuhan-pneumonia-thailand-confirms-first-case|access-date=9 April 2020|work=South China Morning Post|date=13 January 2020|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113130102/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3045902/wuhan-pneumonia-thailand-confirms-first-case|archive-date=13 January 2020|url-status=live}} On 14 January 2020, the WHO announced that preliminary investigations conducted by Chinese authorities had found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in Wuhan.{{Cite tweet|number=1217043229427761152|title=Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus|user=WHO|date=14 January 2020}} The same day, the organization warned of limited human-to-human transmission, and confirmed human-to-human transmission one week later.{{cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/wuhan-virus-has-limited-human-to-human-transmission-but-could-spread-wider-who|access-date=14 April 2020|work=The Straits Times|title=Wuhan virus has limited human-to-human transmission but could spread wider: WHO|date=14 January 2020|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114144609/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/wuhan-virus-has-limited-human-to-human-transmission-but-could-spread-wider-who|archive-date=14 January 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=14 January 2020|title=WHO says new China coronavirus could spread, warns hospitals worldwide|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-pneumonia-who-idUSKBN1ZD16J|access-date=20 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120175511/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-pneumonia-who-idUSKBN1ZD16J|archive-date=20 January 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Kessler|first1=Glenn|title=Trump's false claim that the WHO said the coronavirus was 'not communicable'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/17/trumps-false-claim-that-who-said-coronavirus-was-not-communicable/|access-date=17 April 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=17 April 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200417193804/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/17/trumps-false-claim-that-who-said-coronavirus-was-not-communicable/|archive-date=17 April 2020}} On 30 January the WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC),{{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)|title=Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)|website=World Health Organization|language=en|access-date=27 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131005904/https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)|archive-date=31 January 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Kennedy|first1=Merrit|title=WHO Declares Coronavirus Outbreak A Global Health Emergency|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/01/30/798894428/who-declares-coronavirus-outbreak-a-global-health-emergency|access-date=19 April 2020|work=NPR|date=30 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326170153/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/01/30/798894428/who-declares-coronavirus-outbreak-a-global-health-emergency|archive-date=26 March 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Coronavirus: the first three months as it happened|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00154-w|access-date=3 June 2020|publisher=Nature|date=22 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222101840/https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00154-w|archive-date=22 February 2020|url-status=live}} considered a "call to action" and "last resort" measure for the international community and a pandemic on 11 March.{{Cite journal|last1=Rull|first1=Monica|last2=Kickbusch|first2=Ilona|last3=Lauer|first3=Helen|date=8 December 2015|title=Policy Debate {{!}} International Responses to Global Epidemics: Ebola and Beyond|journal=International Development Policy|language=en|volume=6|issue=2|doi=10.4000/poldev.2178|issn=1663-9375|doi-access=free}}

While organizing the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and overseeing "more than 35 emergency operations" for cholera, measles and other epidemics internationally, the WHO has been criticized for praising China's public health response to the crisis while seeking to maintain a "diplomatic balancing act" between the United States and China.{{Cite news|first=Sarah|last=Boseley|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/18/china-coronavirus-who-diplomatic-challenge|title=China's handling of coronavirus is a diplomatic challenge for WHO|date=18 February 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=28 February 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228061528/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/18/china-coronavirus-who-diplomatic-challenge|archive-date=28 February 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/14/asia/coronavirus-who-china-intl-hnk/index.html|title=WHO's relationship with China under scrutiny due to coronavirus crisis|first=James|last=Griffiths|work=CNN|date=16 February 2020|access-date=19 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228223255/https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/14/asia/coronavirus-who-china-intl-hnk/index.html|archive-date=28 February 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-who-idUSKBN1ZM1G9|title=Wuhan lockdown 'unprecedented', shows commitment to contain virus: WHO representative in China|date=23 January 2020|work=Reuters|access-date=28 February 2020|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124203401/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-who-idUSKBN1ZM1G9|archive-date=24 January 2020|url-status=live}} David L. Heymann, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said that "China has been very transparent and open in sharing its data... and they opened up all of their files with the WHO present."{{Cite news|title=WHO coronavirus team in Wuhan to work out next containment step|last1=Jaipragas|first1=Bhavan|last2=Zheng|first2=Sarah|newspaper=South China Morning Post|date=22 February 2020|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3051917/who-coronavirus-team-ground-zero-wuhan-work-out-next-containment|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415014430/https://sg.news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-team-ground-zero-wuhan-105556254.html|archive-date=15 April 2020}}

The WHO faced criticism from the United States' Trump administration while "guid[ing] the world in how to tackle the deadly" COVID-19 pandemic. On 14 April 2020, United States president Donald Trump said that he would halt United States funding to the WHO while reviewing its role in "severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus."{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/us/coronavirus-updates.html|title=Coronavirus Updates: Trump Halts U.S. Funding of World Health Organization|newspaper=The New York Times|date=14 April 2020|access-date=14 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414224652/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/us/coronavirus-updates.html|archive-date=14 April 2020|url-status=live}} World leaders and health experts largely condemned President Trump's announcement, which came amid criticism of his response to the outbreak in the United States.{{Cite web|title= WHO regrets Trump funding halt as global coronavirus cases top 2 million|first1= Stephanie|last1= Nebehay|first2= Jeff|last2= Mason|work= Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus/who-regrets-trump-funding-halt-as-global-coronavirus-cases-top-2-million-idUSKCN21X0AL|date= 15 April 2020|access-date= 16 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415232139/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus/who-regrets-trump-funding-halt-as-global-coronavirus-cases-top-2-million-idUSKCN21X0AL|archive-date= 15 April 2020|url-status= live}} WHO called the announcement "regrettable" and defended its actions in alerting the world to the emergence of COVID-19.{{Cite web|title='We Alerted The World' To Coronavirus On Jan. 5, WHO Says In Response To U.S|first=Bill|last=Chappell|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/15/835179442/we-alerted-the-world-to-coronavirus-on-jan-5-who-says-in-response-to-u-s|date=15 April 2020|access-date=16 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415230012/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/15/835179442/we-alerted-the-world-to-coronavirus-on-jan-5-who-says-in-response-to-u-s|archive-date=15 April 2020|url-status=live}} On 8 May 2020, the United States blocked a vote on a U.N. Security Council resolution aimed at promoting nonviolent international cooperation during the pandemic, and mentioning the WHO.{{Cite web|title=Allies despair as Trump abandons America's leadership role at a time of global crisis|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/09/politics/us-leadership-coronavirus-intl/index.html|last1=Gaouette|first1=Nicole|last2=Hansler|first2=Jennifer|date=9 May 2020|website=CNN|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509094116/https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/09/politics/us-leadership-coronavirus-intl/index.html|archive-date=9 May 2020|access-date=9 May 2020|last3=Atwood|first3=Kylie|last4=Dewan|first4=Angela}} On 7 July 2020, President Trump formally notified the UN of his intent to withdraw the United States from the WHO.{{cite web|last1=Knutson|first1=Jacob|title=Trump administration notifies UN of intent to withdraw from WHO|url=https://www.axios.com/trump-withdraw-world-health-organization-757cd93d-d085-4cdf-acdd-6194f0f0789b.html|website=Axios|publisher=Axios Media|date=7 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707204220/https://www.axios.com/trump-withdraw-world-health-organization-757cd93d-d085-4cdf-acdd-6194f0f0789b.html|archive-date=7 July 2020|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|first1=Noah|last1=Higgins-Dunn|access-date=20 January 2021|title=Dr. Fauci to lead U.S. delegation at WHO meetings as Biden plans to reverse Trump withdrawal|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/20/dr-fauci-to-lead-us-delegation-at-who-meetings-as-biden-plans-to-reverse-trump-withdrawal-.html|date=20 January 2021|website=CNBC}}{{cite web|access-date=20 January 2021|title=Biden signs executive actions on COVID, climate change, immigration and more|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-executive-orders-watch-live-stream-today-2021-01-20/|work=CBS News|first=Bo|last=Erickson|date=20 January 2021|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120233631/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-executive-orders-watch-live-stream-today-2021-01-20/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Biden's US revives support for WHO, reversing Trump retreat|url=https://apnews.com/article/us-who-support-006ed181e016afa55d4cea30af236227|access-date=20 March 2021|work=AP NEWS|date=21 January 2021|archive-date=28 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128000932/https://apnews.com/article/us-who-support-006ed181e016afa55d4cea30af236227|url-status=live}}

In January 2025, during his second term, President Trump issued an executive order to withdraw the United States from the WHO, citing their alleged mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic originating in Wuhan, among other reasons.{{Cite web|last=Cuevas|first=Eduardo|title=Trump orders United States to exit WHO again. Health experts warn of danger.|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2025/01/20/trump-orders-us-exit-world-health-organization/77772989007/|access-date=2025-02-10|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2025-01-21|title=Withdrawing The United States From The World Health Organization|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/withdrawing-the-united-states-from-the-worldhealth-organization/|access-date=2025-02-10|website=The White House|language=en-US}}

In May 2023, the WHO announced that COVID-19 was no longer a world-wide health emergency.{{Cite web|last1=McPhillips|first1=Jamie Gumbrecht|last2=Jacqueline|first2=Howard Deidre|date=5 May 2023|title=WHO says Covid-19 is no longer a global health emergency|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/05/health/who-ends-covid-health-emergency/index.html|access-date=10 May 2023|website=CNN|language=en|archive-date=5 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505143319/https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/05/health/who-ends-covid-health-emergency/index.html|url-status=live}}

WHO addresses government health policy with two aims: firstly, "to address the underlying social and economic determinants of health through policies and programmes that enhance health equity and integrate pro-poor, gender-responsive, and human rights-based approaches" and secondly "to promote a healthier environment, intensify primary prevention and influence public policies in all sectors so as to address the root causes of environmental threats to health".{{rp|61–65}}

The organization develops and promotes the use of evidence-based tools, norms and standards to support member states to inform health policy options. It oversees the implementation of the International Health Regulations, and publishes a series of medical classifications; of these, three are over-reaching "reference classifications": the International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD), the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI).{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/classifications/en/FamilyDocument2007.pdf|title=Family of International Classifications: definition, scope and purpose|publisher=WHO|year=2007|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318230124/http://www.who.int/classifications/en/FamilyDocument2007.pdf|archive-date=18 March 2012|url-status=live}} Other international policy frameworks produced by WHO include the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (adopted in 1981),{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/infantfeeding/9241541601/en/|title=International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes|publisher=WHO|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302093154/http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/infantfeeding/9241541601/en/|archive-date=2 March 2012|url-status=dead}} Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (adopted in 2003){{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/fctc/about/en/index.html|title=About the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control|publisher=WHO|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219111054/http://www.who.int/fctc/about/en/index.html|archive-date=19 February 2012|url-status=live}} the Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel (adopted in 2010){{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/hrh/migration/code/WHO_global_code_of_practice_EN.pdf|title=WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel|publisher=WHO|year=2010|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617072645/http://www.who.int/hrh/migration/code/WHO_global_code_of_practice_EN.pdf|archive-date=17 June 2012|url-status=live}} as well as the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and its pediatric counterpart. An international convention on pandemic prevention and preparedness is being actively considered.{{Cite journal|last1=Gostin|first1=Lawrence O.|last2=Halabi|first2=Sam F.|last3=Klock|first3=Kevin A.|date=15 September 2021|title=An International Agreement on Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness|journal=JAMA|volume=326|issue=13|pages=1257–1258|language=en|doi=10.1001/jama.2021.16104|pmid=34524388|issn=0098-7484|doi-access=free}}

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. It also strives to "ensure improved access, quality and use of medical products and technologies".{{rp|72–83}} WHO – working with donor agencies and national governments – can improve their reporting about use of research evidence.{{cite journal|vauthors = Hoffman SJ, Lavis JN, Bennett S|year = 2009|title = The Use of Research Evidence in Two International Organizations' Recommendations about Health Systems|journal = Healthcare Policy|volume = 5|issue = 1| pages = 66–86|doi = 10.12927/hcpol.2009.21005|pmid = 20676252|pmc = 2732656|doi-access = free}}

On Digital Health topics, WHO has existing Inter-Agency collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (the UN Specialized Agency for ICT), including the Be Health, Be Mobile initiate and the ITU-WHO Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health.

File:World Health Organization, Bangladesh.jpg

The WHO has developed several technical policy packages to support countries to improve health:{{Cite book|editor-last1=Banatvala|editor-first1=Nick|editor-last2=Bovet|editor-first2=Pascal|date=2023|title=Noncommunicable Diseases: A Compendium|url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-edit/10.4324/9781003306689/noncommunicable-diseases-nick-banatvala-pascal-bovet|location=London|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781032307923|doi=10.4324/9781003306689|s2cid=256130400|access-date=7 August 2023|archive-date=19 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119185416/https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-edit/10.4324/9781003306689/noncommunicable-diseases-nick-banatvala-pascal-bovet|url-status=live|last1=Banatvala|first1=Nick|last2=Bovet|first2=Pascal}} Open access. See pages 56 (general, including ACTIVE), 63 (HEARTS), 135 (MPOWER), 153 (REPLACE), 161-162 (SHAKE) and 198 (SAFER).

• ACTIVE (physical activity)
• HEARTS (cardiovascular diseases)
• MPOWER (tobacco control)
• REPLACE (trans fat)
• SAFER (alcohol)
• SHAKE (salt reduction)

The remaining two of WHO's thirteen identified policy areas relate to the role of WHO itself:{{rp|84–91}}

• "to provide leadership, strengthen governance and foster partnership and collaboration with countries, the United Nations system, and other stakeholders in order to fulfil the mandate of WHO in advancing the global health agenda"; and
• "to develop and sustain WHO as a flexible, learning organization, enabling it to carry out its mandate more efficiently and effectively".

The WHO along with the World Bank constitute the core team responsible for administering the International Health Partnership (IHP+). The IHP+ is a group of partner governments, development agencies, civil society, and others committed to improving the health of citizens in developing countries. Partners work together to put international principles for aid effectiveness and development co-operation into practice in the health sector.{{cite web|url=http://www.internationalhealthpartnership.net/en/|title=International Health Partnership|publisher=IHP+|access-date=19 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911200649/http://www.internationalhealthpartnership.net/en/|archive-date=11 September 2012|url-status=live}}

The organization relies on contributions from renowned scientists and professionals to inform its work, such as the WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization,{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/biologicals/expert_committee/en/|title=WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization|publisher=WHO|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127182909/http://www.who.int/biologicals/expert_committee/en/|archive-date=27 January 2012|url-status=dead}} the WHO Expert Committee on Leprosy,{{cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/bookorders/anglais/detart1.jsp?codlan=1&codcol=10&codcch=874|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231145418/http://apps.who.int/bookorders/anglais/detart1.jsp?codlan=1&codcol=10&codcch=874|archive-date=31 December 2016|title=WHO Expert Committee on Leprosy: Seventh Report|website=WHO Press Office|publisher=WHO|access-date=27 March 2012}} and the WHO Study Group on Interprofessional Education & Collaborative Practice.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/hrh/professionals/coordination/en/index.html|title=WHO Study Group on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice|publisher=27 March 2012|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825212452/http://www.who.int/hrh/professionals/coordination/en/index.html|archive-date=25 August 2013|url-status=dead}}

WHO runs the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, targeted at improving health policy and systems.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/alliance-hpsr/en/index.html|title=Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research|publisher=WHO|access-date=26 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617071607/http://www.who.int/alliance-hpsr/en/index.html|archive-date=17 June 2012|url-status=dead}}

WHO also aims to improve access to health research and literature in developing countries such as through the HINARI network.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/hinari/en/|title=HINARI Access to Research in Health Programme|publisher=Who.int|date=13 October 2011|access-date=9 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127162901/http://www.who.int/hinari/en/|archive-date=27 January 2012|url-status=live}}

WHO collaborates with The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNITAID, and the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief{{cite web|title=Global Health Sector Strategy on HIV 2016–2021|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/246178/WHO-HIV-2016.05-eng.pdf?sequence=1|website=apps.who.int|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=13 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230045221/https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/246178/WHO-HIV-2016.05-eng.pdf?sequence=1|archive-date=30 December 2019|url-status=live}} to spearhead and fund the development of HIV programs.

WHO created the Civil Society Reference Group on HIV, which brings together other networks that are involved in policymaking and the dissemination of guidelines.

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 facilitates technical partnerships through the Technical Advisory Committee on HIV,{{Cite web|title=Strategic and Technical Advisory Committee meets on HIV priorities|url=https://www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/news/stac-hiv/en/|access-date=25 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912031826/http://www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/news/stac-hiv/en/|archive-date=12 September 2018|url-status=dead}} which they created to develop WHO guidelines and policies.

In 2014, WHO released the Global Atlas of Palliative Care at the End of Life in a joint publication with the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance, an affiliated NGO working collaboratively with the WHO to promote palliative care in national and international health policy.Chestnov, Oleg (January 2014). [https://www.who.int/nmh/Global_Atlas_of_Palliative_Care.pdf "Forward"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712195928/http://www.who.int/nmh/Global_Atlas_of_Palliative_Care.pdf|date=12 July 2018}}, in Connor, Stephen and Sepulveda Bermedo, Maria Cecilia (editors), Global Atlas of Palliative Care at the End of Life, Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance and World Health Organization, p. 3. Retrieved 21 September 2019.{{cite journal|pmid = 28797861|doi=10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.03.020|volume=55|title=The Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance|year=2018|author=Connor SR, Gwyther E|journal=J Pain Symptom Manage|issue=2|pages=S112–S116| doi-access=free}}

The practice of empowering individuals to exert more control over and make improvements to their health is known as health education, as described by the WHO. It shifts away from an emphasis on personal behaviour and toward a variety of societal and environmental solutions.{{Cite web|title=World Health Organization (WHO)|url=https://www.who.int/|access-date=30 March 2023|website=World Health Organization|language=en|archive-date=5 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705141348/http://www.who.int/|url-status=live}}

Each year, the organization marks World Health Day and other observances focusing on a specific health promotion topic. World Health Day falls on 7 April each year, timed to match the anniversary of WHO's founding. Recent themes have been vector-borne diseases (2014), healthy ageing (2012) and drug resistance (2011).{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/world-health-day/en/|title=World Health Day – 7 April|publisher=WHO|access-date=31 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330004839/http://www.who.int/world-health-day/en/|archive-date=30 March 2012|url-status=live}}

The other official global public health campaigns marked by WHO are World Tuberculosis Day, World Immunization Week, World Malaria Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Hepatitis Day, and World AIDS Day.

As part of the United Nations, the World Health Organization supports work towards the Millennium Development Goals.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/about/en/index.html|title=Millennium Development Goals|publisher=WHO|access-date=31 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321122705/http://www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/about/en/index.html|archive-date=21 March 2012|url-status=live}} Of the eight Millennium Development Goals, three – reducing child mortality by two-thirds, to reduce maternal deaths by three-quarters, and to halt and begin to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS – relate directly to the WHO's scope; the other five inter-relate and affect world health.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/MDG-NHPS_brochure_2010.pdf|title=Accelerating progress towards the health-related Millennium Development Goals|year=2010|page=2|publisher=WHO|access-date=31 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617070258/http://www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/MDG-NHPS_brochure_2010.pdf|archive-date=17 June 2012|url-status=live}}

The World Health Organization works to provide the needed health and well-being evidence through a variety of data collection platforms, including the World Health Survey covering almost 400,000 respondents from 70 countries,{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/healthinfo/survey/en/|title=WHO World Health Survey|publisher=WHO|date=20 December 2010|access-date=9 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122010628/http://www.who.int/healthinfo/survey/en/|archive-date=22 January 2012|url-status=dead}} and the Study on Global Aging and Adult Health (SAGE) covering over 50,000 persons over 50 years old in 23 countries.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/sage/en/index.html|title=WHO Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE)|publisher=WHO|date=10 March 2011|access-date=9 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117021343/http://www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/sage/en/index.html|archive-date=17 January 2012|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|title=Country Health Policy Process|url=http://www.healthintelligenceportal.org/|access-date=4 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121222652/http://www.healthintelligenceportal.org/|archive-date=21 January 2012}} The information gathered in this portal is used by the countries to set priorities for future strategies or plans, implement, monitor, and evaluate it.

The WHO has published various tools for measuring and monitoring the capacity of national health systems{{cite web|title=Monitoring the building blocks of health systems: a handbook of indicators and their measurement strategies|publisher=WHO|year=2010|url=https://www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/monitoring/en/index.htm|access-date=27 March 2012}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} and health workforces.{{cite web|title=Handbook on monitoring and evaluation of human resources for health|publisher=WHO|year=2009|url=https://www.who.int/hrh/resources/handbook/en/index.html|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418044842/http://www.who.int/hrh/resources/handbook/en/index.html|archive-date=18 April 2012|url-status=dead}} The Global Health Observatory (GHO) has been the WHO's main portal which provides access to data and analyses for key health themes by monitoring health situations around the globe.{{cite web|title=Global Health Observatory|url=https://www.who.int/gho/en/index.html|access-date=4 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529070904/http://www.who.int/gho/en/index.html|archive-date=29 May 2012|url-status=live}}

The WHO Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems (WHO-AIMS), the WHO Quality of Life Instrument (WHOQOL), and the Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) provide guidance for data collection.See respectively:

• {{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/WHO-AIMS/en/index.html|title=Mental Health: WHO-AIMS|publisher=WHO|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122024140/http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/WHO-AIMS/en/index.html|archive-date=22 January 2012|url-status=dead}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/76.pdf|title=WHOQOL-BREF: Introduction, Administration, Scoring and Generic Version of the Assessment|year=1996|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617072652/http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/76.pdf|archive-date=17 June 2012|url-status=live}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/sara_introduction/en/|title=Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA)|publisher=WHO|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617070828/http://www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/sara_introduction/en/|archive-date=17 June 2012|url-status=dead}} Collaborative efforts between WHO and other agencies, such as through the Health Metrics Network, also aim to provide sufficient high-quality information to assist governmental decision making.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/healthmetrics/about/whatishmn/en/index.html|title=What is HMN?|website=Health Metrics Network|publisher=WHO|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617053223/http://www.who.int/healthmetrics/about/whatishmn/en/index.html|archive-date=17 June 2012|url-status=dead}} WHO promotes the development of capacities in member states to use and produce research that addresses their national needs, including through the Evidence-Informed Policy Network (EVIPNet).{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/rpc/evipnet/en/|title=Evidence-Informed Policy Network|publisher=WHO|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118100358/http://www.who.int/rpc/evipnet/en/|archive-date=18 January 2012|url-status=dead}} The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/AMRO) became the first region to develop and pass a policy on research for health approved in September 2009.{{cite web|url=http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1414&Itemid=931|title=Policy on Research for Health|publisher=Pan American Health Organization|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509084814/http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1414&Itemid=931|archive-date=9 May 2013|url-status=live}}

On 10 December 2013, a new WHO database, known as MiNDbank, went online. The database was launched on Human Rights Day, and is part of WHO's QualityRights initiative, which aims to end human rights violations against people with mental health conditions. The new database presents a great deal of information about mental health, substance abuse, disability, human rights, and the different policies, strategies, laws, and service standards being implemented in different countries.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2013/mindbank-20131210/en/|title=Mental health information at your fingertips – WHO launches the MiNDbank|publisher=Who.int|date=10 December 2013|access-date=29 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414081539/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2013/mindbank-20131210/en/|archive-date=14 April 2014|url-status=dead}} It also contains important international documents and information. The database allows visitors to access the health information of WHO member states and other partners. Users can review policies, laws, and strategies and search for the best practices and success stories in the field of mental health.

The WHO regularly publishes a World Health Report, its leading publication, including an expert assessment of a specific global health topic.{{cite web|publisher=WHO|url=https://www.who.int/whr/en/index.html|title=The World Health Report|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411093728/http://www.who.int/whr/en/index.html|archive-date=11 April 2012|url-status=live}} Other publications of WHO include the Bulletin of the World Health Organization,{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/bulletin/en/|title=Bulletin of the World Health Organization|publisher=WHO|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330163743/http://www.who.int/bulletin/en/|archive-date=30 March 2012|url-status=live}} the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal (overseen by EMRO),{{cite web|url=http://www.emro.who.int/emhj.htm|title=Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal|publisher=WHO|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413182136/http://www.emro.who.int/emhj.htm|archive-date=13 April 2012|url-status=live}} the Human Resources for Health (published in collaboration with BioMed Central),{{cite web|url=http://www.human-resources-health.com/|title=Human Resources for Health|publisher=BioMed Central|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331145138/http://www.human-resources-health.com/|archive-date=31 March 2012|url-status=live}} and the Pan American Journal of Public Health (overseen by PAHO/AMRO).{{cite web|url=http://new.paho.org/journal/|title=Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública|publisher=Pan American Health Organization|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326174712/http://new.paho.org/journal/|archive-date=26 March 2012|url-status=live}}

In 2016, the World Health Organization drafted a global health sector strategy on HIV. In the draft, the World Health Organization outlines its commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 with interim targets for the year 2020. To make achievements towards these targets, the draft lists actions that countries and the WHO can take, such as a commitment to universal health coverage, medical accessibility, prevention and eradication of disease, and efforts to educate the public. Some notable points made in the draft include tailoring resources to mobilized regions where the health system may be compromised due to natural disasters, etc. 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/hiv/strategy2016-2021/ghss-hiv/en/|title=Global health sector strategy on HIV, 2016–2021|website=World Health Organization|access-date=19 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918103307/http://www.who.int/hiv/strategy2016-2021/ghss-hiv/en/|archive-date=18 September 2018|url-status=dead}}

The WHO has a Framework Convention on Tobacco implementation database which is one of the few mechanisms to help enforce compliance with the FCTC.{{cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/fctc/reporting/database|title=database|website=WHO|access-date=13 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220023429/http://apps.who.int/fctc/reporting/database/|archive-date=20 February 2011}} However, there have been reports of numerous discrepancies between it and national implementation reports on which it was built. As researchers Hoffman and Rizvi report "As of July 4, 2012, 361 (32·7%) of 1104 countries' responses were misreported: 33 (3·0%) were clear errors (e.g., database indicated 'yes' when report indicated 'no'), 270 (24·5%) were missing despite countries having submitted responses, and 58 (5·3%) were, in our opinion, misinterpreted by WHO staff".{{cite journal|author1=Hoffman S.J.|author2=Rizvi Z.|year = 2012|title = WHO's Undermining Tobacco Control|journal = The Lancet|volume = 380|issue = 9843| pages = 727–728|doi = 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61402-0|pmid=22920746|s2cid=46405729}}

WHO has been moving toward acceptance and integration of traditional medicine and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In 2022, the new International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, ICD-11, will attempt to enable classifications from traditional medicine to be integrated with classifications from evidence-based medicine. Though Chinese authorities have pushed for the change, this and other support of the WHO for traditional medicine has been criticized by the medical and scientific community, due to lack of evidence and the risk of endangering wildlife hunted for traditional remedies.{{cite magazine|last1=Renckens|first1=Cees N.M.|last2=Dorlo|first2=Thomas P.C.|author-link1=Cees Renckens|date=September–October 2019|title=Quackery at WHO: A Chinese Affair|url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/2019/09/quackery-at-who-a-chinese-affair/|magazine=Skeptical Inquirer|publisher=Center for Inquiry|volume=43|issue=5|pages=39–43|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200301162812/https://skepticalinquirer.org/2019/09/cnn-reporters-awarded-balles-critical-thinking-prize-for-a-deal-with-the-devil/|archive-date=1 March 2020|access-date=1 March 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Hunt|first1=Katie|title=Chinese medicine gains WHO acceptance but it has many critics|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/24/health/traditional-chinese-medicine-who-controversy-intl/index.html|access-date=15 April 2020|work=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414213628/https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/24/health/traditional-chinese-medicine-who-controversy-intl/index.html|archive-date=14 April 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite journal|title=The World Health Organization's decision about traditional Chinese medicine could backfire|journal=Nature|date=5 June 2019|volume=570|issue=7759|pages=5|language=en|doi=10.1038/d41586-019-01726-1|pmid=31165792|bibcode=2019Natur.570Q...5.|s2cid=174809790|doi-access=free}} A WHO spokesman said that the inclusion was "not an endorsement of the scientific validity of any Traditional Medicine practice or the efficacy of any Traditional Medicine intervention."

{{Further|International Agency for Research on Cancer}}

The WHO sub-department, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), conducts and coordinates research into the causes of cancer.{{cite book|editor-last=Colditz|editor-first=Graham A.|title=The SAGE Encyclopedia of Cancer and Society (International Agency for Research on Cancer)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mXxZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT1323|year=2015|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-1-5063-0126-6|pages=1323–|access-date=20 December 2020|archive-date=16 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116142846/https://books.google.com/books?id=mXxZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT1323#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}} It also collects and publishes surveillance data regarding the occurrence of cancer worldwide.{{cite web|url=http://www-dep.iarc.fr/|title=CANCERMondial|website=www-dep.iarc.fr|access-date=20 December 2020|archive-date=17 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217163455/http://www-dep.iarc.fr/|url-status=live}}

Its Monographs Programme identifies carcinogenic hazards and evaluates environmental causes of cancer in humans.{{cite web|url=http://monographs.iarc.fr/|title=IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans|website=monographs.iarc.fr|access-date=20 December 2020|archive-date=11 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211213546/http://monographs.iarc.fr/|url-status=live}}{{cite book|editor-last=Caballero|editor-first=Benjamin|title=Encyclopedia of Food and Health|date=2015|publisher=Elsevier Science|isbn=978-0-12-384953-3|page=658}}

The World Health Organization is a member of the United Nations Development Group.{{cite web|url=http://www.undg.org/index.cfm?P=13|title=UNDG Members|publisher=Undg.org|access-date=9 February 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511144047/http://www.undg.org/index.cfm?P=13|archive-date=11 May 2011}}

File:World Health Organization membership status map.svg

{{As of|January 2025}}, the WHO has 194 member states: all member states of the United Nations except for Liechtenstein (192 countries), plus the Cook Islands and Niue.{{cite web|publisher=WHO|url=https://www.who.int/countries/en/|title=Countries|access-date=30 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326024233/http://www.who.int/countries/en/|archive-date=26 March 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB148/B148_28-en.pdf|title=Scale of assessments 2022–2023|publisher=World Health Organization|date=11 January 2021|access-date=24 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324114944/https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB148/B148_28-en.pdf|archive-date=24 March 2021|url-status=live}} A state becomes a full member of WHO by ratifying the treaty known as the Constitution of the World Health Organization. As of January 2025, it also had two associate members, Puerto Rico and Tokelau.{{cite web|title=Appendix 1, Members of the World Health Organization (at 31 May 2019)|url=https://apps.who.int/gb/bd/pdf_files/BD_49th-en.pdf#page=232|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225101416/https://apps.who.int/gb/bd/pdf_files/BD_49th-en.pdf|archive-date=25 February 2021|url-status=live}} The WHO two-year budget for 2022–2023 is paid by its 194 members and 2 associate members. Several other countries have been granted observer status. Palestine is an observer as a "national liberation movement" recognized by the League of Arab States under United Nations Resolution 3118. The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (or Order of Malta) also attends on an observer basis. The Holy See attends as an observer, and its participation as "non-Member State Observer" was formalized by an Assembly resolution in 2021.{{cite news|last1=Press Office of the Holy See|title=Bulletin [B0350]|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2021/06/01/0350/00761.html|access-date=26 June 2021|work=Comunicato della Santa Sede|publisher=press.vatican.va|date=1 June 2021|language=it, en, fr, es|archive-date=20 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620044051/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2021/06/01/0350/00761.html|url-status=live}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xou_nD9jJF0C|title=World Health Organization|first1=Gian Luca|last1=Burci|first2=Claude-Henri|last2=Vignes|publisher=Kluwer Law International|year=2004|isbn=978-90-411-2273-5|access-date=20 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112201959/https://books.google.com/books?id=Xou_nD9jJF0C|archive-date=12 January 2017|url-status=live}} The government of Taiwan was allowed to participate under the designation "Chinese Taipei" as an observer from 2009 to 2016, but has not been invited again since.{{cite news|last1=Timsit|first1=Anabel|last2=Hui|first2=Mary|title=Taiwan's status could disrupt the most important global health meeting of this pandemic|url=https://qz.com/1857449/taiwan-china-relations-take-center-stage-at-who-meeting/|access-date=6 June 2020|work=Quartz|date=16 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606054536/https://qz.com/1857449/taiwan-china-relations-take-center-stage-at-who-meeting/|archive-date=6 June 2020|url-status=live}} On 20 January 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order initiating the 12-month process of withdrawing the U.S. from the WHO.{{Cite news|last=Stolberg|first=Sheryl Gay|date=21 January 2025|title=Trump Withdraws U.S. from World Health Organization|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/20/us/politics/trump-world-health-organization.html|access-date=21 January 2025|work=The New York Times|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{cite web|title=WITHDRAWING THE UNITED STATES FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/withdrawing-the-united-states-from-the-worldhealth-organization/|access-date=21 January 2025|work=The White House|date=21 January 2025}}{{cite web|title=CDC ordered to stop working with WHO immediately, upending expectations of an extended withdrawal|url=https://apnews.com/article/cdc-who-trump-548cf18b1c409c7d22e17311ccdfe1f6|website=AP News|language=en|date=27 January 2025}} On 5 February 2025, Argentinian president Javier Milei announced that Argentina would also be withdrawing from WHO.{{cite news|last1=Brennan|first1=Eve|title=Argentina says it will pull out of World Health Organization|url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/05/americas/argentina-says-leaving-who-intl?cid=ios_app|access-date=5 February 2025|work=CNN|date=5 February 2025|language=en}}

WHO member states appoint delegations to the World Health Assembly, the WHO's supreme decision-making body. 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". The World Health Assembly is attended by delegations from all member states, and determines the policies of the organization.

The executive board is composed of members technically qualified in health and gives effect to the decisions and policies of the World Health Assembly. In addition, the UN observer organizations International Committee of the Red Cross and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have entered into "official relations" with WHO and are invited as observers. In the World Health Assembly, they are seated alongside the other NGOs.

{{Further|China and the United Nations}}

{{Seealso|Cross-Strait relations|Political status of Taiwan}}

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. The adoption of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 in 1971, however, had the representation of "China" handed over to the People's Republic of China (PRC), and led to the expulsion of the Republic of China from WHO and other UN bodies. Since that time, per the One-China policy, both the ROC and PRC lay claims of sovereignty to each other's territory.{{UN document|docid=A-RES-2758(XXVI)|type=Resolution|body=General Assembly|session=26|resolution_number=2758|highlight=rect_485,223_914,684|page=1|access-date=7 October 2008|date=25 October 1971|title=Restoration of the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/10/18/2003574772|title=Ma accused of 'lying' about relations – Taipei Times|date=18 October 2013|website=www.taipeitimes.com|access-date=8 December 2022|archive-date=8 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208200106/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/10/18/2003574772|url-status=live}}

In May 2009, the Department of Health of the Republic of China was invited by the WHO to attend the 62nd World Health Assembly as an observer under the name "Chinese Taipei". 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.

{{cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/05/18/Taiwan-attends-WHA-as-observer/UPI-68411242697115/| title=Taiwan attends WHA as observer| work=United Press International| date=18 May 2009| access-date=26 April 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426205540/http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/05/18/Taiwan-attends-WHA-as-observer/UPI-68411242697115/| archive-date=26 April 2016| url-status=live}}

Its participation with WHO ended due to diplomatic pressure from the PRC following the election in 2016 that brought the independence-minded Democratic Progressive Party back into power.{{cite web|title=Japan PM Abe calls for Taiwan's participation in WHO as coronavirus spreads|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/01/cff2af87f289-abe-calls-for-taiwans-participation-in-who-as-coronavirus-spreads.html|website=english.kyodonews.net|agency=Kyodo News|access-date=30 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130134249/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/01/cff2af87f289-abe-calls-for-taiwans-participation-in-who-as-coronavirus-spreads.html|archive-date=30 January 2020|url-status=live}}

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.{{cite news|title=China warns Taiwan of continued lockout from WHO assembly|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/china-warns-taiwan-of-continued-lockout-from-who-assembly/2017/05/21/0a486d66-3e58-11e7-b29f-f40ffced2ddb_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=26 May 2017|date=21 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521203309/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/china-warns-taiwan-of-continued-lockout-from-who-assembly/2017/05/21/0a486d66-3e58-11e7-b29f-f40ffced2ddb_story.html|archive-date=21 May 2017|url-status=dead}} According to Taiwanese publication The News Lens, on multiple occasions Taiwanese journalists have been denied access to report on the assembly.{{cite web|title=WHO Bows to China Pressure, Contravenes Human Rights in Refusing Taiwan Media|url=https://international.thenewslens.com/article/95982|website=The News Lens|access-date=22 May 2018|date=18 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524003552/https://international.thenewslens.com/article/95982|archive-date=24 May 2018|url-status=live}}

In May 2018, the WHO denied access to its annual assembly by Taiwanese media, reportedly due to demands from the PRC.{{cite web|title=UN: World Health Organization Shuns Taiwan and Its Journalists|url=https://freedomhouse.org/article/un-world-health-organization-shuns-taiwan-and-its-journalists|website=freedomhouse.org|publisher=Freedom House|access-date=30 January 2020|date=16 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130175024/https://freedomhouse.org/article/un-world-health-organization-shuns-taiwan-and-its-journalists|archive-date=30 January 2020|url-status=live}} Later in May 172 members of the United States House of Representatives wrote to the director-general of the World Health Organization to argue for Taiwan's inclusion as an observer at the WHA.{{cite web|title=172 Members Push for Taiwan's Participation at World Health Assembly|url=https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/press-release/172-members-push-for-taiwans-participation-at-world-health-assembly/|website=foreignaffairs.house.gov|access-date=22 May 2018|date=16 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524005152/https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/press-release/172-members-push-for-taiwans-participation-at-world-health-assembly/|archive-date=24 May 2018|url-status=live}} The United States, Japan, Germany, and Australia all support Taiwan's inclusion in WHO.{{cite web|last1=Aspinwall|first1=Nick|title=Taiwan Picks Up International Support After Being Barred from World Health Assembly|url=https://thediplomat.com/2019/05/taiwan-picks-up-international-support-after-being-barred-from-world-health-assembly/|publisher=The Diplomat|access-date=30 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130175019/https://thediplomat.com/2019/05/taiwan-picks-up-international-support-after-being-barred-from-world-health-assembly/|archive-date=30 January 2020|url-status=live}}

Pressure to allow the ROC to participate in WHO increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic with Taiwan's exclusion from emergency meetings concerning the outbreak bringing a rare united front from Taiwan's diverse political parties. Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT, Chinese Nationalist Party), expressed their anger at being excluded arguing that disease respects neither politics nor geography. China once again dismissed concerns over Taiwanese inclusion with the foreign minister claiming that no-one cares more about the health and wellbeing of the Taiwanese people than central government of the PRC.{{cite news|last1=Blanchard|first1=Ben|title=Parties unite over Taiwan's exclusion from WHO anti-virus planning|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-taiwan/parties-unite-over-taiwans-exclusion-from-who-anti-virus-planning-idUSKBN1ZN0QG|work=Reuters|access-date=30 January 2020|date=24 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129133126/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-taiwan/parties-unite-over-taiwans-exclusion-from-who-anti-virus-planning-idUSKBN1ZN0QG|archive-date=29 January 2020|url-status=live}} During the outbreak Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau{{cite web|last1=Everington|first1=Keoni|title=Canada's Trudeau supports Taiwan involvement in WHO|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3867144|work=Taiwan News|date=30 January 2020|access-date=30 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130134607/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3867144|archive-date=30 January 2020|url-status=live}} voiced his support for Taiwan's participation in WHO, as did Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. In January 2020 the European Union, a WHO observer, backed Taiwan's participation in WHO meetings related to the coronavirus pandemic as well as their general participation.{{cite web|last1=Everington|first1=Keoni|title=EU backs Taiwan's inclusion in WHO|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3867764|work=Taiwan News|date=31 January 2020|access-date=31 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131124019/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3867764|archive-date=31 January 2020|url-status=live}}

In a 2020 interview, Assistant Director-General Bruce Aylward appeared to dodge a question from RTHK reporter Yvonne Tong about Taiwan's response to the pandemic and inclusion in the WHO, blaming internet connection issues.{{cite web|last=Griffiths|first=James|title=Taiwan's coronavirus response is among the best globally|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/04/asia/taiwan-coronavirus-response-who-intl-hnk/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=5 April 2020|access-date=6 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405222935/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/04/asia/taiwan-coronavirus-response-who-intl-hnk/index.html|archive-date=5 April 2020|url-status=live}} When the video chat was restarted, he was asked another question about Taiwan. He responded by indicating that they had already discussed China and formally ended the interview.{{cite web|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2020/03/29/video-top-doctor-bruce-aylward-pretends-not-hear-journalists-taiwan-questions-ends-video-call/|title=Video: Top WHO doctor Bruce Aylward pretends not to hear journalist's Taiwan questions, ends video call|last1=Grundy|first1=Tom|website=www.hongkongfp.com|publisher=Hong Kong Free Press|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200328170545/https://www.hongkongfp.com/2020/03/29/video-top-doctor-bruce-aylward-pretends-not-hear-journalists-taiwan-questions-ends-video-call/|archive-date=28 March 2020|access-date=28 March 2020}} This incident led to accusations about the PRC's political influence over the international organization.{{Cite web|date=28 March 2020|author=Yvonne Tong|title=The Pulse: Coronavirus situations in New York city, London and Lombardy, Italy & interview with WHO Bruce Aylward|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLvg0KnTKhU?t=994| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328175232/https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=RLvg0KnTKhU&t=1193&app=desktop| archive-date=28 March 2020|url-status=dead|access-date=29 March 2020|website=YouTube|publisher=RTHK VNEWS|at=16:35 to 20:59}} Alt URL{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/who-china-taiwan-interview|title=WHO accused of 'carrying China's water' after official refuses to acknowledge Taiwan during bizarre interview|last=Wulfsohn|first=Joseph|date=28 March 2020|website=Fox News|others=Gordon G. Chang|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405065616/https://www.foxnews.com/media/who-china-taiwan-interview|archive-date=5 April 2020|quote=Aylward's behavior reminds us that either we remove #China's pernicious influence in multilateral institutions like the #WorldHealthOrganization or the world's free states defund them and start over.}}

Taiwan's effective response to the 2019–20 COVID-19 pandemic has bolstered its case for WHO membership. Taiwan's response to the outbreak has been praised by a number of experts.{{cite web|last1=Sui|first1=Cindy|title=Taiwan's coronavirus success bolsters case for joining WHO, experts say|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/taiwan-s-coronavirus-success-bolsters-case-joining-who-experts-say-n1179196|website=NBC News|date=9 April 2020|publisher=NBC|access-date=14 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414110837/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/taiwan-s-coronavirus-success-bolsters-case-joining-who-experts-say-n1179196|archive-date=14 April 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Natalie|title=Taiwan's WHO Ambitions Get Boost from Coronavirus Success|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/east-asia-pacific_taiwans-who-ambitions-get-boost-coronavirus-success/6187480.html|website=Voice of America|date=13 April 2020|publisher=VOA|access-date=14 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414203246/https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/taiwans-who-ambitions-get-boost-coronavirus-success|archive-date=14 April 2020|url-status=live}} In early May 2020, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters expressed support for the ROC's bid to rejoin the WHO during a media conference.{{cite news|last1=McKay|first1=Ben|last2=Cooke|first2=Henry|title=Covid-19: Winston Peters 'personally' supports Taiwan rejoining WHO|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300005524/covid19-winston-peters-personally-supports-taiwan-rejoining-who|access-date=7 May 2020|work=Stuff|date=5 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505121807/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300005524/covid19-winston-peters-personally-supports-taiwan-rejoining-who|archive-date=5 May 2020}}{{cite news|last1=Everington|first1=Keoni|title=NZ foreign minister backs Taiwan's entry into WHO, bucks Beijing's bullying|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3928999|access-date=7 May 2020|work=Taiwan News|date=5 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507012203/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3928999|archive-date=7 May 2020}} The New Zealand Government subsequently supporting Taiwan's bid to join the WHO, putting NZ alongside Australia and the United States who have taken similar positions.{{cite news|last1=Sachdeva|first1=Sam|title=NZ formally backs WHO role for Taiwan|url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/05/07/1161574/chinese-embassy-hits-backs-at-peters-over-taiwan-remarks|access-date=7 May 2020|work=Newsroom|date=7 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507055347/https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/05/07/1161574/chinese-embassy-hits-backs-at-peters-over-taiwan-remarks|archive-date=7 May 2020}}{{cite news|last1=Walls|first1=Jason|title=Foreign Minister Winston Peters tells China's NZ Ambassador to 'listen to your master' after criticism|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12330368|access-date=7 May 2020|work=New Zealand Herald|date=7 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507060437/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12330368|archive-date=7 May 2020}}

On 9 May, Congressmen Eliot Engel, the Democratic chairman of the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Michael McCaul, the House Committee's ranking Republican member, Senator Jim Risch, the Republican chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and Senator Bob Menendez, the Senate Committee's ranking Democratic member, submitted a joint letter to nearly 60 "like-minded" countries including Canada, Thailand, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Australia, urging them to support ROC's participation in the World Health Organization.{{cite news|last1=Zengerle|first1=Patricia|title=U.S. lawmakers urge support for Taiwan at WHO, as U.S. criticizes China|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-taiwan/us-lawmakers-urge-support-for-taiwan-at-who-as-us-criticizes-china-idUSKBN22L00T|access-date=9 May 2020|work=Reuters|date=9 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509090143/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-taiwan/us-lawmakers-urge-support-for-taiwan-at-who-as-us-criticizes-china-idUSKBN22L00T|archive-date=9 May 2020}}{{cite news|last1=Regencia|first1=Ted|last2=Pietromarchi|first2=Virginia|last3=Mohamed|first3=Hamza|title=Number of global coronavirus cases passes 4 million: Live updates|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/japan-backs-coronavirus-drug-moscow-lockdown-live-updates-200508232257831.html|access-date=9 May 2020|work=Al Jazeera|date=9 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510002859/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/japan-backs-coronavirus-drug-moscow-lockdown-live-updates-200508232257831.html|archive-date=10 May 2020}}

In November 2020, the word "Taiwan" was blocked in comments on a livestream on the WHO's Facebook page.{{Cite web|author=|date=12 November 2020|title='Taiwan' Blocked in WHO Facebook Video|url=https://international.thenewslens.com/article/143200|access-date=15 November 2020|website=The News Lens International Edition|language=en|archive-date=14 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114051205/https://international.thenewslens.com/article/143200|url-status=live}}

On 14 April 2020, United States president Donald Trump said that he would halt United States funding to the WHO while reviewing its role in "severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus." World leaders and health experts largely condemned President Trump's announcement, which came amid criticism of his response to the outbreak in the United States. WHO called the announcement "regrettable" and defended its actions in alerting the world to the emergence of COVID-19. On 7 July 2020, President Trump formally notified the UN of his intent to withdraw the United States from the WHO. 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. On 20 January 2025, an executive order was signed by a re-inaugurated Trump, formally notifying the United Nations of his intent to withdraw the United States from the WHO for a second time.{{Cite web|title=WHO comments on United States' announcement of intent to withdraw|url=https://www.who.int/news/item/21-01-2025-who-comments-on-united-states--announcement-of-intent-to-withdraw|access-date=2025-01-23|website=www.who.int|language=en}}

File:World Health Organisation headquarters, Geneva, north and west sides.jpg

The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the legislative and supreme body of the WHO. Based in Geneva, it typically meets yearly in May. It appoints the director-general every five years and votes on matters of policy and finance of WHO, including the proposed budget. It also reviews reports of the executive board and decides whether there are areas of work requiring further examination.

The Assembly elects 34 members, technically qualified in the field of health, to the executive board for three-year terms. The main functions of the board are to carry out the decisions and policies of the Assembly, to advise it, and to facilitate its work.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/governance/en/index.html|title=Governance|publisher=World Health Organization|date=23 April 2020|access-date=23 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213212358/http://www.who.int/governance/en/index.html|archive-date=13 February 2014|url-status=live}} As of June 2023, the chair of the executive board is Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari of Qatar.{{Cite web|url=https://apps.who.int/gb/gov/en/chair-and-officers-of-the-executive-board_en.html|title=WHO: Chairman and Officers of the Executive Board|publisher=World Health Organization|date=22 May 2020|access-date=22 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429092106/https://apps.who.int/gb/gov/en/chairman-and-officers-of-the-executive-board_en.html|archive-date=29 April 2020|url-status=live}}

{{main|Director-General of the World Health Organization}}

The head of the organization is the director-general, elected by the World Health Assembly.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/governance/en/|title=WHO Governance|publisher=WHO|access-date=5 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322151750/https://www.who.int/governance/en/|archive-date=22 March 2020|url-status=live}} The term lasts for five years, and directors-general are typically appointed in May, when the Assembly meets. The current director-general is Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was appointed on 1 July 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/director-general-elect/en/|title=World Health Assembly elects Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as new WHO Director-General|publisher=WHO|access-date=27 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525003359/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/director-general-elect/en/|archive-date=25 May 2017|url-status=live}}

Apart from regional, country, and liaison offices, the World Health Assembly has also established other institutions for promoting and carrying on research.See, generally, Article 18 of the Constitution of the World Health Organization.

• International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC){{cite book|chapter=WHA18.44 Establishment of an International Agency for Research on Cancer|author=World Health Assembly|author-link=World Health Assembly|title=Eighteenth World Health Assembly, Geneva, 4–21 May 1965: part I: resolutions and decisions: annexes|publisher=World Health Organization|year=1965|pages=26–30|hdl=10665/85780|isbn=978-92-4-160143-6}}

The WHO employs 7,000 people in 149 countries and regions to carry out its principles.{{cite web|title=Employment: who we are|url=https://www.who.int/employment/about_who/en/|publisher=WHO|access-date=19 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123070135/http://www.who.int/employment/about_who/en/|archive-date=23 January 2017|url-status=live}} In support of the principle of a tobacco-free work environment, the WHO does not recruit cigarette smokers.{{cite web|title=Employment: who we need|url=https://www.who.int/careers/who-we-need/en/|publisher=WHO|access-date=19 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421003623/https://www.who.int/careers/who-we-need/en/|archive-date=21 April 2020|url-status=dead}} The organization has previously instigated the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2003.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/fctc/en/index.html|title=Framework Convention on Tobacco Control|publisher=WHO|access-date=5 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127185036/http://www.who.int/fctc/en/index.html|archive-date=27 January 2012|url-status=dead}}

The WHO operates "Goodwill Ambassadors"; members of the arts, sports, or other fields of public life aimed at drawing attention to the WHO's initiatives and projects. There are currently five Goodwill Ambassadors (Jet Li, Nancy Brinker, Peng Liyuan, Yohei Sasakawa and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra) and a further ambassador associated with a partnership project (Craig David).{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/goodwill_ambassadors/en/|title=Goodwill Ambassador|publisher=WHO|access-date=5 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419142607/http://www.who.int/goodwill_ambassadors/en/|archive-date=19 April 2018|url-status=dead}}

On 21 October 2017, the director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appointed the then Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe as a WHO Goodwill Ambassador to help promote the fight against non-communicable diseases. The appointment address praised Mugabe for his commitment to public health in Zimbabwe. 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41702662|title=Robert Mugabe's WHO appointment condemned as 'an insult'|date=21 October 2017|publisher=BBC News|access-date=22 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021212408/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41702662|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://theglobeandmail.com/news/world/shock-as-zimbabwes-mugabe-named-who-goodwill-ambassador/article36681266/|title=WHO chief 'rethinking' appointment of Zimbabwe's Mugabe as 'goodwill ambassador' after widespread condemnation|work=The Globe and Mail|date=21 October 2017|agency=Associated Press|access-date=21 October 2017|archive-date=27 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827191716/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/shock-as-zimbabwes-mugabe-named-who-goodwill-ambassador/article36681266/|url-status=live}} Due to the outcry, the following day the appointment was revoked.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41713919|title=WHO cancels Robert Mugabe goodwill ambassador role|publisher=BBC News|date=22 October 2017|access-date=22 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022122743/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41713919|archive-date=22 October 2017|url-status=live}}

Since the beginning,{{Cite book|last1=Gunn|first1=S. William A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t1exE1cfKXIC&pg=PA137|title=Concepts and Practice of Humanitarian Medicine|last2=Masellis|first2=Michele|date=23 October 2007|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-0-387-72264-1|page=137|language=en}} the WHO has had the Medical Society of the World Health Organization. It has conducted lectures by noted researchers and published findings, recommendations.{{Cite book|last1=Pater|first1=Alan F.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7YXBCeG5x3cC&q=%22medical+society%22|title=What They Said in 1975: The Yearbook of World Opinion|last2=Pater|first2=R. Jason|date=1976|publisher=Monitor Book Company|isbn=978-0-9600252-8-2|page=401|language=en}}{{Cite journal|last1=Birn|first1=Anne-Emanuelle|last2=Krementsov|first2=Nikolai|date=24 October 2018|title='Socialising' primary care? The Soviet Union, WHO and the 1978 Alma-Ata Conference|journal=BMJ Global Health|volume=3|issue=Suppl 3|pages=e000992|doi=10.1136/bmjgh-2018-000992|issn=2059-7908|pmc=6242026|pmid=30498594}}{{Cite book|last=Corning|first=Mary E.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R9m6AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA375|title=A Review of the United States Role in International Biomedical Research and Communications: International Health and Foreign Policy|date=1980|publisher=U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine|page=375|language=en}}{{Cite book|last=Assembly|first=United States Delegation to the World Health|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0yMgAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA69|title=Report of the United States Delegation to the World Health Assembly|date=1979|publisher=U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service.|language=en|access-date=13 January 2021|archive-date=16 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816053624/https://books.google.com/books?id=0yMgAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA69#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qaMoAQAAMAAJ&q=%22world+health+organization+medical+society%22|title=A Centenary History: A History of the City and Guilds College, 1885 to 1985|date=1985|publisher=City and Guilds College of Imperial College of Science and Technology|isbn=978-0-85287-152-2|page=268|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Monique Bégin {{!}} The Canadian Encyclopedia|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/monique-begin|access-date=13 January 2021|website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca|archive-date=12 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112181241/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/monique-begin|url-status=live}}{{Cite journal|last=Imobersteg|first=U.|date=March 1991|title=Chemical Weapons: The United Nations Team of Experts in the Iran-Iraq War|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/prehospital-and-disaster-medicine/article/abs/chemical-weapons-the-united-nations-team-of-experts-in-the-iraniraq-war/AE0A8D14FAA1A47B3B1B3F33868BAA25|journal=Prehospital and Disaster Medicine|language=en|volume=6|issue=1|pages=41–42|doi=10.1017/S1049023X00028053|s2cid=155244274|issn=1945-1938|access-date=13 January 2021|archive-date=4 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104133715/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/prehospital-and-disaster-medicine/article/abs/chemical-weapons-the-united-nations-team-of-experts-in-the-iraniraq-war/AE0A8D14FAA1A47B3B1B3F33868BAA25|url-status=live}}{{Cite journal|last=Gunn|first=S. W. A.|date=1 September 1995|title=Totemic medicine among the American Indians of the Northwest coast|url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2F0738-3991%2895%2900751-K|journal=Patient Education and Counseling|series=Proceedings of the Patient Education 2000 Congress|language=en|volume=26|issue=1|pages=159–167|doi=10.1016/0738-3991(95)00751-K|pmid=7494716|issn=0738-3991|access-date=22 March 2021|archive-date=16 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816053629/https://www.sciencedirect.com/unsupported_browser|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}{{Excessive citations inline|date=August 2021}} The founder, Dr. S. William A. GunnLeo Klein, [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297386694_Professor_SWA_GUNN_MD_MS_FRCSC_FRCSI_Hon_DSc_Hon_dr_h_c_A_90TH_BIRTHDAY_TRIBUTEMil. Professor S.W.A. Gunn, MD, MS, FRCSC, FRCSI (Hon), DSc (Hon), dr. h. c. A 90th Birthday Tribute] Med. Sci. Lett. (Voj. Zdrav. Listy) 2016, vol. 85(1), p. 44-46. ISSN 0372-7025 [http://www.mmsl.cz/pdfs/mms/2016/01/07.pdf PDF] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114090111/http://www.mmsl.cz/pdfs/mms/2016/01/07.pdf|date=14 January 2021}} has been its president.{{Cite book|last1=Ho|first1=Kendall|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2NAnplcnjNYC&pg=PR6|title=Technology Enabled Knowledge Translation for eHealth: Principles and Practice|last2=Jarvis-Selinger|first2=Sandra|last3=Lauscher|first3=Helen Novak|last4=Cordeiro|first4=Jennifer|last5=Scott|first5=Richard|date=12 June 2012|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-1-4614-3495-5|page=6|language=en|access-date=13 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816053629/https://books.google.com/books?id=2NAnplcnjNYC&pg=PR6#v=onepage&q&f=false|archive-date=16 August 2024|url-status=live}}

[https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/bfm%253A978-1-4614-3495-5%252F1.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417170450/https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/bfm%253A978-1-4614-3495-5%252F1.pdf|title=Copy|date=17 April 2021}}. In 1983, Murray Eden was awarded the WHO Medical Society medal, for his work as consultant on research and development for WHO's director-general.{{Cite web|title=Remembering Murray Eden, 1920–2020 {{!}} MIT EECS|url=https://www.eecs.mit.edu/news-events/media/remembering-murray-eden-1920-2020|access-date=13 January 2021|website=www.eecs.mit.edu|archive-date=15 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115152905/https://www.eecs.mit.edu/news-events/media/remembering-murray-eden-1920-2020|url-status=dead}}

{{update| section|date=November 2024}}

The WHO is financed by contributions from member states and outside donors. In 2020–21, the largest contributors were the Germany, Gates Foundation, United States, United Kingdom and European Commission.{{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/about/funding/contributors/usa|title=United States of America|publisher=WHO|access-date=26 June 2023|archive-date=26 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626115835/https://www.who.int/about/funding/contributors/usa|url-status=live}} The WHO Executive Board formed a Working Group on Sustainable Financing in 2021, charged to rethink WHO's funding strategy and present recommendations.{{cite journal|last1=Gostin|first1=Lawrence O.|last2=Klock|first2=Kevin A.|last3=Clark|first3=Helen|last4=Diop|first4=Fatimatou Zahra|last5=Jayasuriya|first5=Dayanath|last6=Mahmood|first6=Jemilah|last7=Waris|first7=Attiya|title=Financing the future of WHO|journal=The Lancet|date=23 March 2022|volume=399|issue=10334|pages=1445–1447|doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00533-5|pmid=35338858|pmc=8942479}} Its recommendations were adopted by the 2022 World Health Assembly,{{Cite web|title=World Health Assembly agrees historic decision to sustainably finance WHO|url=https://www.who.int/news/item/24-05-2022-world-health-assembly-agrees-historic-decision-to-sustainably-finance-who|access-date=14 July 2022|website=World Health Organization|language=en|archive-date=14 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714184006/https://www.who.int/news/item/24-05-2022-world-health-assembly-agrees-historic-decision-to-sustainably-finance-who|url-status=live}} the key one being to raise compulsory member dues to a level equal to 50% of WHO's 2022–2023 base budget by the end of the 2020s.{{Cite web|last1=Klock|first1=Kevin A.|last2=Gostin|first2=Lawrence O.|last3=Fitch|first3=Alexandra|last4=Wetter|first4=Sarah|last5=Perlman|first5=Vanessa S.|date=June 21, 2023|title=5 Ways to Buttress WHO's Financing Ambition|url=https://www.devex.com/news/opinion-5-ways-to-buttress-who-s-financing-ambition-105731|website=Devex|access-date=21 June 2023|archive-date=21 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621225523/https://www.devex.com/news/opinion-5-ways-to-buttress-who-s-financing-ambition-105731|url-status=live}}

• Assessed contributions are the dues the Member States pay depending on the states' wealth and population
• Voluntary contributions specified are funds for specific programme areas provided by the Member States or other partners
• Core voluntary contributions are funds for flexible uses provided by the Member States or other partners

At the beginning of the 21st century, the WHO's work involved increasing collaboration with external bodies.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/civilsociety/documents/en/RevreportE.pdf|title=WHO's interactions with Civil Society and Nongovernmental Organizations|year=2002|website=WHO/CSI/2002/WP6|publisher=WHO|page=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104615/http://www.who.int/civilsociety/documents/en/RevreportE.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|access-date=31 March 2012}} {{As of|2002}}, a total of 473 nongovernmental organizations (NGO) had some form of partnership with WHO. There were 189 partnerships with international NGOs in formal "official relations" – the rest being considered informal in character.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/civilsociety/documents/en/RevreportE.pdf|title=WHO's interactions with Civil Society and Nongovernmental Organizations|year=2002|website=WHO/CSI/2002/WP6|publisher=WHO|page=10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104615/http://www.who.int/civilsociety/documents/en/RevreportE.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|access-date=31 March 2012}} Partners include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation{{cite web|url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/livingproofproject/Pages/gavi.aspx|title=Living Proof Project: Partner Profile|publisher=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation|access-date=31 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223034039/http://www.gatesfoundation.org/livingproofproject/Pages/gavi.aspx|archive-date=23 December 2011|url-status=dead}} and the Rockefeller Foundation.{{cite web|url=http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/what-we-do/current-work/transforming-health-systems/grants-grantees/world-health-oganizations-alliance|title=World Health Organization's Alliance for Health Systems and Policy Research|publisher=Rockefeller Foundation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710062352/https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/what-we-do/current-work/transforming-health-systems/grants-grantees/world-health-oganizations-alliance|archive-date=10 July 2012|access-date=31 March 2012}}

{{As of|2012}}, the largest annual assessed contributions from member states came from the United States ($110 million), Japan ($58 million), Germany ($37 million), United Kingdom ($31 million) and France ($31 million).{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/about/resources_planning/2012_2013_AC_summary.pdf|title=Assessed Contributions payable by Member States and Associate Members – 2012–2013|publisher=WHO|access-date=26 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617070356/http://www.who.int/about/resources_planning/2012_2013_AC_summary.pdf|archive-date=17 June 2012|url-status=live}} The combined 2012–2013 budget proposed a total expenditure of $3,959 million, of which $944 million (24%) will come from assessed contributions. This represented a significant fall in outlay compared to the previous 2009–2010 budget, adjusting to take account of previous underspends. Assessed contributions were kept the same. Voluntary contributions will account for $3,015 million (76%), of which $800 million is regarded as highly or moderately flexible funding, with the remainder tied to particular programmes or objectives.{{cite web|url=http://whqlibdoc.who.int/pb/2012-2013/PB_2012%E2%80%932013_eng.pdf|title=Programme Budget, 2012–2013|publisher=WHO|pages=10, 15–16|access-date=26 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617074331/http://whqlibdoc.who.int/pb/2012-2013/PB_2012%E2%80%932013_eng.pdf|archive-date=17 June 2012|url-status=dead}}

According to The Associated Press, the WHO routinely spends about $200 million a year on travel expenses, more than it spends to tackle mental health problems, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. In 2016, Margaret Chan, director-general of WHO from January 2007 to June 2017,{{cite web|title=World Health Assembly elects Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as new WHO Director-General|url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/director-general-elect/en/|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=25 May 2017|location=Geneva|date=23 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525003359/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/director-general-elect/en/|archive-date=25 May 2017|url-status=live}} stayed in a $1000-per-night hotel room while visiting West Africa.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/1cf4791dc5c14b9299e0f532c75f63b2/AP-Exclusive:-Health-agency-spends-more-on-travel-than-AIDS|title=Health agency spends more on travel than AIDS|first=Maria|last=Cheng|date=22 May 2017|access-date=27 June 2017|work=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610145023/https://www.apnews.com/1cf4791dc5c14b9299e0f532c75f63b2/AP-Exclusive:-Health-agency-spends-more-on-travel-than-AIDS|archive-date=10 June 2017|url-status=live}}

The biggest contributor used to be the United States, which gives over $400 million annually.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/world/coronavirus-news.html|title=Global Criticism for Trump's W.H.O. Cuts Over Coronavirus Response: Live Updates|date=15 April 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=15 April 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415182639/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/world/coronavirus-news.html|archive-date=15 April 2020|url-status=live}} U.S. contributions to the WHO are funded through the U.S. State Department's account for Contributions to International Organizations (CIO). In April 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump, with backing by members of his party,{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-congress-idUSKBN21Y39W|title=Backing Trump, U.S. Republicans call for WHO chief to resign|newspaper=Reuters|date=16 April 2020|access-date=16 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505175849/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-congress-idUSKBN21Y39W|archive-date=5 May 2020|url-status=live}} announced that his administration would halt funding to the WHO.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52289056|title=US to halt funding to WHO over coronavirus|work=BBC News|date=15 April 2020|access-date=15 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417165559/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52289056|archive-date=17 April 2020|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/14/coronavirus-trump-halts-funding-to-world-health-organization|title=Trump halts World Health Organization funding over coronavirus 'failure'|first=David|last=Smith|newspaper=The Guardian|date=15 April 2020|access-date=15 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511150234/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/14/coronavirus-trump-halts-funding-to-world-health-organization|archive-date=11 May 2020|url-status=live}} The announcement was immediately criticized by world leaders including António Guterres, the secretary general of the United Nations; Heiko Maas, the German foreign minister; and Moussa Faki Mahamat, African Union chairman. 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.{{Cite news|last1=Guarascio|first1=Francesco|last2=Farge|first2=Emma|date=26 January 2022|title=Exclusive: U.S. funding to WHO fell by 25% during pandemic|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/exclusive-us-funding-who-fell-by-25-during-pandemic-document-2022-01-25/|access-date=27 January 2022|archive-date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127010037/https://www.reuters.com/world/exclusive-us-funding-who-fell-by-25-during-pandemic-document-2022-01-25/|url-status=live}}

On 16 May 2020, the Trump Administration agreed to pay up to what China pays in assessed contributions, which is less than about one-tenth of its previous funding. Biennium 2018–2019 China paid in assessed contributions US$75,796K, in specified voluntary contributions US$10,184K, for a total US$85,980K.{{cite news|title=Trump administration to restore partial funding to World Health Organization: Fox News|date=16 May 2020|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-who/trump-administration-to-restore-partial-funding-to-world-health-organization-fox-news-idUSKBN22S057|access-date=16 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516052110/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-who/trump-administration-to-restore-partial-funding-to-world-health-organization-fox-news-idUSKBN22S057|archive-date=16 May 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=By contributor|publisher=WHO|url=http://open.who.int/2018-19/contributors/contributor?name=China|access-date=16 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625180838/https://open.who.int/2018-19/contributors/contributor?name=China|archive-date=25 June 2020|url-status=live}}

{{Main|WHO Public Health Prizes and Awards}}

World Health Organization Prizes and Awards are given to recognize major achievements in public health. The candidates are nominated and recommended by each prize and award selection panel. The WHO Executive Board selects the winners, which are presented during the World Health Assembly.{{Cite web|title=WHO {{!}} Public health prizes and awards|url=https://apps.who.int/gb/awards/|access-date=1 December 2022|website=apps.who.int|archive-date=1 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201111422/https://apps.who.int/gb/awards/|url-status=live}}

The seat of the organization is in Geneva, Switzerland. It was designed by Swiss architect Jean Tschumi and inaugurated in 1966.{{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/about/structure/modernizing-who-headquarters.pdf|title=Modernizing the WHO Headquarters in Geneva|website=who.int|access-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412085027/https://www.who.int/about/structure/modernizing-who-headquarters.pdf|archive-date=12 April 2019|url-status=live}} In 2017, the organization launched an international competition to redesign and extend its headquarters.{{Cite news|url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/archive/design-contest-opens-for-world-health-organisation-headquarters|title=Design contest opens for World Health Organisation headquarters|work=Architects Journal|access-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213211145/https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/home/design-contest-opens-for-world-health-organisation-headquarters/8664906.article|archive-date=13 December 2017|url-status=live}}

File:Stairwell in World Health Organization headquarters, Geneva, 1969.jpg|Stairwell, 1969

File:Patio of World Health Organization headquarters building, 1969.jpg|Internal courtyard, 1969

File:Reflecting pool and women walking at World Health Organization, Geneva, 1969.jpg|Reflecting pool, 1969

File:Women sunning selves at Geneva headquarters of World Health Organization, 1969.jpg|Exterior, 1969

File:WHO HQ main building, Geneva from Southwest.JPG|From southwest, 2013

File:The entrance hall WHO HQ, Geneva.JPG|Entrance hall, 2013

File:World Health Organization Executive Board Room.JPG|Main conference room, 2013

The World Health Organization operates 150 country offices in six different regions.{{cite web|date=29 March 2012|title=WHO its people and offices|url=https://www.who.int/about/structure/en/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127084215/http://www.who.int/about/structure/en/index.html|archive-date=27 January 2012|access-date=9 February 2012|publisher=WHO}} It also operates several liaison offices, including those with the European Union, United Nations and a single office covering the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. It also operates the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, and the WHO Centre for Health Development in Kobe, Japan.{{cite web|title=WHO liaison and other offices|url=https://www.who.int/about/who_offices/en/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204020414/http://www.who.int/about/who_offices/en/index.html|archive-date=4 February 2012|access-date=29 March 2012|publisher=WHO}} Additional offices include those in Pristina; the West Bank and Gaza; the US-Mexico Border Field Office in El Paso; the Office of the Caribbean Program Coordination in Barbados; and the Northern Micronesia office.{{cite web|title=Detailed information of WHO offices in countries, territories and areas|url=https://www.who.int/countryfocus/country_offices/details/en/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617065946/http://www.who.int/countryfocus/country_offices/details/en/index.html|archive-date=17 June 2012|access-date=29 March 2012|publisher=WHO}} There will generally be one WHO country office in the capital, occasionally accompanied by satellite-offices in the provinces or sub-regions of the country in question.

The country office is headed by a WHO Representative (WR). {{As of|2010}}, 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. WHO Representatives in the Region termed the Americas are referred to as PAHO/WHO Representatives. In Europe, WHO Representatives also serve as head of the country office, and are nationals except for Serbia; there are also heads of the country office in Albania, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. The WR is a member of the UN system country team which is coordinated by the UN System Resident Coordinator.

The country office consists of the WR, and several health and other experts, both foreign and local, as well as the necessary support staff. The main functions of WHO country offices include being the primary adviser of that country's government in matters of health and pharmaceutical policies.{{cite web|title=WHO Country Office (Hungary)|url=http://www.euro.who.int/en/where-we-work/member-states/hungary/who-country-office|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617075611/http://www.euro.who.int/en/where-we-work/member-states/hungary/who-country-office|archive-date=17 June 2012|access-date=31 March 2012|publisher=WHO EURO}}

[[File:World Health Organisation regional offices.svg|thumb|Map of the WHO's regional offices and their respective operating regions:

{{legend|#80b0e8|Africa; HQ: Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo}}

{{legend|#7ae6ce|Western Pacific; HQ: Manila, Philippines}}

{{legend|#e7e763|Eastern Mediterranean; HQ: Cairo, Egypt}}

{{legend|#9de678|South East Asia; HQ: New Delhi, India}}

{{legend|#e078e6|Europe; HQ: Copenhagen, Denmark}}

{{legend|#f67878|Americas; HQ: Washington, D.C., US}}

]]

The regional divisions of WHO were created between 1949 and 1952, following the model of the pre-existing Pan American Health Organization,{{Cite journal|last=Hanrieder|first=Tine|date=March 2015|title=The path-dependent design of international organizations: Federalism in the World Health Organization|url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1354066114530011|journal=European Journal of International Relations|language=en|volume=21|issue=1|pages=215–239|doi=10.1177/1354066114530011|issn=1354-0661|hdl=10419/190758|hdl-access=free|access-date=11 July 2024|archive-date=28 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428000054/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1354066114530011|url-status=live}} 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". 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.{{harvnb|Burci|Vignes|2004|pages=53–57}}.

Each region has a regional committee, which generally meets once a year, normally in the autumn. Representatives attend from each member or associative member in each region, including those states that are not full members. For example, Palestine attends meetings of the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office. Each region also has a regional office. Each regional office is headed by a director, who is elected by the Regional Committee. The board must approve such appointments, although as of 2004, it had never over-ruled the preference of a regional committee. The exact role of the board in the process has been a subject of debate, but the practical effect has always been small. Since 1999, regional directors serve for a once-renewable five-year term, and typically take their position on 1 February.{{cite web|title=A year of change: Reports of the Executive Board on its 102nd and 103rd sessions|url=http://apps.who.int/gb/archive/pdf_files/WHA52/ew2.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011220426/http://apps.who.int/gb/archive/pdf_files/WHA52/ew2.pdf|archive-date=11 October 2017|access-date=11 February 2012|publisher=WHO}}

Each regional committee of the WHO consists of all the Health Department heads, in all the governments of the countries that constitute the Region. 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. The regional committee also serves as a progress review board for the actions of WHO within the Region.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}} The regional director is effectively the head of WHO for his or her region. The RD manages and/or supervises a staff of health and other experts at the regional offices and in specialized centres. The RD is also the direct supervising authority – concomitantly with the WHO Director-General – of all the heads of WHO country offices, known as WHO Representatives, within the region.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

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'. Disease specific programmes such as the smallpox eradication programme{{cite book|last=Henderson|first=D. A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1u7Xw5i7Ky0C|title=Smallpox: The Death of a Disease: The Inside Story of Eradicating a Worldwide Killer|publisher=Prometheus Books|year=2009|isbn=978-1591027225|location=United States|access-date=20 March 2023|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326164801/https://books.google.com/books?id=1u7Xw5i7Ky0C|url-status=live}} or the 1980s Global Programme on AIDS{{Cite journal|last=Hanrieder|first=Tine|date=April 2014|title=Local orders in international organisations: the World Health Organization's global programme on AIDS|journal=Journal of International Relations and Development|language=en|volume=17|issue=2|pages=220–241|doi=10.1057/jird.2013.7|issn=1408-6980|pmc=7140235|pmid=32288632}} were set up with more direct, vertical structures that bypassed the regional offices.

In 2024, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was the organization's major private contributor, funding 10% of its budget.{{Cite web|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/ita/politics/sanit%C3%A0-mondiale_bill-gates-ha-troppa-influenza-sull-oms/46600166|title=Bill Gates ha troppa influenza sull'OMS?|trans-title=Does Bill Gates have an excessive influence on the WHO?|author=Julia Crawford|website=swissinfo.ch|date=11 May 2021|language=it-CH|access-date=29 May 2024|archive-date=16 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816053643/https://www.swissinfo.ch/ita/politica/sanit%c3%a0-mondiale_bill-gates-ha-troppa-influenza-sull-oms/46600166|url-status=live}}

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{{Library resources box}}

• {{Official website}}
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• [https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/international-geneva_covid-19--who-really-calls-the-shots-/46588960 "Covid-19: WHO Really Calls the Shots", video by the Swiss Government Information Service, 2021]

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