Exit of US from WHO a big blow to global health, warns experts

 A sign of the World Health Organization (WHO) displayed at their headquarters in Geneva on March 13, 2025. [AFP]

The withdrawal of the US  from the World Health Organization (WHO) is a major blow to Kenya and global health systems, experts have warned.

They have also cautioned that the move could weaken disease surveillance, disrupt critical programmes and strain already stretched health systems.

The decision is expected to have far-reaching consequences for global health agencies at a time when donor funding is declining, with countries grappling with multiple public health threats.

Announcing the withdrawal, the US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio attributed the move to failure by WHO to fairly handle Covid-19 pandemic.

The U.S. accused WHO of favouring China during the pandemic and alleged that China’s disinformation about the virus contributed to the global spread of the respiratory disease.

Prior to the official withdrawal on Friday, Donald Trump had earlier threatened to pull the US out of WHO in January 2025, after being sown in.

This was through signing of an executive order that initiated the withdrawal process.

With the directive (signing of executive order), the US halted funding to WHO, withdrew its personnel from the organisation and began shifting activities previously conducted through WHO to direct bilateral engagements with countries and institutions.

This is despite the U.S. being the single largest contributor to WHO’s budget.

In a statement, the US Department of Health and Human Services said that following its exit, the US would only engage with WHO in a limited manner to facilitate the withdrawal process.

However, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus distanced the entity from the U.S. allegations, warning that the move would undermine global health security and leave both the US and the rest of the world more vulnerable to health emergencies.

“The withdrawal is a loss for the United States and for the world. It makes the US less safe and the rest of the world less safe. It is not the right decision,” Tedros said during a press briefing in Geneva.

He noted that WHO plays a central role in global efforts to eliminate HIV/AIDS, reduce maternal mortality, eradicate polio and respond to disease outbreaks.

WHO works worldwide to promote health, keep populations safe and serve the vulnerable, with a mandate to expand universal health coverage, protect people from health emergencies and improve overall well-being, while also supporting research and the approval of medicines and medical commodities.

The Executive Director of the Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN), Allan Maleche, warned that the US withdrawal would have implications for both global and national health programmes.

Maleche said the US is among the WHO’s largest funders, and pulling out would result in cuts to critical programmes, including HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis (TB).

Kenya is among the countries that get more support in running its health activities, in liaison with guidelines set by WHO. The programs include HIV, TB, maternal health, and research.

Maleche explained that the move signals a shift by the US towards bilateral engagements with countries, bypassing globally coordinated systems established by WHO, such as disease surveillance and data-sharing mechanisms.

Kenya signed $2.5 billion agreement with the U.S. government through the G2G funding model.

“This undermines globally agreed systems. Instead of shared standards, you end up with fragmented arrangements driven by individual interests,” Maleche said.

He noted that while other global players, including China, may attempt to fill the funding gap left by the US at WHO, it is unrealistic to expect any single country to replace the scale of US support.

“Those who step in may also pursue health or security agreements that favour their own interests,” observed Maleche.

He added, “The immediate effect of the US withdrawal will be reduced funding for WHO, which could lead to fewer programmes and the merging of departments such as TB and HIV, making it harder for the organisation to operate effectively.” 

Maleche further warned that a weakened WHO would reduce Kenya’s access to global technical expertise, noting that WHO relies on specialised professionals who contribute to the development of national and international health policies.

“If funding is cut, many of these experts risk losing their jobs, which will affect policy development and implementation,” he said.

Additionally, the expert observed that the US is likely to engage the Kenyan government directly through government-to-government arrangements, citing recently signed bilateral funding agreements.

While experts and the global health community have pleaded with the US to reconsider its decision, Maleche said the superpower appears not to bow to pressure.

“The US has strong domestic capacity to run its own health systems, hosts the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, and has the ability to manufacture, market and conduct health research independently,” he said.

Despite this, Maleche acknowledged that the US has been a critical partner in supporting Kenya’s health sector and Africa’s broader health infrastructure, particularly in the fight against HIV, TB and malaria.

He said US support is largely channelled through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), with Kenya being one of the largest beneficiaries, and through the Global Fund, to which the US is the largest contributor.

“PEPFAR and Global Fund initiatives provide more than 60 per cent of funding for HIV, TB and malaria programmes in Kenya and across Africa. These contributions have saved lives, sustained treatment programmes and strengthened healthcare systems,” Maleche said.

“The gains made in the HIV response cannot be downplayed. Lives have been saved, jobs created and health systems strengthened. Reduced funding will pose serious challenges, including to reproductive health services.”

Meanwhile, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Dr Dennis Miskellah, criticised the withdrawal, describing it as ‘disappointing and short-sighted’.

“The world is a global village. Today an outbreak may be in Nairobi, tomorrow it is in America. If a Kenyan is not safe, Americans will not be safe either. By protecting the world, America is ultimately protecting itself,” said Miskellah.

He said that instead of withdrawing, the US should have strengthened global cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“If there were concerns about WHO’s handling of Covid-19, those issues should have been addressed through dialogue. That is how global systems are improved, not through accusations,” he said.

Dr Miskellah warned that weakening WHO would disrupt global disease surveillance and information-sharing systems, increasing the risk of future pandemics.

The medics representative cited Kenya’s role in global health research, including malaria vaccine trials conducted in the country, as evidence of the mutual benefits of international cooperation.

“We receive vaccines and technical support from the US, but Americans also benefit when countries like Kenya report disease outbreaks through WHO systems. WHO guidelines protect everyone, including Americans,” he said.

He further warned of possible job losses and disruptions to programmes, noting that many Kenyan doctors work with WHO in Geneva and in global non-governmental organisations.

“We fear the impact this decision will have on jobs, programmes, NGOs and, most importantly, on patient safety under WHO-supported programmes if funding is withdrawn,” he said.