WHO Reforms: Time to give the global health body some teeth

Over the last few weeks, several articles have been written on how the WHO has been found wanting during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. There’s no denying that the global health body made some missteps. I myself have written about how it was unbecoming of WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to openly accuse Taiwan – without a shred of evidence – of carrying out a malicious campaign against him. This, when Taiwan has been a role model in tackling Covid-19. Plus, Taiwan’s pitch to join the upcoming World Health Assembly – the decision-making body of the WHO – has become a major talking point this time. Many countries see Taiwan’s exclusion – at the behest of China and its ‘One China’ principle – as fundamentally unjust and frown upon WHO’s inability – or unwillingness – to correct this. 

So yes, the WHO has problems. But that doesn’t mean that we should throw the baby out with the bathwater. We definitely need the WHO, now more than ever. Of course, reforms of the WHO are in order. The global health body is totally dependent for funding on the assessed and voluntary contributions of member states – 15.66% and 35.41% respectively – and therefore will have a natural leaning towards the policies and agendas of the biggest donors. This is not totally conducive to the impartial working of a global health body. Similarly, the WHO has no enforcement power. It cannot penalise any country nor force nations to take its advice. It can only suggest, guide, demonstrate best practices, and furnish the best medical standards based on scientific evidence. It is totally up to the countries to decide whether to use these in the field or not. 

But without the WHO, countries would pretty much do their own thing, set their own health standards – a dangerous trend – and cover up epidemics much more easily. Plus, the moral force behind universal health, of which WHO is the guardian, would be lost. At the moment, the WHO can demonstrate the best medical practices and put moral pressure on countries to follow suit. This is very important as people can then demand the same standards from their own governments. Therefore, sans WHO the world will revert back to health silos, which would be nothing short of catastrophic.

Taken together, we definitely need the WHO. But the global health body also needs to be reformed. For starters, in light of Covid-19, WHO must be provided with some enforcement powers. It should be able to demand access to countries and their healthcare infrastructure. It should also file an annual health compliance report for each member, appropriately adjusted for development status. The WHO can no longer be a soft adviser. It has to be given powers to implement recommendations and name and shame countries that fail to heed. After Covid-19, a country’s international standing, tourism potential, and business and investment worthiness will be determined significantly by its health standards. WHO can emerge as the international certifying body for the health of nations. It’s time to get cracking on WHO reforms.