US exit may hit WHO’s India work

Mumbai: The US withdrawal from the World Health Organization might hurt WHO work in the field of tuberculosis and other immunisation programs in India as financials show India along with a few African countries was the recipient of a bulk of American contribution.

The US is the largest donor to the WHO with a contribution of $400 million in 2018-19. WHO India’s country budget was reported to be a little above $100 million. An official aware of the development of WHO India office said there would be a short-term impact on the finances of the country office.

An email sent to WHO India office remained unanswered. Leena Menghaney, a lawyer with Doctors without Borders, told ET, "I think we need WHO more than before as we get ready to negotiate access of critical drugs and vaccines for Covid-19 for low and middle income countries.”