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Donald Trump's transition team is pushing to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization on the first day of the new administration, according to experts who warn of the “catastrophic” impact it could have on global health.
Members of Trump's team have told experts of their intention to announce their withdrawal from the World Health Organization inauguration of the president-elect on January 20. The move would remove the WHO's biggest source of funding, undermining its ability to respond to public health crises such as the coronavirus pandemic.
“America is leaving a huge gap in health funding and leadership. “I don't see anyone filling the void,” said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health at Georgetown Law, adding that a plan to withdraw “on day one” would be “catastrophic” for global health.
The battle for US relations with the WHO comes after Trump appointed several allies, such as vaccine skeptic Robert F Kennedyin high health activities in the next administration. However, Gostin said he's not sure Trump will prioritize an early resignation like others in his party.
The US is the WHO's one big donorproviding about 16 percent of its funding in 2022-23.
In 2020, Trump began the process of leaving the WHO as Covid-19 spread, accusing the agency of being under Chinese control. But the process was not completed and his successor Joe Biden they started a relationship again and agency on his first day in office in 2021.
Experts have been told that some in Trump's team want to move quickly this time after starting the process early.
Ashish Jha, a former White House Covid response coordinator and dean of the school of public health at Brown University, said the transition team wants to. Trump Resigning on the first day because of the “symbolism” of reversing his campaign on the day of Biden's inauguration.
“There are many people who will be part of the inner circle of the administration who do not trust the WHO and want to symbolically show on day one that they are out,” he said.
He added that some in the group wanted to stay in the organization and pushed to change it, but another group that believed in severing ties was winning the argument.
Bodies like WHO they are key to global cooperation in vaccine development and distribution and other treatments during health emergencies, Jha said.
“If you are not involved in these institutions, you will not have your ears to the ground when the next outbreak occurs,” he warned.
Gostin said that there will be “very young years at the WHO in which it will be difficult to respond to health emergencies and will have to significantly reduce its scientific staff”.
He warned that if the US leaves the WHO, European countries are unlikely to increase funding and China may try to exert more influence. “It would not be a wise move as withdrawing would give up leadership in China,” he said.
The Trump transition team did not specifically comment on the possible withdrawal. A person familiar with the plans told the Financial Times: “Who is the same person we left in the first administration? It looks like we won't care too much about what they say.”
The WHO did not comment. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the board's director general, said this month it was a “different organization” that hoped to work with US policymakers.
“On our part, we are ready to work together,” he said. I believe that US leaders understand that the US cannot be safe unless the rest of the world is safe.