Editing World Health Organization (section)

==Structure and governance==
The World Health Organization is a member of the [[United Nations Development Group]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===Membership===
[[File:World Health Organization membership status map.svg|thumb|right|Countries by World Health Organization membership status (January 2025): 192 WHO member states, 1 in process of withdrawal (USA), 2 UN observer states (Palestine, Vatican), 3 invited delegations (Jamaica, Taiwan, Samoa){{better source|date=March 2025}}]]

{{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]].<ref name="countries">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="Members+AM">{{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}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="Members+AM" /> The WHO two-year budget for 2022–2023 is paid by its 194 members and 2 associate members.<ref name="Members+AM" /> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="Burci-2004">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 (publication)|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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="exec_order">{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> On 5 February 2025, Argentinian president [[Javier Milei]] announced that [[Argentina]] would also be withdrawing from WHO.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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".<ref name="countries" /> 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.<ref name="Burci-2004" />

====Membership and participation of the Republic of China====
{{Further|China and the United Nations}}
{{Seealso|Cross-Strait relations|Political status of Taiwan}}

The [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] (ROC), whose [[Government of the Republic of China|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 [[China|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 [[Two Chinas|lay claims]] of sovereignty to each other's territory.<ref name="UN_ARES2758XXVI_page1">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

In May 2009, the [[Department of Health (Republic of China)|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.<ref>
{{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}}
</ref> Its participation with WHO ended due to diplomatic pressure from the PRC following the [[2016 Taiwanese presidential election|election in 2016]] that brought the independence-minded [[Democratic Progressive Party]] back into power.<ref name="Kyodo News 2020">{{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 }}</ref>

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 [[World Health Assembly|WHO annual assembly]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> According to Taiwanese publication [[The News Lens]], on multiple occasions Taiwanese journalists have been denied access to report on the assembly.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In May 2018, the WHO denied access to its annual assembly by Taiwanese media, reportedly due to demands from the PRC.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The United States, Japan, Germany, and Australia all support Taiwan's inclusion in WHO.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> During the outbreak Canadian Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]]<ref>{{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 }}</ref> voiced his support for Taiwan's participation in WHO, as did Japanese Prime Minister [[Shinzo Abe]].<ref name="Kyodo News 2020" /> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> This incident led to accusations about the PRC's political influence over the international organization.<ref>{{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}} [[iarchive:thepulsecoronavirussituationsinnewyorkcitylondonandlombardyitalyinterviewwithwhob|Alt URL]]</ref><ref>{{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.}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> In early May 2020, [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand)|New Zealand Foreign Minister]] [[Winston Peters]] expressed support for the ROC's bid to rejoin the WHO during a media conference.<ref>{{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 (website)|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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 (website)|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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

On 9 May, Congressmen [[Eliot Engel]], the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] chairman of the [[United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs]], [[Michael McCaul]], the House Committee's ranking [[Republican Party (United States)|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 Media Network|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}}</ref>

In November 2020, the word "Taiwan" was blocked in comments on a livestream on the WHO's [[Facebook]] page.<ref>{{Cite web|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|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}}</ref>

==== Membership and participation of the United States ====
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."<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=":1" /> WHO called the announcement "regrettable" and defended its actions in alerting the world to the emergence of COVID-19.<ref name=":2" /> On 7 July 2020, President Trump formally notified the UN of his intent to withdraw the United States from the WHO.<ref name=":3" /> 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.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /> On 20 January 2025, an [[Withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization|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.<ref name="exec_order" /><ref>{{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}}</ref>

===World Health Assembly and Executive Board===
[[File:World Health Organisation headquarters, Geneva, north and west sides.jpg|thumb|WHO headquarters in Geneva]]
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.<ref name="governance">{{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 }}</ref> As of June 2023, the chair of the executive board is Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari of Qatar.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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

The head of the organization is the director-general, elected by the [[World Health Assembly]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===Global institutions===
Apart from regional, country, and liaison offices, the [[World Health Assembly]] has also established other institutions for promoting and carrying on research.<ref>See, ''generally'', Article 18 of the Constitution of the World Health Organization.</ref>
* [[International Agency for Research on Cancer]] (IARC)<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

=== Personnel ===
The WHO employs 7,000 people in 149 countries and regions to carry out its principles.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> In support of the principle of a tobacco-free work environment, the WHO does not recruit cigarette smokers.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The organization has previously instigated the [[Framework Convention on Tobacco Control]] in 2003.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

=== Goodwill Ambassadors ===
The WHO operates "[[World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador|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]]).<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

On 21 October 2017, the director-general [[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus]] appointed the then Zimbabwean president [[Robert Mugabe]] as a [[World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> Due to the outcry, the following day the appointment was revoked.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

===Medical Society of the World Health Organization===
Since the beginning,<ref>{{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}}</ref> the WHO has had the ''Medical Society&nbsp;of the&nbsp;World Health Organization''. It has conducted lectures by noted researchers and published findings, recommendations.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=August 2021}} The founder, Dr. [[S. William A. Gunn]]<ref>Leo 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 }}</ref> has been its president.<ref>{{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}}.</ref> In 1983, [[Murray Eden]] was awarded the&nbsp;WHO ''Medical Society'' medal, for his work as consultant on research and development for WHO's director-general.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

=== Financing and partnerships ===
{{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]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> The WHO Executive Board formed a Working Group on Sustainable Financing in 2021, charged to rethink WHO's funding strategy and present recommendations.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> Its recommendations were adopted by the 2022 World Health Assembly,<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|+Top 10 contributors (biennium 2020–2021; updated until Q4-2021) in millions of US$
!No. !! Contributor !! Assessed contributions !! Voluntary contributions specified !! Core voluntary contributions !!Total<br />(biennium)  !! Share!! Source
|-
|1 || style="text-align:left;" | [[Germany]] || 58 || 953 || || 1,011 || 14.4% ||<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor?name=Germany |title=WHO &#124; Programme Budget Web Portal |website=open.who.int |access-date=26 June 2023 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626113938/http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor?name=Germany |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2 || style="text-align:left;" | [[United States|United States of America]] || 232 || 448 || || 681 || 9.7% ||<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://open.who.int/2018-19/contributors/contributor?name=United+States+of+America |title=WHO &#124; Programme Budget Web Portal |website=open.who.int |access-date=20 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507234456/http://open.who.int/2018-19/contributors/contributor?name=United%20States%20of%20America |archive-date=7 May 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|3 || style="text-align:left;" | [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]] || || 592 || || 592 || 8.4% ||<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor?name=Bill+&+Melinda+Gates+Foundation |title=WHO &#124; Programme Budget Web Portal |website=open.who.int |access-date=26 June 2023 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626113936/http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor?name=Bill+&+Melinda+Gates+Foundation |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|4 || style="text-align:left;" | [[United Kingdom|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]] || 44 || 367 || 120 || 531 || 7.6% ||<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor?name=United+Kingdom+of+Great+Britain+and+Northern+Ireland |title=WHO &#124; Programme Budget Web Portal |website=open.who.int |access-date=26 June 2023 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626113937/http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor?name=United+Kingdom+of+Great+Britain+and+Northern+Ireland |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|5 || style="text-align:left;" | [[GAVI|GAVI Alliance]] || || 371 || || 371 || 5.3% ||<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://open.who.int/2018-19/contributors/contributor?name=GAVI+Alliance |title=WHO &#124; Programme Budget Web Portal |website=open.who.int |access-date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=25 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725043639/http://open.who.int/2018-19/contributors/contributor?name=GAVI%20Alliance |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|6 || style="text-align:left;" | [[European Commission]] || || 310 || || 310 || 4.4% ||<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor?name=European+Commission |title=WHO &#124; Programme Budget Web Portal |website=open.who.int |access-date=26 June 2023 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626113944/http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor?name=European+Commission |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|7 || style="text-align:left;" | [[Japan]] || 82 || 122 || || 204 || 2.9% ||<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor?name=Japan |title=WHO &#124; Programme Budget Web Portal |website=open.who.int |access-date=26 June 2023 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626113939/http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor?name=Japan |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|8 || style="text-align:left;" | [[China]] || 115 || 63 || || 178 || 2.5% ||<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor?name=China|title=WHO &#124; Programme Budget Web Portal |website=open.who.int |access-date=26 June 2023 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626113941/http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor?name=China |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|9 || style="text-align:left;" | [[World Bank]] || || 158 || || 158 || 2.2% ||<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor?name=World+Bank |title=WHO &#124; Programme Budget Web Portal |website=open.who.int |access-date=26 June 2023 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626113943/http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor?name=World+Bank |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|10 || style="text-align:left;" | [[Rotary International]] || || 152 || || 152 || 2.2% ||<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor?name=Rotary+International |title=WHO &#124; Programme Budget Web Portal |website=open.who.int |access-date=26 June 2023 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626113937/http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor?name=Rotary+International |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | Others || 530 || 2,306 || 144 || 2,980 || 42.4% ||
|-
! colspan="2" | Total || style="text-align:right;" |957 || style="text-align:right;" |5,824 || style="text-align:right;" |264 || style="text-align:right;" |7,031 || 100.0% ||<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor |title=WHO &#124; Programme Budget Web Portal |website=open.who.int |access-date=26 June 2023 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626113938/http://open.who.int/2020-21/contributors/contributor |url-status=live}}</ref>
|}
* 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

==== Past ====
At the beginning of the 21st century, the WHO's work involved increasing collaboration with external bodies.<ref>{{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}}</ref> {{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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Partners include the [[Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation]]<ref>{{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}}</ref> and the [[Rockefeller Foundation]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

{{As of|2012}}, the largest annual assessed contributions from member states came from the United States ($110&nbsp;million), Japan ($58&nbsp;million), Germany ($37&nbsp;million), United Kingdom ($31&nbsp;million) and France ($31&nbsp;million).<ref>{{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}}</ref> The combined 2012–2013 budget proposed a total expenditure of $3,959&nbsp;million, of which $944&nbsp;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&nbsp;million (76%), of which $800&nbsp;million is regarded as highly or moderately flexible funding, with the remainder tied to particular programmes or objectives.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

According to [[Associated Press|The Associated Press]], the WHO routinely spends about $200&nbsp;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,<ref>{{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}}</ref> stayed in a $1000-per-night hotel room while visiting West Africa.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

The biggest contributor used to be the United States, which gives over $400&nbsp;million annually.<ref name="The-New-York-Times-2020">{{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}}</ref> U.S. contributions to the WHO are funded through the [[United States Department of State|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,<ref>{{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}}</ref> announced that his administration would halt funding to the WHO.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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|Moussa Faki Mahamat]], African Union chairman.<ref name="The-New-York-Times-2020" /> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

=== WHO Public Health Prizes and Awards ===
{{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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>