The World Health Organization (WHO) is compiling a list of reasons why the U.S. should stay in the organization, according to sources. This effort aims to persuade the incoming President, Trump, who previously indicated intentions to withdraw. Withdrawal would not only impact global health but also compromise U.S. national security and pharmaceutical industry, as the WHO plays a critical role in disease surveillance. The list, requested by American global health advocates, underscores the risks of a U.S. exit.
Lawrence Gostin, a global health professor at Georgetown University and director of the WHO Collaborating Center on National and Global Health Law, emphasized the severe consequences, stating, "It would be a deep wound to the WHO, to health globally, but an even more grievous wound to the U.S. national interest." Despite potential early decisions by Trump, a one-year notice period is required by law before the U.S. can leave WHO, providing advocates with time to attempt to sway the decision.
The WHO is preparing its case for the U.S., outlining the implications of being outside the organization, including missing crucial disease information and access to international flu surveillance data. Gostin reiterated the significance of global health cooperation, noting how diseases do not respect borders. The organization has been gearing up for months to argue its importance to the U.S., with figures like Gordon Brown also advocating for continued U.S. participation. If a U.S. departure is signaled, potential legal actions, such as questioning the administration's ability to exit without congressional consultation, may be pursued by experts and advocates.