WHO keeps focus amid US cuts

Despite funding shifts, the UN agency remains committed to addressing long-term health threats, writes Anucha Charoenpo in Paris

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The World Health Organization (WHO) is concerned about the effects of United States budget cuts and policy changes, a senior WHO executive has said.

Etienne Krug, WHO's Director of the Department of Social Determinants of Health, said such cuts would affect WHO programmes related to health care, nutrition and basic financial stability for millions of people who benefit from the WHO's health programmes.

“Yes, we're concerned,” Mr Krug told the Bangkok Post about the US moves. “We hope the US will rejoin or will stay with us in the future.”

Mr Krug said 194 WHO member states are working on implementing different health programmes. The WHO will continue working with all countries and its many partners to improve health and particularly tackle non-communicable diseases (NCD) and injuries, he said.

He said the WHO would closely monitor if US President Donald Trump continues pursuing his policies.

"Now that we're in that reality, what will the organisation do in terms of cooperation? As I said, we have many member states, and our relationship with them hasn't changed at all," he said.