US withdrawal from World Health Organisation remains unconfirmed

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has not confirmed that the official process of the United States’ withdrawal from the organisation has been completed, despite earlier statements from Washington in January.

According to WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier, speaking to TASS, the current status of the process remains unclear.

Responding to journalists’ questions at a briefing in Geneva on whether the WHO considers the US withdrawal complete in light of reports that the process may be blocked due to unpaid contributions for 2024 and 2025, Lindmeier did not give a direct answer.

He noted, however, that member states had discussed the possibility of depriving the United States of voting rights at future sessions of the World Health Assembly if the outstanding payments continue.

“That is what they discussed. That is what they decided. That is the current situation,” the WHO representative said.

He also stressed that the issue of voting rights can only be considered in relation to a member state of the organisation.

By Jeyhun Aghazada