The World Health Organization member states agreed to a $6.83 billion budget on Monday that includes a 20% increase in their required contributions for the upcoming two years.
There were no challenges to the budget proposal for 2024–2025, and it was received with rousing applause.
World Health Organization $7 Billion Budget Approval
The action, according to Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was historic and a major milestone.
By the conclusion of the 10-day event, the budget still needs to be approved by all the member nations, but this is essentially a formality.
The choice was made after the assembly last year approved a significant restructuring of WHO finances.
During the COVID-19 outbreak, nations came to an understanding of the need for more consistent and sustainable support.
The WHO’s 194 member states provide the majority of its funding. Under one-fifth of funding was now provided by assessed contributions, which were based on population and wealth.
The remaining revenue was provided by voluntary contributions.
As a result, WHO had little room to act during events like COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, and other health catastrophes.
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Funding for a Healthier Future
The assembly last year decided to gradually raise the membership fee component to 50% by the financial cycle ending in 2030–31.
The first incremental rise will occur in the 2024–25 budget cycle, with nations deciding to increase their assessed contributions from the 2022–23 budget by 20%.
In exchange for the change in funding, WHO has started enacting 96 reforms, some of which aim to increase openness in its recruiting and funding practices as well as overall accountability.
At a meeting earlier on Monday, Tedros stated that 42 of the proposed modifications had already been carried out by the WHO, while 54 more were in progress.
With this sizable budget in place, the WHO is prepared to broaden its influence and reach, making a significant contribution to global health projects and encouraging collaborations to advance health equity and resilience around the globe.
The financing has been granted, setting the stage for a group effort to create a world that is more resilient and healthy, leaving no one behind in the quest for better health and well-being for everyone.
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