Q9. Describe the organisational structure and funding of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The World Health Organisation (WHO), a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1948, is the global authority on public health. Its primary objective is “the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.”

Organisational Structure

The WHO is governed by its 194 Member States and has a three-tiered structure:

1. World Health Assembly (WHA):
   • This is the supreme decision-making body of the WHO.
   • It is composed of delegations from all Member States.
   • It meets annually (usually in Geneva) to determine policies, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and approve the programme budget.
2. Executive Board:
   • Composed of 34 members technically qualified in health, elected for three-year terms.
   • Its main function is to advise the WHA and to give effect to its decisions and policies.
3. Secretariat:
   • Headed by the Director-General (DG), who is appointed by the WHA.
   • It comprises technical and administrative staff (doctors, scientists, epidemiologists) who carry out the day-to-day work of the WHO.
   • The structure is decentralized, with a headquarters in Geneva, 6 Regional Offices (e.g., SEARO in New Delhi), and 150 Country Offices.

Funding Mechanism

WHO’s funding is sourced from two main streams:

1. Assessed Contributions (AC): These are the “membership dues” paid by Member States. The amount is calculated based on the country’s wealth and population. This forms less than 20% of the total budget and provides predictable, core funding.
2. Voluntary Contributions (VC): This forms the majority (80%+) of WHO’s funding. It comes from Member States (in addition to their ACs), other UN organizations, philanthropic foundations (e.g., Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), and other private donors. These funds are often “earmarked” for specific programmes or regions.

Conclusion

The WHO’s structure enables it to set global health standards while operating decentrally. However, its heavy reliance on earmarked voluntary contributions poses a significant challenge, as it can limit the organization’s flexibility in addressing global health priorities.