The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced massive staff and budget cuts amid a deep financial crisis. As reported Reuters citing an internal document signed by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the organization is forced to review its priorities and limit the scope of its activities around the world.
The cuts will affect all levels of the WHO structure, including management at headquarters in Geneva, where more than a quarter of the total 9,473 staff work.
The cause of the crisis was, in particular, the repeated decision of the United States to withdraw from the organization — it was signed by Donald Trump on the first day of his new presidential term. The US was the largest donor to the WHO, covering approximately 18% of its budget. The situation was also complicated by the tendency to reduce development aid from other countries, which redirect funds to their own defense needs.
The memorandum states that already in February, the WHO reduced the planned budget for 2026-2027 by 21% — from 5.3 to 4.9 billion dollars. The deficit is estimated at almost 600 million dollars.
By the end of April, the organization plans to finally decide on new priorities and redistribution of resources. Another document, dated March 10, also confirms that the WHO has already implemented a new personnel policy: staff contracts will now be for one year only.
We will remind you that Argentina announced its withdrawal from the WHO after the USA.
