Latest news with #CatharinaBoehme
Euronews
19-05-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Pandemic treaty, budget cuts to top agenda at major WHO meeting
Massive budget cuts and an agreement to combat COVID-level health threats will be at the forefront of minds this week in Geneva as representatives from nearly every country on Earth meet for the World Health Assembly. The assembly, convened each May, sets the World Health Organization's (WHO) policies and budget for the upcoming year. This year's theme is 'One World for Health' – but its spirit of camaraderie may not fully capture the mood in Geneva given that 2025 has brought deep cuts to global health programmes from major donors such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands. With financial pressure looming large over the nine-day assembly, countries will tackle issues as wide-ranging as antibiotic-resistant superbugs, environmental toxins, polio, nuclear war, infant formula advertising, and the recruitment of health workers from abroad. But a few key priorities will take centre stage. Here's what to watch out for at the 2025 World Health Assembly. The WHO has proposed shaving its 2026-2027 budget to $4.2 billion (€3.7 billion), down from the $5.3 billion (€4.7 billion) it had originally planned on. Some countries have suggested even deeper cuts, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. The organisation is also short by $600 million (€527.6 billion) for 2025, WHO officials told journalists ahead of the assembly, prompting cuts to agency staff, departments, and regional offices. The agency is scaling down its work to focus on only the 'most urgent global health needs,' said Dr Catharina Boehme, WHO's external relations chief. But the WHO isn't just tightening its belt. It is also asking countries to approve a 20 per cent increase in their annual dues, after they green-lit an initial 20 per cent increase in 2023. It's part of the organisation's efforts to become less dependent on voluntary funding from a few big donors. Member states agreed last month on a treaty to boost preparedness and responses to future pandemics, and they're expected to adopt the landmark agreement on Tuesday morning. The treaty would require countries to improve disease surveillance, share diagnostics, medicines, and vaccines more quickly, and take steps to keep viruses from spreading from animals to people – but there are still a few sticking points. One issue that has yet to be resolved is the creation of a new pathogen access and benefit sharing (PABS) system, in which countries would share pathogen samples and data with drugmakers in return for access to vaccines and medicines. After they adopt the pandemic treaty, member states will have a year to wrap up negotiations on PABS. The treaty will go into force once that issue has been agreed upon. In September, countries will attend a high-level meeting of the United Nations focused on noncommunicable diseases and mental health. This week's assembly is an opportunity for delegates to make progress toward an expected political commitment to combat chronic health problems, which kill more than 43 million people per year. During the World Health Assembly itself, member states will consider resolutions on kidney disease, cervical cancer, blindness and other forms of vision impairment, and hearing loss. 'We're not sure how much movement will be made, though [we] remain optimistic,' Jonny Barty, chief executive of the health and education consultancy Acasus, told Euronews Health. Last year, member states instructed the WHO to come up with a plan to address climate change as a health issue. They'll now vote on the proposal, which calls for countries to curb manufacturing emissions and incorporate health into their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. But climate groups aren't entirely happy with the latest available draft. The non-profit Global Climate and Health Alliance, for example, wanted stronger measures tackling the role of fossil fuels in climate change. 'What we need governments and the public to understand is that people's health will ultimately pay the price for inaction,' Rosie Tasker, the group's clean air liaison, told Euronews Health. Countries will decide whether to extend a global action plan on dementia through to 2031. The strategy, which first passed in 2016 and is set to expire this year, set goals that countries have not met on dementia, which affects about 57 million people worldwide. For example, the WHO wanted 75 per cent of its member states to develop national plans to address dementia, but by 2024, only 26 per cent – 50 countries – had met that target. Gaps also remain in access to dementia diagnosis, treatment, and caregiving, the organisation said. Nicoletta Dentico, who leads the global health programme for the Society for International Development (SID), told Euronews Health that while member states are generally expected to approve the measures they'll review this week, whether they lead to anything tangible 'depends on the money… because of funding cuts'. Meanwhile, Barty said countries would benefit from clear-cut strategies to help them address key issues like vaccination, maternal health, climate change, and primary care. 'What matters isn't what's pledged this week – but what's still being delivered six months from now,' Barty said.
NDTV
15-05-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Pandemic Accord, Tightened Budget On Menu At World Health Organisation Meet
Next week promises to be a crucial one for the World Health Organization, with member states coming together in Geneva to adopt a landmark pandemic agreement and a slimmed-down budget amid US funding cuts. Dozens of high-ranking officials and thousands of delegates are set to gather for the United Nations health agency's annual decision-making assembly, due to last from May 19 to 27. "This huge gathering comes... at a pivotal moment for global health," Catharina Boehme, WHO's assistant director-general for external relations and governance, told reporters. It comes as countries are confronting "emerging threats and major shifts in the landscape for global health and international development", she said. More than five years after the emergence of Covid-19, which killed millions of people, much of the focus next week will be on the expected adoption of a hard-won international agreement on how to better protect against and tackle future pandemics. After more than three years of negotiations, countries reached consensus on a text last month but final approval by the World Health Assembly is needed -- a discussion expected to take place on Tuesday. 'Without The US' The United States, which has thrown the global health system into crisis by slashing foreign aid spending, was not present during the final stretch of the talks. US President Donald Trump ordered a withdrawal from the WHO and from the pandemic agreement talks after taking office in January. The agreement "is a jab in the arm for multilateralism, even if it is multilateralism in this case without the US", said a European diplomat who asked not to be named. The WHA will be called upon to ratify the adoption of the agreement and to launch an intergovernmental working group to negotiate technical details of the so-called Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS), said negotiations co-chair Anne-Claire Amprou. Core to the agreement, that system will be aimed at allowing the swift sharing of pathogen data with pharmaceutical companies, enabling them to quickly start working on pandemic-fighting products. Once the PABS annex is completed and adopted at the 2026 WHA, "the whole (agreement) will open for signature", Steven Solomon, WHO's principal legal officer, told reporters. Ratification by 60 states will be needed for the accord to come into force. Deep Cuts Also high on the agenda next week will be the dramatic overhaul of WHO operations and finances. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told member states last month that the agency would need to slim down due to deep US funding cuts. The agency has been bracing for Trump's planned full withdrawal of the United States -- by far its largest donor -- next January. The United States gave WHO $1.3 billion for its 2022-2023 budget, mainly through voluntary contributions for specific projects rather than fixed membership fees. "The loss of US funding, combined with reductions in official development assistance by some other countries, mean we are facing a salary gap for the next biennium of more than $500 million," Tedros said on Wednesday. Tedros has not said how many jobs will be lost, but on Wednesday he announced the organisation would cut its leadership team nearly in half. Budget Gap Next week, member states will vote on a proposed 20-percent increase of WHO's mandatory membership fees for the 2026-27 budget period, Boehme said. Members already agreed in 2022 to increase the mandatory fees to cover 50 percent of the WHO budget. Without that decision, Tedros said Wednesday that "our current financial situation would be much worse -- $300 million worse". "It is essential, therefore, that member states approve this next increase, to make another step towards securing the long-term financial sustainability and independence of WHO." Countries will also be asked to adopt the 2026-2027 budget, at a time when development assistance funding, including for health resources, are dwindling globally. "We have proposed a reduced budget of $4.2 billion for the 2026-2027 biennium, a 21-percent reduction on the original proposed budget of 5.3 billion," Tedros said. If the increase in membership fees is approved, the WHO estimates it can raise more than $2.6 billion, or more than 60 percent of the budget. "That leaves an anticipated budget gap of more than $1.7 billion," Tedros said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
15-05-2025
- Health
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Pandemic Accord, Tightened Budget on Menu at Big WHO Meet
Next week promises to be a crucial one for the World Health Organization, with member states coming together in Geneva to adopt a landmark pandemic agreement and a slimmed-down budget amid US funding cuts. Dozens of high-ranking officials and thousands of delegates are set to gather for the United Nations health agency's annual decision-making assembly, due to last from May 19 to 27. "This huge gathering comes... at a pivotal moment for global health," Catharina Boehme, WHO's assistant director-general for external relations and governance, told reporters. It comes as countries are confronting "emerging threats and major shifts in the landscape for global health and international development", she said. More than five years after the emergence of Covid-19, which killed millions of people, much of the focus next week will be on the expected adoption of a hard-won international agreement on how to better protect against and tackle future pandemics. After more than three years of negotiations, countries reached consensus on a text last month but final approval by the World Health Assembly is needed -- a discussion expected to take place on Tuesday. 'Without the US' The United States, which has thrown the global health system into crisis by slashing foreign aid spending, was not present during the final stretch of the talks. US President Donald Trump ordered a withdrawal from the WHO and from the pandemic agreement talks after taking office in January. The agreement "is a jab in the arm for multilateralism, even if it is multilateralism in this case without the US", said a European diplomat who asked not to be named. The WHA will be called upon to ratify the adoption of the agreement and to launch an intergovernmental working group to negotiate technical details of the so-called Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS), said negotiations co-chair Anne-Claire Amprou. Core to the agreement, that system will be aimed at allowing the swift sharing of pathogen data with pharmaceutical companies, enabling them to quickly start working on pandemic-fighting products. Once the PABS annex is completed and adopted at the 2026 WHA, "the whole (agreement) will open for signature", Steven Solomon, WHO's principal legal officer, told reporters. Ratification by 60 states will be needed for the accord to come into force. Deep cuts Also high on the agenda next week will be the dramatic overhaul of WHO operations and finances. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told member states last month that the agency would need to slim down due to deep US funding cuts. The agency has been bracing for Trump's planned full withdrawal of the United States -- by far its largest donor -- next January. The United States gave WHO $1.3 billion for its 2022-2023 budget, mainly through voluntary contributions for specific projects rather than fixed membership fees. "The loss of US funding, combined with reductions in official development assistance by some other countries, mean we are facing a salary gap for the next biennium of more than $500 million," Tedros said on Wednesday. Tedros has not said how many jobs will be lost, but on Wednesday he announced the organization would cut its leadership team nearly in half. Budget gap Next week, member states will vote on a proposed 20-percent increase of WHO's mandatory membership fees for the 2026-27 budget period, Boehme said. Members already agreed in 2022 to increase the mandatory fees to cover 50 percent of the WHO budget. Without that decision, Tedros said Wednesday that "our current financial situation would be much worse -– $300 million worse". "It is essential, therefore, that member states approve this next increase, to make another step towards securing the long-term financial sustainability and independence of WHO." Countries will also be asked to adopt the 2026-2027 budget, at a time when development assistance funding, including for health resources, are dwindling globally. "We have proposed a reduced budget of $4.2 billion for the 2026-2027 biennium, a 21-percent reduction on the original proposed budget of 5.3 billion," Tedros said. If the increase in membership fees is approved, the WHO estimates it can raise more than $2.6 billion, or more than 60 percent of the budget. "That leaves an anticipated budget gap of more than $1.7 billion," Tedros said.
The Sun
15-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
WHO Faces Pivotal Week on Pandemic Pact, Budget Cuts
GENEVA: Next week promises to be a crucial one for the World Health Organization, with member states coming together in Geneva to adopt a landmark pandemic agreement and a slimmed-down budget amid US funding cuts. Dozens of high-ranking officials and thousands of delegates are set to gather for the United Nations health agency's annual decision-making assembly, due to last from May 19 to 27. 'This huge gathering comes... at a pivotal moment for global health,' Catharina Boehme, WHO's assistant director-general for external relations and governance, told reporters. It comes as countries are confronting 'emerging threats and major shifts in the landscape for global health and international development', she said. More than five years after the emergence of Covid-19, which killed millions of people, much of the focus next week will be on the expected adoption of a hard-won international agreement on how to better protect against and tackle future pandemics. After more than three years of negotiations, countries reached consensus on a text last month but final approval by the World Health Assembly is needed -- a discussion expected to take place on Tuesday. 'Without the US' The United States, which has thrown the global health system into crisis by slashing foreign aid spending, was not present during the final stretch of the talks. US President Donald Trump ordered a withdrawal from the WHO and from the pandemic agreement talks after taking office in January. The agreement 'is a jab in the arm for multilateralism, even if it is multilateralism in this case without the US', said a European diplomat who asked not to be named. The WHA will be called upon to ratify the adoption of the agreement and to launch an intergovernmental working group to negotiate technical details of the so-called Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS), said negotiations co-chair Anne-Claire Amprou. Core to the agreement, that system will be aimed at allowing the swift sharing of pathogen data with pharmaceutical companies, enabling them to quickly start working on pandemic-fighting products. Once the PABS annex is completed and adopted at the 2026 WHA, 'the whole (agreement) will open for signature', Steven Solomon, WHO's principal legal officer, told reporters. Ratification by 60 states will be needed for the accord to come into force. Deep cuts Also high on the agenda next week will be the dramatic overhaul of WHO operations and finances. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told member states last month that the agency would need to slim down due to deep US funding cuts. The agency has been bracing for Trump's planned full withdrawal of the United States -- by far its largest donor -- next January. The United States gave WHO $1.3 billion for its 2022-2023 budget, mainly through voluntary contributions for specific projects rather than fixed membership fees. 'The loss of US funding, combined with reductions in official development assistance by some other countries, mean we are facing a salary gap for the next biennium of more than $500 million,' Tedros said on Wednesday. Tedros has not said how many jobs will be lost, but on Wednesday he announced the organisation would cut its leadership team nearly in half. Budget gap Next week, member states will vote on a proposed 20-percent increase of WHO's mandatory membership fees for the 2026-27 budget period, Boehme said. Members already agreed in 2022 to increase the mandatory fees to cover 50 percent of the WHO budget. Without that decision, Tedros said Wednesday that 'our current financial situation would be much worse -- $300 million worse'. 'It is essential, therefore, that member states approve this next increase, to make another step towards securing the long-term financial sustainability and independence of WHO.' Countries will also be asked to adopt the 2026-2027 budget, at a time when development assistance funding, including for health resources, are dwindling globally. 'We have proposed a reduced budget of $4.2 billion for the 2026-2027 biennium, a 21-percent reduction on the original proposed budget of 5.3 billion,' Tedros said. If the increase in membership fees is approved, the WHO estimates it can raise more than $2.6 billion, or more than 60 percent of the budget. 'That leaves an anticipated budget gap of more than $1.7 billion,' Tedros said.
The Sun
15-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Pandemic accord, tightened budget on menu at big WHO meet
GENEVA: Next week promises to be a crucial one for the World Health Organization, with member states coming together in Geneva to adopt a landmark pandemic agreement and a slimmed-down budget amid US funding cuts. Dozens of high-ranking officials and thousands of delegates are set to gather for the United Nations health agency's annual decision-making assembly, due to last from May 19 to 27. 'This huge gathering comes... at a pivotal moment for global health,' Catharina Boehme, WHO's assistant director-general for external relations and governance, told reporters. It comes as countries are confronting 'emerging threats and major shifts in the landscape for global health and international development', she said. More than five years after the emergence of Covid-19, which killed millions of people, much of the focus next week will be on the expected adoption of a hard-won international agreement on how to better protect against and tackle future pandemics. After more than three years of negotiations, countries reached consensus on a text last month but final approval by the World Health Assembly is needed -- a discussion expected to take place on Tuesday. 'Without the US' The United States, which has thrown the global health system into crisis by slashing foreign aid spending, was not present during the final stretch of the talks. US President Donald Trump ordered a withdrawal from the WHO and from the pandemic agreement talks after taking office in January. The agreement 'is a jab in the arm for multilateralism, even if it is multilateralism in this case without the US', said a European diplomat who asked not to be named. The WHA will be called upon to ratify the adoption of the agreement and to launch an intergovernmental working group to negotiate technical details of the so-called Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS), said negotiations co-chair Anne-Claire Amprou. Core to the agreement, that system will be aimed at allowing the swift sharing of pathogen data with pharmaceutical companies, enabling them to quickly start working on pandemic-fighting products. Once the PABS annex is completed and adopted at the 2026 WHA, 'the whole (agreement) will open for signature', Steven Solomon, WHO's principal legal officer, told reporters. Ratification by 60 states will be needed for the accord to come into force. Deep cuts Also high on the agenda next week will be the dramatic overhaul of WHO operations and finances. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told member states last month that the agency would need to slim down due to deep US funding cuts. The agency has been bracing for Trump's planned full withdrawal of the United States -- by far its largest donor -- next January. The United States gave WHO $1.3 billion for its 2022-2023 budget, mainly through voluntary contributions for specific projects rather than fixed membership fees. 'The loss of US funding, combined with reductions in official development assistance by some other countries, mean we are facing a salary gap for the next biennium of more than $500 million,' Tedros said on Wednesday. Tedros has not said how many jobs will be lost, but on Wednesday he announced the organisation would cut its leadership team nearly in half. Budget gap Next week, member states will vote on a proposed 20-percent increase of WHO's mandatory membership fees for the 2026-27 budget period, Boehme said. Members already agreed in 2022 to increase the mandatory fees to cover 50 percent of the WHO budget. Without that decision, Tedros said Wednesday that 'our current financial situation would be much worse -- $300 million worse'. 'It is essential, therefore, that member states approve this next increase, to make another step towards securing the long-term financial sustainability and independence of WHO.' Countries will also be asked to adopt the 2026-2027 budget, at a time when development assistance funding, including for health resources, are dwindling globally. 'We have proposed a reduced budget of $4.2 billion for the 2026-2027 biennium, a 21-percent reduction on the original proposed budget of 5.3 billion,' Tedros said. If the increase in membership fees is approved, the WHO estimates it can raise more than $2.6 billion, or more than 60 percent of the budget. 'That leaves an anticipated budget gap of more than $1.7 billion,' Tedros said.
