The World Health Organization marks its 75th anniversary this Friday, three years after becoming the most visible public health agency within the United Nations system due to the global covid-19 health crisis.
The idea of convening nations around a shared public health mission goes back to 1851, when the first International Health Conference in Paris focused on fighting cholera.
In the aftermath of World War II, momentum grew for a global health body. Delegations from Brazil and China, among others, pressed for an international organization under the United Nations to address health needs worldwide.
After several years of negotiation, member states agreed in 1948 to recognize health as a fundamental human right and to work toward global peace and security through health action.
The organization established its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and its first director-general was a Canadian, Brock Chisholm.
Its greatest early achievement came in 1980, when an coordinated global vaccination campaign led to the eradication of smallpox, a milestone achieved through collaboration that spanned rival powers of the era.
A Global Health Organization
The World Health Assembly is the WHO’s main decision-making body, comprised of representatives from 194 member states and meeting in Geneva for roughly two weeks each May. These sessions bring together health ministers from across the world, shaping the organization’s agenda.
Alongside the Assembly sits the Executive Board, a body that prepares the agenda and oversees the implementation of its decisions. It consists of 34 health experts, each appointed by a member state for a three-year term.
Leadership of the agency is vested in the Director-General, who is elected for a five-year term with the possibility of one renewal, based on regional and global needs.
WHO operates through six regional offices in Brazzaville, Copenhagen, New Delhi, Cairo, Manila, and Washington DC, and maintains more than 150 national offices in member countries, coordinating global health work on the ground.
The organization is funded by member states and contributions from private donors. The United States, Germany, and the European Commission are among the largest contributors, with private partners like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also playing a significant role through donor funding for initiatives such as vaccination programs and public-private partnerships in health.
According to its founding charter, WHO is responsible for guiding member states, civil society, academia, and the private sector in the development and execution of health plans that advance global health equity.
Noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and mental health disorders are addressed, with emphasis on promoting healthy living and reducing environmental and lifestyle risks that impact health outcomes worldwide.
On infectious diseases, the organization is empowered under the International Health Regulations to coordinate disease surveillance and coordinate international responses to health emergencies that threaten global health security.
The Era of Global Health Emergencies
The latest revision to the regulations, enacted in 2007, gave WHO the authority to declare public health emergencies of international concern when events pose international risk and require a coordinated response.
Since then, the organization has declared several emergencies, including H1N1, poliovirus outbreaks, the West African Ebola crisis, Zika, outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, COVID-19, and Mpox. As of today, only the poliovirus remains globally active, with COVID-19 continuing to require sustained attention alongside new health threats.
This period marked one of the most significant tests for WHO. During the pandemic, the agency faced intense scrutiny and criticism from various leaders who accused it of missteps or delays in guidance. The criticisms included debates over transparency and perceived bureaucratic drift, and the organization has since undertaken reforms to bolster accountability and ethics among staff and in its interactions with member states.
In recent years, the organization has also confronted reports and inquiries related to internal governance and perceived impartiality, reflecting ongoing debates about how best to maintain trust while coordinating with diverse national actors in a rapidly changing global health landscape. Overall, WHO continues to emphasize the importance of science-based guidance, transparent communication, and strong collaboration across nations and partners to protect health worldwide.