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WHO Chief Says US Rejoining Global Health Agency Is Time
The World Health Organization wants the United States to come back as a member.
WHO leader Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he has been speaking with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the US health secretary.
The United States left the WHO process in January 2026 because its government had concerns about how the agency handled COVID-19.
The United States has also been an important source of money and health expertise for the WHO.
Losing that support has made it harder for the WHO to fund some programs.
Tedros said countries need to keep preparing for future pandemics.
He also said political arguments can make health emergencies worse.
The WHO still says every major explanation for how COVID-19 began should be investigated.
Tedros also praised India’s health improvements and its production of medicines and vaccines.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he expects the United States to rejoin the agency and has spoken with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The United States formally notified the WHO of its withdrawal in January 2026, citing concerns about the agency’s handling of COVID-19.
The United States contributed $1.284 billion to the WHO during the 2022–23 biennium, and the agency says its loss has created major funding gaps.
Tedros said pandemic preparedness has improved since COVID-19 but warned that global systems are still not sufficiently prepared for another pandemic.
On COVID-19’s origins, Tedros said all hypotheses remain open because the WHO has not received all requested information from China.
- Who
- WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the United States, and US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- What
- Tedros discussed the possibility of the United States rejoining the WHO, pandemic preparedness, COVID-19 origins, and global health cooperation.
- Where
- Tedros made the remarks at a Health Coverage Fellowship programme at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.
- When
- The United States notified the WHO of its withdrawal in January 2026; Tedros spoke ahead of a September 25 United Nations General Assembly meeting.
- Why
- The United States cited concerns about the WHO’s handling of COVID-19, while Tedros said US leadership, funding, and expertise are important to global health.
WHO Case for Rejoining
US Withdrawal Position
US membership
WHO Case for Rejoining
Tedros said US leadership is important and expressed confidence that the United States will eventually rejoin the WHO.
US Withdrawal Position
The United States formally notified the WHO of its withdrawal in January 2026, citing concerns about the agency’s handling of COVID-19.
Funding and expertise
WHO Case for Rejoining
The WHO says US financial support and expertise from institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health are difficult to replace.
US Withdrawal Position
The United States ended its participation despite the WHO identifying it as a major source of funding and institutional expertise.
COVID-19 origins
WHO Case for Rejoining
The WHO says its investigation is incomplete, requested information from China has not all been provided, and every hypothesis remains open.
US Withdrawal Position
The US administration has made claims about the WHO’s handling of COVID-19 that Tedros has rejected, contributing to the stated concerns behind the withdrawal.
Key facts
- US withdrawal notification
- January 2026
- US WHO contribution
- $1.284 billion during the 2022–23 biennium
- WHO director-general
- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
- US health secretary contacted
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- COVID-19 origins
- The WHO says all hypotheses remain on the table, including a possible laboratory-related origin.
- Upcoming meeting
- United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response on September 25
- India’s health role
- India was described as a major producer of generic medicines and vaccines.
Quotes
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
WHO director-general
“Last weekend, I had the opportunity to speak with the Union Minister of Health. Of course, we work together. I believe this experience can be very helpful for the Global South”
indianexpress.com
“The US leadership is very important and I want to assure you that we have continued to communicate from our side. It is a matter of time until the US joins the WHO.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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