Emma Farge & Mrinalika Roy

GENEVA, (Reuters) – The World Health Organization’s (WHO), head, said Monday that Germany has become the largest donor to it, replacing Washington. He called for major reforms in its funding system.

A financing proposal to make the U.N.’s health agency more independent is being resisted by the United States. This raises doubts over the Biden administration’s support of the agency in the long term.

WHO data confirms that the WHO executive board is about to begin a week-long meeting for discussion on its management and funding.

Tedros Adhanom, director general of WHO, spoke alongside Svenja Schulze as he said that Germany was a longstanding friend and partner.

This year, Germany will be the president of the Group of Seven largest economies. Schulze stated that the Group of Seven’s top priority is to eradicate the COVID-19 epidemic. She called on a global, massively-accelerated vaccination campaign.

Tedros spoke highly of Germany’s willingness to share vaccines and its visionary approach that is grounded in multilateralism, partnership, solidarity, and multilateralism.

According to supporters, WHO relies on voluntary funding from members states and charities to fund its operations. This makes it more able to critique member countries when they go wrong.

According to a proposal by WHO’s sustainable finance working group, members should gradually increase their contributions so that half of its $2 billion core budget can be covered by 2028.

WHO data as of the 31st of November 2021 revealed that Germany topped the list of combined voluntary and mandatory contributions of the member states for 2020-2021. The United States was second and Britain third.

Washington is still the largest contributor to mandatory funds.

Tedros, in a speech addressed to the board, called for “paradigm changes” in WHO funding.

He stated, “Let’s be clear: If the current funding model is continued, WHO will fail.”