PSI calls to defend the integrity and independence of the WHO

As an active member of a coalition of health-related civil society organizations – the NGO Forum for Health – PSI joined over 30 civil society organizations in drafting a joint statement to the member states of the World Health Organization expressing concerns over the Framework for Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA) that was tabled at the recent World Health Assembly in Geneva (18-26 May).

We stressed that the FENSA must have a rigorous approach to conflict of interest and inhibit corporate influence on global health policy. The group also called to increase governments’ control over global health through increased member state contributions to WHO. To this point, WHO has been systematically weakened by the diminishing share to its budget from member state contributions, down to 20%, whereas the share in voluntary contributions from donors has increased to 80%, sourced from the wealthier nations, philanthropic foundations and IFIs. WHO is the leading public international organization in health and must maintain its credibility, integrity and independence for the sake of global health.

More information:

• Joint statement: Defend the World Health Organization from corporate takeover
• Article from Third Word Economics - Issue No. 594 (1-15 Jun 2015) p. 12-13: CSOs voice concerns over corporate takeover of WHO (Third Word Economics is a fortnightly magazine, published by The Third World Network, that reports on economic and development issues that are of special interest to the Third World. See link to Third World Economics Issue No. 594.)