Acta Scientific Medical Sciences (ASMS)(ISSN: 2582-0931)

Mini Review Volume 9 Issue 1

The WHO Apparatus: The Hidden Influence of National IHR Focal Points and Implications for Sovereign Health Governance

Lisa Miron Esquire and Robert Oldham Young*

Department of Research, Innerlight, Biological Research and Health Education Foundation, USA

*Corresponding Author: Robert Oldham Young, Department of Research, Innerlight, Biological Research and Health Education Foundation, USA.

Received: November 12, 2024; Published: December 06, 2024

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO), through its International Health Regulations (IHR) of 2005, mandates that each member country establish National Focal Points (NFPs) to manage communications between WHO and national health agencies. These NFPs, often embedded within national health agencies, extend WHO’s influence into local governance, potentially affecting national health sovereignty. Significant taxpayer funding from the U.S. and Canada, channeled through programs like the US Foreign Assistance Objective, supports WHO’s influence on local health systems. Organizations like the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), add another layer of international oversight, potentially burdening local governments financially and reducing their autonomy. This article explores the impact of these global health directives on national health policies and discusses U.S. leadership, especially with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a potential Secretary of Health, might counter these globalist influences to preserve national sovereignty. 

 Keywords: WHO; International Health Regulations (IHR); National Focal Points; Public Health Sovereignty; PAHO; Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; Transparency; Health Governance 

References

  1. World Health Organization. “International Health Regulations”. Geneva: WHO. This foundational document outlines the responsibilities and protocols for communication between WHO and member states to manage global health threats (2005).
  2. Pan American Health Organization. United States of America – Pan American Health Organization. An overview of PAHO’s role in coordinating WHO policies across the Americas and influencing regional health governance (2024).
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “International Health Program Office and WHO Compliance”. Atlanta, GA: CDC. Describes the CDC’s role as the U.S. National Focal Point for WHO, coordinating health-related communication and compliance with WHO mandates (2024).
  4. US Foreign Assistance. “Funding overview for global health and development initiatives”. A resource detailing the allocation of American taxpayer funding to global health initiatives, including WHO support (2024).
  5. Public Health Agency of Canada. “The role of the Public Health Agency in national and international health governance”. Ottawa, ON: PHAC. Discusses PHAC’s alignment with WHO protocols and PAHO’s collaboration in Canada’s health governance structure (2024).
  6. Kennedy Jr R F. “American health sovereignty and WHO influence”. Children’s Health Defense. An analysis by RFK Jr. on the importance of reducing WHO influence on U.S. health policy to prioritize national health sovereignty (2024).
  7. Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement. “CDC’s role in national emergency preparedness and WHO collaboration”. Atlanta, GA: CDC. Outlines the CDC’s involvement in U.S. national health preparedness efforts in line with WHO recommendations (2024).
  8. World Health Organization. “Funding and contributions to WHO - 85% voluntary funding”. Geneva: WHO. Details WHO’s funding model, which relies heavily on voluntary contributions from private foundations, including the Gates Foundation, GAVI, and the Rockefeller Foundation (2024).
  9. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. “Foundation contributions to global health initiatives”. Seattle, WA: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Examines the foundation's substantial funding for WHO initiatives, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest (2024).
  10. Rockefeller Foundation. “Rockefeller Foundation global health strategy”. New York, NY: Rockefeller Foundation. Describes the Rockefeller Foundation's funding contributions to WHO and other global health entities, addressing impartiality concerns (2024).
  11. US Foreign Assistance. “Transparency in health funding”. Explores how American taxpayer funds are allocated to WHO-aligned health policies through National Focal Points, emphasizing the need for transparency (2024).
  12. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “COVID-19: Following WHO guidance”. Atlanta, GA: CDC. Details of the U.S. COVID-19 policies aligned with WHO guidance, highlighting the CDC’s role as an NFP in global health crises (2024).
  13. World Health Organization. “WHO guidance on conflict of interest disclosures”. Geneva: WHO. Outlines WHO’s policy on conflict of interest disclosures to support transparency in global health governance (2024).
  14. Kennedy Jr RF. “Examination of the NFP system and health sovereignty under the Pandemic Treaty”. Children’s Health Defense. RFK Jr.’s policy analysis on the implications of the WHO’s NFP and IHR systems on U.S. health sovereignty and the potential need for withdrawal (2024).
  15. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “International Health Program Office - Role and Oversight”. Atlanta, GA: CDC. Overview of the CDC’s compliance with WHO protocols and the implications for U.S. health sovereignty (2024).
  16. Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement. “Ensuring CDC independence in health policy”. Atlanta, GA: CDC. Discusses the need for independent oversight of CDC policies to prevent undue influence from international bodies (2024).
  17. Global Health Policy Watch. “The influence of non-country funders on WHO’s decision-making”. Geneva: Global Health Policy Watch. Examines how non-country funders, such as foundations, impact WHO’s priorities and decision-making processes (2024).
  18. S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Policies to protect U.S. health sovereignty”. Washington, DC: HHS. Discusses national policy proposals to protect U.S. health sovereignty from international influences, including WHO directives (2024).
  19. Kennedy Jr R F. “Advocacy for American health sovereignty: Policies to protect national interests”. Children’s Health Defense. RFK Jr.’s discussion on policies aimed at safeguarding U.S. health interests and reducing WHO influence (2024).
  20. World Health Organization. “The role of National Focal Points in global health governance”. Geneva: WHO. An official WHO document defining the role, responsibilities, and communication channels of NFPs within the WHO framework (2024).

Citation

Citation: Lisa Miron Esquire and Robert Oldham Young. “The WHO Apparatus: The Hidden Influence of National IHR Focal Points and Implications for Sovereign Health Governance”.Acta Scientific Medical Sciences 9.1 (2025): 25-28.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Lisa Miron Esquire and Robert Oldham Young. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.




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