BUENOS AIRES: Argentina stated Wednesday it’ll pull out of the World Well being Group, following within the footsteps of america and citing comparable complaints over the UN physique’s administration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Javier Milei’s spokesman introduced the choice two weeks after President Donald Trump, an ideological ally and hero of the Argentine chief, introduced Washington’s planned exit from the agency.
Milei’s choice was primarily based on “deep variations relating to well being administration, particularly throughout the pandemic,” spokesman Manuel Adorni advised reporters, including Argentina wouldn’t “enable a global physique to intrude in our sovereignty.”
He cited the “longest lockdown within the historical past of humanity” and “a scarcity of independence (on the WHO) within the face of the political affect of some states,” with out naming names.
Adorni insisted the measure gave Argentina “higher flexibility to implement insurance policies tailored to the context” regionally whereas guaranteeing “higher availability of sources”.
WHO knowledge exhibits Argentina contributed some US$8.75 million in membership charges to the group throughout 2022 and 2023 – 0.11 per cent of the overall finances.
It’s slated to contribute US$8.25 million for the two-year 2024/25 cycle.
The overwhelming majority of the United Nations well being company’s finances comes from voluntary contributions, nevertheless, and Argentina has made none in recent times.
Adorni stated Argentina “doesn’t obtain funding from the WHO, so this measure doesn’t symbolize a lack of funds for the nation”.
Final 12 months, Argentina refused to affix a brand new pandemic protocol drawn up by the WHO and gave discover of its intention to withdraw from the company altogether.
