WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: Under the spotlight
COVID-19 could have been the World Health Organization (WHO)’s finest moment. As a pre-existing global health body with great expertise in responding to previous epidemics, it might have been expected to play a leading role. And indeed, it provided advice and expertise, and helped mobilise the COVAX initiative. At the same time, it faced key criticisms, of acting too slowly at the beginning of the pandemic and of being too close to China.
The WHO faced considerable obstacles in fulfilling its mission.
Despite the recent controversy over COVID-19, where the main issue may have been its lack of powers and coordination, the WHO has achieved lasting success.
Keith Best
