Famine Worsens in Sudan; WHO Declares Controversial Guinea-Bissau Trial ‘Unethical’ 11/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan A child in a camp in Tawila, North Darfur, for people displaced from Al Fasher. Famine indicators are worsening in the most vulnerable areas of Sudan, where “a situation that is already awful continues to deteriorate”, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus told a media briefing on Wednesday. Last week, acute malnutrition surpassing famine thresholds was identified in two areas of North Darfur, by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). Thousands of people fled to these areas, Um Baru and Kernoi, last last year to avoid violent attacks on civilians in the town of El Fasher. “Famine conditions were confirmed in two other cities in November last year, and we know that where hunger goes, disease follows,” said Tedros, adding that an estimated 4.2 million cases of acute malnutrition are expected across Sudan this year – a 14% increase from 2025. Violence is ongoing, including attacks on healthcare facilities. In the past three years of the war, the WHO has verified 205 attacks on health facilities, which have led to 1,924 deaths and 529 injuries. WHO’s Sudan Country Representative, Dr Shible Sahbani, WHO’s Sudan Country Representative, Dr Shible Sahbani, told the media briefing that, aside from famine and violence, Sudan is battling major outbreaks of cholera, malaria, dengue and measles. Over 2.9 million malaria cases have been recorded, 124,000 cholera cases and more than 3,500 deaths, and over 63,000 dengue cases. “Water, hygiene, sanitation and health conditions are very bad in many, many states,” said Sahbani, adding that continued fighting made it impossible for humanitarian efforts to reach those who need help. No support for rape survivors Widespread rape and gender-based violence have been hallmarks of the conflict, and Sakhani said that there was little access to services such as emergency obstetric care, and clinical management of rape. Meanwhile, Dr Teresa Zakaria, WHO head of Humanitarian and Disaster Action, told the briefing that “70% of women in crisis are subjected to gender based violence”. However, “over 60% of organisations that in the past have provided clinical care, social protection, and social assistance to survivors of sexual violence have had to scale back or stop services because of funding cuts”, added Zakaria. “Humanitarian aid cuts to the gender based violence sector amount to over $110 million. In 2025, what this represented is that three million people, mostly women and girls, but also boys and men in humanitarian crisis are deprived of access to services,” she said, adding that the situation this year “is only going to become much worse”. Guinea-Bissau trial is ‘unethical’ When asked about a controversial trial to examine various impacts of the hepatitis B vaccine on newborn babies in Guinea-Bissau, Tedros declared bluntly that it is not ethical. “Guinea-Bissau is one of the countries with a high prevalence of hepatitis B, and withholding a birth dose could actually expose infants to a high chance of infection,” said Tedros. “This violates basic protocol. When you have an effective medicine, denying half of the population of children access to a vaccine that has been there for more than 40 years, which is safe and effective, is not ethical.” A day after the press conference, the WHO issued a statement outlining in more detail why the study is “inconsistent with established ethical and scientific principles”. It listed five reasons, namely: withholding the vaccine from some study participants exposes newborns to serious and potentially irreversible harm, including chronic infection, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. A placebo or no‑treatment vaccine trial is only acceptable when no proven intervention exists or when such a design is indispensable to answer a critical question of efficacy or safety. Neither condition appears to be met based on publicly available descriptions of the study. The protocol does not question the established efficacy and impact of the birth dose; instead, it posits hypothetical safety outcomes without sufficient credible evidence of a safety signal that would warrant exposing participants to risk. The single‑blind, no‑treatment‑controlled design raises a significant likelihood of substantial risk of bias, limiting interpretability of the study results and their policy relevance. Exploiting scarcity is not ethical: Resource constraints cannot be used to justify withholding proven care in a research study involving people. Ethical obligations require minimizing risk and ensuring a prospect of benefit for participants. There has been global outrage over the ethics of the trial, which would only give half the 14,000 babies it aims to enroll a hepatitis B vaccination shortly after birth – despite clinical evidence that early vaccination is highly effective at preventing mother-to-child transmission of the virus, which is the leading global cause of liver disease. A Danish research group, Bandim Health Project, headed by Dr Christine Stabell Benn, an ally of US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, has been given a $1,6 million, five-year grant by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to “assess the effects of neonatal Hepatitis B vaccination on early-life mortality, morbidity, and long-term developmental outcomes”. Stabell Benn is an adviser to the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which recently resolved to stop recommending hepatitis B vaccines to US newborns. “Of course, a sovereign country can decide whatever it wants. But as far as WHO is concerned, it’s unethical to proceed with this study,” Tedros stressed. In a statement, WHO listed glaring ethical violations for witholding the vaccine: the proven benefit of the vaccine, foreseeable harm of the disease, no scientific necessity for the no-treatment arm, insufficient scientific justification, biased and low-utility design, and that exploiting scarcity is not ethical. WHO’s head of immunisation and vaccines, Dr Kate O’Brien, questioned purpose of the trial, adding that WHO’s representative in Guinea-Bissau had been in regular contact with the country’s Health Ministry about the trial. “It’s a safe and extremely effective vaccine,” she said, adding that over 150 countries currently use the hepatitis B vaccine. WHO’s head of immunisation and vaccines, Dr Kate O’Brien, questioned the reason for the trial. “Whenever research is proposed, there has to be some foundation for proposing it, especially when it is asking a question about an authorised vaccine that has a very long-standing safety profile,” said O’Brien. “There has to be some basis for expecting that there is an issue or a question that needs to be asked. And, to our knowledge, there is no underpinning evidence that would suggest that there is any concern with respect to hepatitis B vaccine.” She added that, aside from policy relevance, the research needed to “protect the interests of the participants”. “There are some very concerning aspects of the study that have been proposed, and these are some of the questions that we were asking of the investigators when we had a very good opportunity to discuss it with them.” Two weeks ago, Guinea-Bissau Health Minister, Quinhim Nanthote, told a media briefing that the trial had been “suspended or cancelled”. This is despite recent assertions by the US Health and Human Services (HHS) Department that it was going ahead. ‘Non-specific effects’ of vaccines Nanthote initially told the briefing that his country’s ethics committee had not yet held a meeting about the trial, but later said that it “did not have the required technical resources” to approve the trial. Nanthote, who addressed the briefing in military fatigues, was only appointed health minister on 29 November 2025, following a military coup three days earlier, and was not part of the discussions about the trial. For years, Stabell Benn, co-principal investigator of the trial, has researched the “non-specific effects” (NSE) of vaccines. She and colleagues have conducted trials involving thousands of children in Guinea-Bissau and Denmark, and assert that all vaccines should also be tested for NSEs. One of the research aims of their Guinea-Bissau trial is to investigate the effect of the vaccination “on neuro-development by five years of age”. This dovetails with Kennedy’s belief that the rise of autism is linked to childhood vaccinations. “RFK Jr. has manipulated the [Guinea-Bissau] study to support his unsupportable, science-resistant beliefs about harms caused by the hepatitis B vaccine,” observed US paediatrician Dr Paul Offit, co-inventor of a rotavirus vaccine, on his Substack platform. Story updated to include the WHO statement on the Guinea-Bissau trial. Image Credits: UNICEF. US Signs Health MOU with Burundi, Chooses Hungary as Religious Partner 11/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan The US and Burundi signed a health MOU on 6 February. Burundi has become the 16th African country to sign a five-year bilateral health Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States. The US “intends to provide more than $129 million of health assistance in Burundi for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and infectious disease surveillance, response, and preparation”, according to a statement from the US State Department. In return, Burundi has pledged to increase domestic health expenditures by $26 million, to assume greater financial responsibility for its citizens’ healthcare. US support will include support for “surveillance and outbreak responses, laboratory commodities, frontline health care workers, and data systems”. It will also “continue to improve access to malaria prevention, diagnostic tests and treatments, as well as HIV rapid diagnostic tests and antiretroviral HIV treatment regimens”. As with the other 15 MOUs, Burundi has agreed to share “information and data” about infectious disease outbreaks with epidemic or pandemic potential, according to the US State Department. 🇺🇸🇧🇮The United States and Burundi signed a nearly $156 million five-year global health Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) through the #AmericaFirst Global Health Strategy. This MOU represents a shared commitment to saving lives and protecting Burundians and Americans from… pic.twitter.com/AOwCJngITl — U.S. Embassy Burundi (@US_Emb_Burundi) February 9, 2026 The pace of signings has slowed after a flurry of MOUs the US signed late last year under its “America First Global Health Strategy”. However, the health MOUs have given way to a flurry of US trade agreements, focusing on critical and rare earth minerals – with at least 21 MOUs related to minerals being signed in the past five months, including 11 signed last week alone alongside a Ministerial meeting on critical minerals, according to the US State Department. The US has also chosen Hungary as its partner in advancing religious freedom in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. An MOU between the two countries was signed last week between US Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Michael Rigas and Hungary’s Tristan Azbej, State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians and the Hungary Helps Program. It aims to “facilitate cooperation in supporting Christians and people of faith facing persecution, particularly in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.” Danger Remains Despite a Drop in Measles in the European Region 11/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan A child getting a measles vaccination. Measles cases in Europe and Central Asia dropped by three-quarters in 2025 compared to the previous year – but the decline is partly due to the virus running out of people to infect after spreading rapidly through under-vaccinated communities. Preliminary data from 53 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region reported 33,998 measles cases in 2025 and 127,412 in 2024, according to the WHO and UNICEF. “While cases have reduced, the conditions that led to the resurgence of this deadly disease in recent years remain and must be addressed,” warned Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. “Until all children are reached with vaccination, and hesitancy fuelled by the spread of misinformation is addressed, children will remain at risk of death or serious illness from measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.” In 2024, 19 countries had ongoing measles cases – up from 12 the previous year, according to the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination. “This represents the most significant setback in measles elimination in the region in recent years,” according to the two UN bodies. WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri Kluge, warned that over 200,000 people in our region have contracted measles in the past three years. “Unless every community reaches 95% vaccination coverage, closes immunity gaps across all ages, strengthens disease surveillance and ensures timely outbreak response, this highly contagious virus will keep spreading,” Kluge warned. “In today’s environment of rampant fake news, it’s also crucial that people rely on verified health information from reliable sources such as WHO, UNICEF and national health agencies. Eliminating measles is essential for national and regional health security.” Two doses of the measles vaccine provide up to 97% life-long protection against the virus and a vaccination rate of 95% with both doses in every community each year is needed to prevent measles outbreaks and achieve herd immunity. This protects infants too young for measles vaccination and other people for whom it is not recommended due to medical conditions, like those who are immunocompromised. Measles is one of the most contagious viruses with every infected person able to infect up to 18 unvaccinated people. It can cause serious illness, death and damage to the immune system, including by “erasing” its memory of how to fight infections, leaving measles survivors vulnerable to other diseases and death. Image Credits: WHO. Powerful WHO Members Hint at Delay in Pandemic Talks if No Legal Certainty on Pathogen Information 09/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan Indonesia delivering a statement at IGWG5 on behalf of the Group of Equity. Powerful member state blocs at the World Health Organization (WHO) stressed on Monday that they will not compromise on the final outstanding piece of the Pandemic Agreement simply to meet the May deadline. The Group of Equity and the WHO’s Africa, Eastern Mediterranean and South-East Asia regions stated that they wanted a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system with legal certainty at the second-to-last meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG). “PABS is the heart of the Pandemic Agreement. If the heart is weak, the body cannot function, and the agreement will not deliver equity,” said Indonesia on behalf of the Group of Equity, and the three regions – collectively representing over 80% of the world’s population. The PABS system aims to set out how countries can share information about pathogens and their genetic sequence data and ensure that those sharing this information get access to the benefits developed as a result, such as vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics. But the current PABS draft contains “major loopholes” that will prevent the system – an annex to the Pandemic Agreement – from functioning effectively, Indonesia added. “The annex must articulate the operational details of the PABS System, and provide legal clarity on the rights and obligations of the providers of PABS material and sequence information, as well as various users of the system. We also question how any terms and conditions can be enforced when users are permitted to remain anonymous,” stressed Indonesia. “We understand the pressure of timelines. But we should be clear about the choices and decisions in front of us: We are aiming for an annex by [the World Health Assembly in] May, that can actually deliver a functioning PABS System in totality. But if we cut too many corners now, we will pay for it later in credibility and implementation.” Zimbabwe – speaking for the Africa Group – stated that “a system that safeguards some while leaving others exposed is not only unjust, it is ineffective”. “For the Africa Group, equity and benefit-sharing must be operational, enforceable and central to Pandemic Agreement, including the PABS annex. These elements cannot be aspirational, deferred or left to voluntary implementation. Past experiences has shown the consequences of such approaches.” Pragmatism and speed The EU representative and France’s Anne-Claire Amprou. However, the European Union, backed by G7 leader France, called for pragmatism and speed. “We remain deeply committed to work towards an effective, workable and implementable PABS system in the remaining 12 Days of negotiations that we have at our disposal,” said the EU representative. “We hope that a sense of pragmatism and common sense will help to guide us towards convergence on the key remaining outstanding areas for the purpose of bringing this process to a successful conclusion within the timeframe.” Speaking for France, Anne-Claire Amprou, a former co-chair of the Pandemic Agreement negotiations, urged “quick progress” to adopt the annex by the World Health Assembly in May. “Given the time remaining, we need to be reasonable in terms of the amendments we make to the text,” said Amprou. “We invite member states not to reopen subjects or provisions which were already adopted as part of the Pandemic Agreement.” The Pandemic Agreement cannot be endorsed or operationalised without the PABS annex, which means there is no global agreement on how to approach the next pandemic – which can strike at any time. Benefit-sharing demands India warned against adopting an ambiguous annex. But for many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the bitter memory of being unable to get access to vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic – even for health workers and their most vulnerable citizens – was a sobering lesson. Some indicated that they would be prepared to miss the May deadline rather than budge on their demand for a legally binding PABS system that balances access and benefit-sharing. India, speaking for the South-East Asia region, stated that “it is essential that quality is not compromised by the pressure of timelines”. “Our priority must be an annex that provides clear legal certainty with minimum room for interpretive ambiguity. Such clarity is critical for effective implementation and long-term trust in multilateralism, “ said India. “Benefit-sharing obligation must be proportionate to access and cannot be voluntary, aspirational or based on ‘best endeavours’. Non-monetary benefits Some LMICs also stressed – as India did – that benefit-sharing must extend “beyond monetary contributions and donations of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics”. “Non-monetary benefits, including timely capacity development, technical assistance and non-exclusive manufacturing licences for developing countries, must be clearly specified and applied both during pandemics and during the inter-pandemic period,” said India, for the South-East Asia region. Indonesia said that, while equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics (VTDs) is essential, “we should also be serious about benefits that support timely diversified regional and local production, including non-exclusive licensing to manufacturers in developing countries, transfer of technology, and meaningful collaboration in R&D.” “Benefit sharing cannot depend on purchasing power, ad hoc arrangements or discretionary decisions taken during emergencies,” said Namibia. “It must be triggered by access, governed by multilateral rules and delivered when it matters most. Namibia also places strong emphasis on technology transfer and regional manufacturing capacity. Strengthening local and regional production is essential to reducing dependency and building real resilience.” Way forward The IGWG meeting – the fifth of six – ends on Saturday, and while it plans four evening sessions, co-chair Tovar da Silva Nunes reminded delegates that the meeting’s access to interpreters is limited, a casualty of WHO budget cuts. There are 100 days to the deadline, and by the end of this week’s talks, it should be clear whether the annex is on track for adoption in May. Mexico, meanwhile, indicated that it is available to facilitate “dialogue between blocs of countries”. “We are convinced that, with political will and pragmatism, we can reach the necessary consensus so that we can allow this process to conclude successfully and strengthen our multilateral stance for future pandemics.” said Mexico. WHO Executive Board Adopts New Efficiency Measures But Can They Stick? 09/02/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher Egypt leads the charge Friday against renewing WHO relations with NGOs working in the sexual and reproductive health rights space. After fits, starts, hours of back room negotiations and hesitations, the closing day of WHO’s Executive Board session Friday saw agreement on a number of small – but potentially meaningful – efficiency measures aimed at saving booth member states and the financially-strapped agency a time and money in preparing for and responding to member state mandates. The changes come amidst mounting geopolitical and social tensions amongst member states, with an increasing share of discussion time consumed by a handful of highly politicized items, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as sexual and reproductive health rights. At the same time, the Executive Board and the annual World Health Assembly (WHA) have become overloaded with a growing volume of draft decisions and resolutions – many costly to implement and not always aligned with established strategic plans. Among the key reforms is an initiative to streamline timelines and criteria for the submission of proposed draft resolutions and decisions by member states. This could curb the proliferation of proposals seen over the past several years. Streamlining discussion on Palestine and de-escalating flashpoints WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Friday evening in emotional appeals for streamlining debates around divisive issues such as reproductive health rights and Palestine. Another small efficiency steps for the upcoming WHA include a compromise on language, which enabled the approval of WHO’s continued engagement with five NGOs working on sexual and reproductive health rights. In addition, a plan to consolidate discussion around two overlapping reports on the thorny question of health conditions in the “Occupied Palestine Territory (OPT)’’ into a single WHA agenda item avoids duplications that have consumed hours of WHA time since 2024. That is when the Israel-Hamas war led to the development of a second WHO report on health conditions in the OPT, in addition to the annual report that has been a perennial feature on the WHA every year since Israel occupied the territories in 1967. Addressing the Executive Board on Friday, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus framed the latter consolidation as both an efficiency gain and a confidence-building measure. “As you know, the UN Security Council welcomed the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict last November through Resolution 2803. This holds the real promise for advancing peace and …in a region with such urgent needs, peace is built one brave step at a time. It’s a commitment we renew every day. Peace endures only when we carry it forward together. Each of us can contribute through our decisions in the EB and the WHA,” Tedros said. “Today, I propose one concrete step combining the two WHA agenda items… into a single discussion. …By taking this step together, we not only foster a more constructive environment for our governance deliberations, but also contribute, in a small way, to the success of the peace initiative.” More efficient process for advancing WHA resolutions Administratively, the Board also backed proposals to enforce stricter timelines for submitting draft resolutions and decisions, along with closer WHO Secretariat supervision to ensure their alignment with agency priorities and budgets, and manageable meeting agendas. While current rules hold that zero drafts should be submitted several months before a session – and final drafts no later than 15 days ahead – in practice, many proposals have arrived late, leaving little time for review by the WHO Secretariat or member states. In a draft decision Friday, Board members also agreed to advance a proposed rule change whereby three WHO member states from at least two regions must agree to co-sponsor any new decision or resolution. The innovation aims to curb member states’ debate on measures with little real backing. But the provision remains bracketed in the draft text, which also refers to the “piloting” of the reform measures, signalling the long road that remains to actual approval. Opposition to WHO’s engagement with reproductive health NGOs Norway’s EB representative, Cathrine Lofthus, Ministry of Health Director General, led negotiations with the Egyptian-led bloc on WHO collaborations with reproductive health NGOs. The Executive Board also reached a time-saving agreement on another topic of frequent WHA conflict – WHO engagements with non-state actors that work on sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). Egypt, where abortion is illegal unless a woman’s life is at risk and is even subject to a jail sentence, has long been a leader in opposing WHO’s engagements with NGOs working in this space. This year, that included opposition to WHO collaborations with five groups whose terms of engagement with WHO are due to be renewed this year, as part of a routine, triennial review process. The groups are the International Planned Parenthood Federation, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Family Health International, the Population Council and the World Association for Sexual Health. Speaking for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which includes states from WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region as well as countries in North Africa and Asia, Egypt’s delegate declared that continued engagement with the five NGOs is “contrary” to WHO’s Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA), which aims to ensure the agency’s “integrity, independence and credibility is not compromised” and that non-state actors do not wield undue “influence” in setting “policies, norms and standards.” Norway, leading the EU and other supportive member states, spent several hours negotiating an addendum that effectively renews collaboration while taking “note” of reservations and affirms that “member states have full sovereign rights over which non-state actors operate within their national territories,” in line with their “national context and legislation.” Addendum to EB decision renewing WHO’s collaboration’s with reproductive health NGOs de-escalated potential controversy at the upcoming World Health Assembly. Here too, Tedros added his own support, recalling how parliamentary reforms liberalizing Ethiopia’s abortion laws during his tenure as health minister helped cut maternal mortality fivefold, as many deaths were linked to unsafe abortions. “I myself invited not only WHO, but other international organizations for help, and it’s during that time, our Parliament passed a bill on how to handle unsafe abortion, because nobody wanted for our mothers to die, our sisters to die,” Tedros said. “We don’t allow our norms and standards to be influenced by anyone. We take sides with science,” Tedros affirmed. “Any country has sovereignty, either to invite us or not invite us [to support them]. But whatever relationship we have, it will not be forced on any country.” The EB negotiations and word-smithing, while tortuous and time-consuming, may help avert an even larger debate at the WHA. Temporary fixes? Palestinian EB representative Ryad Awaja: consolidated discussion on health conditions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is an “exceptional” move. Despite the budget pressure that helped push member states toward incremental reforms, most changes remain tentative—preliminary or applicable only to the upcoming WHA. Agreeing to combine discussions on the two overlapping WHO reports on “health conditions in the Occupied Palestine Territory (OPT)” into one dedicated discussion on the WHA agenda, Palestine’s EB representative Ryad Awaja stressed that the arrangement was temporary. He attributed it to logistical constraints facing this year’s WHA, with some meetings shifting to WHO headquarters during renovations at Geneva’s UN Offices in the Palais des Nations. “To know this is exceptional,” Awaja said of the consolidated discussion. “It’s not …forever. It’s just an exception from Palestine to help for this time.” Maternal and Child Nutrition Backslides: WHO Report Reveals 06/02/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The current status of six global maternal and child health targets as of 2023. The World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board faced a grim reckoning on Thursday in a report detailing how global progress on maternal, infant and child nutrition has largely stalled or even regressed. Notably, six critical nutrition targets remain “off track,” with rising rates of anaemia and childhood obesity sliding back, threatening to reverse years of development gains, according to a report reviewed by the EB. “Malnutrition is really a silent epidemic today in Africa,” stated the representative of Cameroon. “Despite all that has been done, we still see stunting, anaemia, and lack of certain nutrients.” International commitments aim to halve the prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age by 2030, as part of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). However, rates have climbed from 27.6% in 2012 to 30.7% in 2023. Driven by factors ranging from food insecurity and infectious diseases to poverty, this leaves millions of women without enough healthy red blood cells. Global targets for tackling the double burden of malnutrition, which includes both undernutrition and overweight, are similarly off-track. The global prevalence of childhood overweight has crept up to 5.5%, as food systems struggle to provide healthy options, the WHO report notes. Stunting, a measure of undernutrition, still affects 150.2 million children under five, with an estimated 136.3 million more children likely to face stunting by 2030. And low birth weight rates have barely improved, inching down just 0.3% to 14.7% of newborns between 2012 and 2023. Meanwhile, childhood wasting remains stubbornly high at 6.6% of children under the age of five years of age – well above the 5% threshold required to ensure child survival. Maternal and child health is crisis of inequality The delegation from Cameroon highlighted the ‘silent epidemic’ of malnutrition and the urgent need to prioritise maternal and child health amidst stalling global progress. In the first comprehensive debate since member states pledged to extend and accelerate action on maternal, infant and young child nutrition in a 2025 World Health Assembly resolution, delegates called out the stagnation as a systemic crisis of inequality deepened by conflict and climate change. Speaking on behalf of the 47 Member States of the African Region, the delegation from Lesotho warned that the continent bears the highest global burden of stunting and anaemia, a situation that persists, despite ongoing interventions, delegates from Cameroon added. Somalia, speaking for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, highlighted the devastating impact of climate and conflict-driven instability, noting a “complex nutrition burden driven by conflict, displacement, and climate shocks.” The delegation reported that 24.3 million children under five in the Africa region are currently stunted, urging prioritised support for fragile and conflict-affected settings. Outrage over ‘savage marketing’ of formula The Norwegian delegation joined the European Union and African nations in calling for stricter regulations on the formula industry’s digital marketing following recent safety recalls. A major point of contention during the session was the aggressive commercialisation of infant nutrition. In a sharp rebuke of the formula industry, the Central African Republic condemned “savage marketing for breast milk substitutes.” The delegate noted that these practices are “undermining breastfeeding and taking advantage of communities that are already poor and fragile”, putting industry interests over public health. This concern bridged the divide between the Global South and wealthy donor nations. Norway joined African nations in demanding stricter regulation, specifically targeting the digital sphere. The Norwegian delegation raised alarm over “recent large-scale recalls of breast milk substitutes,” arguing that food safety and robust monitoring must be paramount. Advocacy groups demand industry accountability The delegate from the Central African Republic condemned ‘aggressive’ and ‘savage marketing for breast milk substitutes.’ The tension between public health priorities and commercial interests was palpable in statements from non-state actors. The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) hit back at the formula industry. The advocacy group warned that recent contamination cases exposed “systemic failures” in formula production. IBFAN argued that cross-border social media marketing exacerbates food safety risks by allowing unregistered products to enter countries, demanding that governments take the lead in verifying safety rather than trusting manufacturers. Meanwhile, the Global Self-Care Federation, representing the consumer health industry, argued that policymakers also “must prioritise the provision of micronutrient supplements” to women. A statement by the group noted that iron, folate, iodine, and calcium supplementation can help reduce anaemia prevalence, and therefore maternal mortality and pre-term birth, as well as some “life-long NCD risks.” Such supplementation is thus a “cost-effective public health investment”, the group stated. Rising stakes in a climate of receding aid The WHO Executive Board convenes in Geneva to address a critical report revealing that most global maternal and child health targets are currently off track. The United Kingdom called the report “sobering,” noting that “no country is on track to meet the targets” and flagging worsening trends in minimum dietary diversity even within its borders. Canada emphasised the need to “step up nutritional interventions” that are based on evidence and take gender into account. Speaking for the 27-member European Union, Bulgaria admitted the world is “far off track.” However, the bloc reiterated its financial commitment, noting that Europe has pledged €6.5 billion to fight malnutrition up to 2029. The EU called for increased coordination on data collection to better target the most vulnerable populations. While officials figures are yet to be finalised, international development assistance for nutrition declined by an estimated 9% to 17% in 2025. In light of this, the Board faces the difficult task of reversing these trends in a constrained financial environment. Such reductions in donor aid threaten to “reverse hard work and increase preventable child deaths,” warned Nigeria, saying that nutrition needs to be considered an “essential” organising principle of primary health care. Image Credits: Felix Sassmannshausen, HPW/Felix Sassmannshausen. Argentina: No Withdrawal from Pan American Health Organization – Despite Leaving WHO 06/02/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher Argentina’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Carlos Mario Foradori, affirms his country will remain involved with WHO’s regional arm, PAHO, Although Argentina is withdrawing from the World Health Organization’s global body, it intends to remain an active member in WHO’s regional affiliate, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the country’s representative told the WHO Executive Board on Friday. His comments came in the course of a discussion on the legal and policy impacts of Argentina’s declaration in February 2025 that it would leave WHO, following that of the United States last January. Argentina’s official notice, made in March, is due to be discussed at the May World Health Assembly along with the United States withdrawal. But the two countries are in somewhat different legal positions vis a vis any WHA response. In terms of Argentina, there is no explicit provision in WHO’s Constitution for member states to withdraw, with the exception of the United States, which reserved that right explicitly when it joined in 1948. As for the United States, the US also owes WHO some $260.6 million in unpaid dues for 2024-2025, on which WHA member states could feasibly demand payment before its withdrawal is legally “accepted.” See related story. Stars and Stripes No Longer Flying at WHO – But US Can’t Really Leave Until Dues are Paid, Agency Says Argentina will continue to abide by International Health Regulations on Emergencies Regardless of the formalities, Argentina’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Carlos Mario Foradori, affirmed that the country would continue to abide by International Health Regulations whereby WHO must be notified of an infectious disease outbreak of epidemic potential. “We will not be isolated from the world. We will continue to respect all the rules that exist. We cooperate very closely with the Pan American Health Organization, and we will strengthen this even further,” Foradori said, adding that PAHO’s Director Jarbas Barbosa, is in fact visiting Argentina next week. “And it should be clear to the whole membership that we’re not leaving this world. To be very clear, as was mentioned, the pandemic knows no borders, and as a Western civilized country, we understand that we need to respect rules, and work with the whole world.” Some WHO observers called out Foradori’s reference to a “western civilized country” was as a slight on non-western regions of the world. So far, the US also has remained in PAHO, of which it was a founding member, and whose existence predates the 1948 formation of WHO by nearly half a century. Historically, the US is also PAHO’s largest funder. However, currently the US owes PAHO some 78.5 million in unpaid dues for the 2024-25 fiscal year, and a total of $136.5 million including 2026 dues. In August, meanwhile, the White House ordered cuts in some $45 million to already approved PAHO allocations in protest over a now-discontinued PAHO programme supporting the deployment of Cuban doctors to rural areas of Brazil at sub-market wages and with Cuba’s government reaping financial benefits. See related story: Pan American Health Organization Targeted in New Round of US Funding Cuts This week’s Congressional passage of a $9.42 billion global health appropriations bill , meanwhile, contained no explicit mention of funding to PAHO. And so it remains to be seen the cutbacks previously ordered by the White House are indeed implemented – as well as how PAHO will be funded for 2026. Legally, PAHO is an anomaly amongst WHO’s six regional offices insofar as it operates with its own budget and decision-making structure as a semi-autonomous entity – even though it also serves as a WHO Regional Office. This anomaly, in turn, opens up the unique possibility for nations in the Americas to retain their affiliation with PAHO as a regional organization, whilst disassociating themselves from WHO as a global body. No clear way forward on response to member states that withdraw Costa Rica’s delegate at the EB was one of several member states that expressed regret at Argentina’s withdrawal from WHO. The EB discussion did not yield a unanimous recommendation on whether the World Health Assembly should actively ‘accept’ Argentina’s withdrawal – or how to respond to the US withdrawal at a time when Washington stills owe WHO some $360 million in past dues. While many WHO member states at the EB meeting stressed that countries had the sovereign right to determine whether they remain in an international organization – others stressed the legal complexities around the issue and the need for further consideration before the WHA must take a position in May. Ultimately, the EB agreed to pass onto the WHA a draft resolution co-sponsored by Argentina and Israel, calling on WHO member states to formally acknowledge Argentina’s withdrawal. But some leading member states reserved their final position, asking for further legal analysis and clarification. “Argentina’s notification of withdrawal raises numerous issues that do require careful consideration,” said Australia’’s delegate. Said Switzerland, “We hear that there are still different legal, political, technical questions on the conditions and the implication in this context, on this agenda. ..We would all benefit from additional clarity for the WHA to be able to take an informed decision.” A report submitted to this Executive Board meeting has already has laid out the key issues relateld to the withdrawal of both Argentina and the US. Effectively, there is no legal provision in the WHO Constitution for a member state to withdraw – with the exception of the United States, which made that right an explicit condition of its joining in 1948, WHO’s paper notes. At the same time, Argentina and other member states argued that broader international legal principles guarantee a country the sovereign right to determine its affiliations in multilateral organizations like WHO. Australia, Costa Rica, Zimbabwe and other member states also expressed regret over Argentina’s departure from the global body, asking for continued dialogue over its decision and describing Argentina as a valued partner in global health. “We request them to reconsider in view of global health security,” said Zimbabwe. China says US withdrawal shows lack of ‘leadership’ China’s EB delegate describes US withdrawal from WHO as a lack of leadership. No such regrets were expressed at Friday’s meeting regarding the US departure. But China described the US move as a lack of leadership, saying: “As the most representative and authoritative intergovernmental, international health organization, the WHO bears a significant responsibility in global health governance….Major countries in particular, should lead by example. They should not treat the WHO as something to be used as it fits and abandoned when it does not. Nor should they bypass the WHO and set up alternative mechanisms,” China’s delegate said. “Countries should adhere to the rule of law and should not selectively fulfill their international obligations and commitments, and should not place [their] domestic political agenda above international law and governments.” At the same time, China called for a re-evaluation of WHO rules around the entry and exit of member states from the organization, for which WHO’s 1948 constitution made few provisions, saying: “The issue of withdrawal is complex and sensitive. Members cannot enter or exit at their will. At present, there are certain gaps and ambiguity in the WHO’s rule regarding membership changes based on fairness and transparency, necessary adjustments and improvements should be made to better respond to the new circumstances and requirements on global health governance.” Israel, meanwhile, said that WHA members should accept the US notice of withdrawal without hinging it to other issues – an indirect reference to the unpaid US dues for 2024-2025. Said Israel, “Any attempt to compel states against the national decisions is an infringement of their sovereign rights. There is no valid reason to further discuss this matter in any WHO forum. Further discussions only consume the limited resources this organization has without carrying any actual impact on the ground. Other issues of dispute between a member state and the organization do not affect the right of withdrawal in the context of the WHO,” Israel’s delegate said, an apparent reference to the outstanding, unpaid WHO dues still owed by the US. At Monday’s Executive Board opening, Israel’s EB Representative, Asher Salmon, warned that his country, a close ally of the US, is also under pressure to withdraw from WHO, saying, “in Israel, there are also, unfortunately, strong public voices calling for us to leave the organisation.” Claiming that the WHO had become “too politicised,” he called for a “brave conceptual overhaul” of the organization. See related story: Days After US Leaves WHO, Israel Warns it Faces Pressure to Withdraw Image Credits: DavidRockDesign/Pixabay. Spain to Restrict Social Media Access as Evidence Mounts of Health Harms for Children 06/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the World Governments Summit in Dubai Spain announced this week that it would tighten its social media laws, aiming to ban access for children under the age of 16 as part of a global tide against electronic platforms. Last year, Australia became the first country to restrict social media for children, while French lawmakers voted to follow suit last month. So far, the UK, Denmark, Norway, Greece and India are considering similar moves, while German lawmakers are considering a digital law to contain the anti-competitive behaviour of global digital platforms. There is growing evidence of the harmful effects of social media on children, including depression, anxiety, stress and cyberbullying – alongside evidence that digital platforms such as X are influencing political outcomes by manipulating content and algorithms. “First, we will change the law in Spain to hold platform executives legally accountable for many infringements taking place on their sites,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday. “This means that CEOs of these techno platforms will face criminal liability for failing to remove illegal or hateful content,” said Sanchez. “Second, we will turn algorithmic manipulation and amplification of illegal content into a new criminal offence,” he added. “No more hiding behind code. No more pretending technology is neutral. “Third, we will implement a hate and polarization footprint system to track, quantify, and expose how digital platforms fuel division and amplify hate. For too long, hate has been treated as invisible and untraceable, but we will change that.” Sanchez added that Spain “will ban access to social media for minors under the age of 16” and platforms“will be required to implement effective age verification systems”. “Today, our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone. A space of addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation… we will protect them from a digital wild west.” “Fifth and last, my government will work with our public prosecutor to investigate and pursue the infringement committed by Grok, TikTok, and Instagram. We will have zero tolerance and protect our digital sovereignty against foreign coercion.” Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, responded by describing Sanchez as “dirty” and a “tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain”. Dirty Sánchez is a tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain 💩 https://t.co/B3oyHrBYpR — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 3, 2026 However, X faces global probes after it emerged that the platform’s AI chatbot, Grok, is generating deepfake pornography, including involving children. Australia provides global example Australia’s ban on social media for children aged 15 and under came into effect on 10 December last year. It affects platforms including Tiktok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads. While children and their parents are not sanctioned for breaking the ban, the Australian government will impose heavy fines on companies that allow children to have accounts. Days before the ban came into effect, Meta – owner of Facebook, Instagram and Threads – said it had deleted about 550,000 accounts. A representative survey of children aged 10-15 commissioned by the Australian government in 2024/5 found that 96% used social media, and that 71% had experienced harmful content. “This included exposure to misogynistic or hateful material, dangerous online challenges, violent fight videos, and content promoting disordered eating and suicide,” according to a media release on the survey. One in seven children reported experiencing online “grooming” from adults or children at least four years older, which included being asked questions about their private parts or to share nude images. Growing evidence of harms to children Meanwhile, global evidence keeps growing of the negative effects of social media use – particularly on the developing brains of children. A scoping review of multiple studies published last year in PubMed linked social media to bullying, and prolonged use to depression, anxiety, and stress. The review notes the “alarming” increase in mental health disorders among youth and adolescents, particularly “anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyper-reactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder”. “One contributing factor that has received growing attention is the role of social media and technology in shaping adolescent brain development, behaviour, and emotional well-being,” the researchers note. “While digital platforms provide opportunities for social connection, self-expression, and mental health support, they also introduce significant risks, including compulsive social media use, cyberbullying, unrealistic beauty standards, and exposure to substance-related content.” A meta-analysis of 143 studies involving over one million adolescents, published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2024, found “a positive and significant meta-correlation between time spent on social media and mental health symptoms”, particularly depression and anxiety. Image Credits: Unsplash. As WHO Debates Global AI Regulation, States Clash Over ‘Data Sovereignty’ 05/02/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, warns that digital tools and AI may widen health gaps without proper governance and trust. A stark debate over who owns the data in the future of AI and digital health emerged at the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board on Wednesday. Low and middle-income countries warned that the rapid deployment of new technologies risks accelerating data extraction and increasing inequality, cautioning that – without strict AI governance, sustainable financing and equitable guardrails – the implementation of AI in health systems would compromise “data sovereignty”. The debate centred on a WHO report outlining the framework for a digital transformation strategy spanning 2028 to 2033. Highlighting the profound shifts driven by AI and genomics, the report notes that many member states remain paralysed by “fragmented systems with limited interoperability.” And it warns that without reliable, representative data, AI risks amplifying biases and inefficiencies. “Innovation alone is not enough,” stated Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “Without skills, governance and trust, digital tools widen gaps instead of closing them.” Kluge also warned that “the risk of a new digital divide is real”. Based on the deliberations, the Secretariat will continue its technical work on the strategy. To this end, the WHO has established a tripartite collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union and the World Intellectual Property Organization. The board also decided to move forward on consultations to strengthen the global health workforce code, while the fight against substandard medicines moves to a new operational phase under an approved work plan. Closing the rift in AI regulation The representative from Cameroon, speaking for the African Region, shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership at the WHO Executive Board session on Wednesday. Regarding AI and digital health, a regulatory rift is opening as high-income regions press forward. While the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have established guiding principles on AI, a formal global standard remains elusive. The European Union, represented by Bulgaria, argued that health data and information systems are the “essential foundation”, calling for the WHO to lead harmonisation efforts. These ought to focus on autonomy, safety, well-being of patients and health care professionals. Israel supported this, proposing “regulatory sandboxes” to test technologies safely while integrating economic considerations. However, the African Region and other LMICs shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership. Cameroon, speaking for the region, called for rigorous ethical governance. The prevailing fear is that international companies will harvest data from the Global South to train AI models or develop products that are then sold back for profit. Barbados reinforced this, rejecting the model of “donor-funded surveys”. The delegate argued that health data must be treated as a “national asset” under local control. Positioning the country as a “living laboratory” for digital innovation, Barbados demanded sustainable financing models to advance universal health coverage rather than short-term extraction. Rich nations urged to ‘pay up’ for imported health talent Zimbabwe’s representative calls for co-investment from rich nations to address the crisis of health worker migration. The board also confronted the escalating crisis of health worker migration, reviewing new data confirming that active recruitment from nations with fragile health systems is intensifying ‘brain drain’ to plug staffing gaps in the Global North. Zimbabwe, speaking for the African Region, issued a sharp rebuke of current practices. “Targeted recruitment continues to strain our fragile health systems,” the delegate warned. The region demanded that development banks and donor agencies move beyond rhetoric to “co-invest” in the education and retention of the workforce in source countries. Pakistan amplified this, arguing that while the principle of co-investment is recognised, there is currently a lack of “binding commitment to deliver it”. The United Kingdom, a major destination country, maintained that the Global Code of Practice remains “central to ethical international recruitment.” However, the UK acknowledged the need for clearer guidance on safeguards and supported a process to refine the Code’s application. To bridge this divide, the Secretariat, and member states agreed to launch informal consultations to draft a decision for the World Health Assembly in May. The talks will focus on specific additions to the Code, such as co-investment mechanisms and protections for care workers. Debate on ‘scourge’ of substandard medicines ongoing The WHO is intensifying surveillance of medical products following a deadly spike in contaminated products containing toxic chemicals like cough syrups. On a last item, the board confronted the lethal proliferation of substandard and falsified medical products, a crisis described by delegates as a critical threat to both public health and economic security. The WHO’s surveillance system has recorded over 10,000 suspect products since 2013, with the Secretariat highlighting a recent, deadly spike in contaminated medical products containing diethylene glycol, like cough syrups. Togo, speaking for the African Region, characterised the issue as a “scourge,” exacerbated by open borders and informal markets. The region called for “innovative financing” to support regulatory authorities in resource-poor settings, where the risk of infiltration into public supply chains remains high. Ukraine shifted the focus to modern distribution channels, warning of the specific threat posed by “unregulated online sales.” The delegate urged the WHO to help secure supply chains for high-risk excipients – inactive ingredients often implicated in contamination cases. The International Pharmaceutical Federation backed these concerns, emphasising that the workforce must be trained to detect fakes before they reach patients. “Protecting patients requires safeguarding the quality of medicines,” the Federation argued. To close the detection gap, the Board noted the urgent need to roll out market surveillance technologies, specifically the Epione reporting tool, to track suspect products in real-time. The Secretariat will now develop the draft global strategy for 2028 to 2033, which is scheduled for submission to the board at its 160th session in January 2027 before final consideration by the 80th World Health Assembly. Image Credits: Felix Sassmannshausen, WHO/Christopher Black , Pexels/Towfiqu barbhuiya. Tedros Expresses Confidence That Pandemic Talks Will Meet ‘Absolute Deadline’ 05/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan WHO Diector-General Dr Tedros and IGWG co-chair Matthew Harpur (right) World Health Organization (WHO) Director General expressed confidence that member states would agree on the last outstanding part of the Pandemic Agreement by the “absolute deadline” of May at the body’s Executive Board meeting on Wednesday. “This year’s World Health Assembly [in May] must receive a text that member states can consider and act upon. There is no scope for delay because the next pandemic will not wait,” Tedros urged. But questions by Pakistan, part of the Group for Equity negotiating bloc in the negotiations, indicated a lack of agreement on several key issues relating to how pathogens should be shared. Member states only have two more weeks of formal negotiations before the deadline – with the next round starting on Monday. However, the talks are also affected by WHO budget cuts which have limited their access to translators. Countries are hammering out a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, deciding on how materials and sequence information from pathogens with pandemic potential can be shared fast and fairly – and how countries sharing this information can also benefit from any products that are developed as a result. The Group for Equity and Africa Region want draft contracts to be included as part of the deal to set out the terms for those who want access to pathogen information – for example, pharmaceutical companies in order to make vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic tests. The Pakistan delegate said that the two groups – representing 80% of the world’s population – had come up with a standard material transfer agreement based on other international agreements, and a draft contract for digital sequence information. “We have had only one informal discussion on the draft contracts,” said Pakistan, urging those in charge of the process to organise more consultation on the contracts. “In order to complete the exercise, to have full legal clarity and certainty we would like to have a pandemic agreement with draft contracts.” Three key areas for talks Matthew Harpur, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) overseeing the negotiations, outlined the three key areas for the talks. “Firstly, we have the scope and objectives and the use of terms,” said Harpur, who added that by last meeting, “it was really good to see some progress”. “Secondly, we have the implementation and the operation of the PABS system,” he added. This includes the issue of “equal footing” – namely, that rapid access to pathogens information and how the benefits deriving from this sharing are of equal importance. “How do we how do we swiftly share that information that keeps us all safer and but how do we also ensure equity,” said Harpur, adding that issues such as monetary contributions had to be agreed on to ensure equity. The third part is “governance and enforcement”. “You can have the best words on paper, but if they’re not enforceable, if they don’t work in practice, it is meaningless,” said Harpur. “So how do we ensure an effective governance system, with the advisory group, the role of the [Conference of the Parties] and, of course, the role of the Secretariat.” The next IGWG meeting runs from 9-14 February. Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts This site uses cookies to help give you the best experience on our website. Cookies enable us to collect information that helps us personalise your experience and improve the functionality and performance of our site. By continuing to read our website, we assume you agree to this, otherwise you can adjust your browser settings. Please read our cookie and Privacy Policy. Our Cookies and Privacy Policy Loading Comments... You must be logged in to post a comment.
US Signs Health MOU with Burundi, Chooses Hungary as Religious Partner 11/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan The US and Burundi signed a health MOU on 6 February. Burundi has become the 16th African country to sign a five-year bilateral health Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States. The US “intends to provide more than $129 million of health assistance in Burundi for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and infectious disease surveillance, response, and preparation”, according to a statement from the US State Department. In return, Burundi has pledged to increase domestic health expenditures by $26 million, to assume greater financial responsibility for its citizens’ healthcare. US support will include support for “surveillance and outbreak responses, laboratory commodities, frontline health care workers, and data systems”. It will also “continue to improve access to malaria prevention, diagnostic tests and treatments, as well as HIV rapid diagnostic tests and antiretroviral HIV treatment regimens”. As with the other 15 MOUs, Burundi has agreed to share “information and data” about infectious disease outbreaks with epidemic or pandemic potential, according to the US State Department. 🇺🇸🇧🇮The United States and Burundi signed a nearly $156 million five-year global health Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) through the #AmericaFirst Global Health Strategy. This MOU represents a shared commitment to saving lives and protecting Burundians and Americans from… pic.twitter.com/AOwCJngITl — U.S. Embassy Burundi (@US_Emb_Burundi) February 9, 2026 The pace of signings has slowed after a flurry of MOUs the US signed late last year under its “America First Global Health Strategy”. However, the health MOUs have given way to a flurry of US trade agreements, focusing on critical and rare earth minerals – with at least 21 MOUs related to minerals being signed in the past five months, including 11 signed last week alone alongside a Ministerial meeting on critical minerals, according to the US State Department. The US has also chosen Hungary as its partner in advancing religious freedom in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. An MOU between the two countries was signed last week between US Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Michael Rigas and Hungary’s Tristan Azbej, State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians and the Hungary Helps Program. It aims to “facilitate cooperation in supporting Christians and people of faith facing persecution, particularly in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.” Danger Remains Despite a Drop in Measles in the European Region 11/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan A child getting a measles vaccination. Measles cases in Europe and Central Asia dropped by three-quarters in 2025 compared to the previous year – but the decline is partly due to the virus running out of people to infect after spreading rapidly through under-vaccinated communities. Preliminary data from 53 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region reported 33,998 measles cases in 2025 and 127,412 in 2024, according to the WHO and UNICEF. “While cases have reduced, the conditions that led to the resurgence of this deadly disease in recent years remain and must be addressed,” warned Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. “Until all children are reached with vaccination, and hesitancy fuelled by the spread of misinformation is addressed, children will remain at risk of death or serious illness from measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.” In 2024, 19 countries had ongoing measles cases – up from 12 the previous year, according to the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination. “This represents the most significant setback in measles elimination in the region in recent years,” according to the two UN bodies. WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri Kluge, warned that over 200,000 people in our region have contracted measles in the past three years. “Unless every community reaches 95% vaccination coverage, closes immunity gaps across all ages, strengthens disease surveillance and ensures timely outbreak response, this highly contagious virus will keep spreading,” Kluge warned. “In today’s environment of rampant fake news, it’s also crucial that people rely on verified health information from reliable sources such as WHO, UNICEF and national health agencies. Eliminating measles is essential for national and regional health security.” Two doses of the measles vaccine provide up to 97% life-long protection against the virus and a vaccination rate of 95% with both doses in every community each year is needed to prevent measles outbreaks and achieve herd immunity. This protects infants too young for measles vaccination and other people for whom it is not recommended due to medical conditions, like those who are immunocompromised. Measles is one of the most contagious viruses with every infected person able to infect up to 18 unvaccinated people. It can cause serious illness, death and damage to the immune system, including by “erasing” its memory of how to fight infections, leaving measles survivors vulnerable to other diseases and death. Image Credits: WHO. Powerful WHO Members Hint at Delay in Pandemic Talks if No Legal Certainty on Pathogen Information 09/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan Indonesia delivering a statement at IGWG5 on behalf of the Group of Equity. Powerful member state blocs at the World Health Organization (WHO) stressed on Monday that they will not compromise on the final outstanding piece of the Pandemic Agreement simply to meet the May deadline. The Group of Equity and the WHO’s Africa, Eastern Mediterranean and South-East Asia regions stated that they wanted a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system with legal certainty at the second-to-last meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG). “PABS is the heart of the Pandemic Agreement. If the heart is weak, the body cannot function, and the agreement will not deliver equity,” said Indonesia on behalf of the Group of Equity, and the three regions – collectively representing over 80% of the world’s population. The PABS system aims to set out how countries can share information about pathogens and their genetic sequence data and ensure that those sharing this information get access to the benefits developed as a result, such as vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics. But the current PABS draft contains “major loopholes” that will prevent the system – an annex to the Pandemic Agreement – from functioning effectively, Indonesia added. “The annex must articulate the operational details of the PABS System, and provide legal clarity on the rights and obligations of the providers of PABS material and sequence information, as well as various users of the system. We also question how any terms and conditions can be enforced when users are permitted to remain anonymous,” stressed Indonesia. “We understand the pressure of timelines. But we should be clear about the choices and decisions in front of us: We are aiming for an annex by [the World Health Assembly in] May, that can actually deliver a functioning PABS System in totality. But if we cut too many corners now, we will pay for it later in credibility and implementation.” Zimbabwe – speaking for the Africa Group – stated that “a system that safeguards some while leaving others exposed is not only unjust, it is ineffective”. “For the Africa Group, equity and benefit-sharing must be operational, enforceable and central to Pandemic Agreement, including the PABS annex. These elements cannot be aspirational, deferred or left to voluntary implementation. Past experiences has shown the consequences of such approaches.” Pragmatism and speed The EU representative and France’s Anne-Claire Amprou. However, the European Union, backed by G7 leader France, called for pragmatism and speed. “We remain deeply committed to work towards an effective, workable and implementable PABS system in the remaining 12 Days of negotiations that we have at our disposal,” said the EU representative. “We hope that a sense of pragmatism and common sense will help to guide us towards convergence on the key remaining outstanding areas for the purpose of bringing this process to a successful conclusion within the timeframe.” Speaking for France, Anne-Claire Amprou, a former co-chair of the Pandemic Agreement negotiations, urged “quick progress” to adopt the annex by the World Health Assembly in May. “Given the time remaining, we need to be reasonable in terms of the amendments we make to the text,” said Amprou. “We invite member states not to reopen subjects or provisions which were already adopted as part of the Pandemic Agreement.” The Pandemic Agreement cannot be endorsed or operationalised without the PABS annex, which means there is no global agreement on how to approach the next pandemic – which can strike at any time. Benefit-sharing demands India warned against adopting an ambiguous annex. But for many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the bitter memory of being unable to get access to vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic – even for health workers and their most vulnerable citizens – was a sobering lesson. Some indicated that they would be prepared to miss the May deadline rather than budge on their demand for a legally binding PABS system that balances access and benefit-sharing. India, speaking for the South-East Asia region, stated that “it is essential that quality is not compromised by the pressure of timelines”. “Our priority must be an annex that provides clear legal certainty with minimum room for interpretive ambiguity. Such clarity is critical for effective implementation and long-term trust in multilateralism, “ said India. “Benefit-sharing obligation must be proportionate to access and cannot be voluntary, aspirational or based on ‘best endeavours’. Non-monetary benefits Some LMICs also stressed – as India did – that benefit-sharing must extend “beyond monetary contributions and donations of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics”. “Non-monetary benefits, including timely capacity development, technical assistance and non-exclusive manufacturing licences for developing countries, must be clearly specified and applied both during pandemics and during the inter-pandemic period,” said India, for the South-East Asia region. Indonesia said that, while equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics (VTDs) is essential, “we should also be serious about benefits that support timely diversified regional and local production, including non-exclusive licensing to manufacturers in developing countries, transfer of technology, and meaningful collaboration in R&D.” “Benefit sharing cannot depend on purchasing power, ad hoc arrangements or discretionary decisions taken during emergencies,” said Namibia. “It must be triggered by access, governed by multilateral rules and delivered when it matters most. Namibia also places strong emphasis on technology transfer and regional manufacturing capacity. Strengthening local and regional production is essential to reducing dependency and building real resilience.” Way forward The IGWG meeting – the fifth of six – ends on Saturday, and while it plans four evening sessions, co-chair Tovar da Silva Nunes reminded delegates that the meeting’s access to interpreters is limited, a casualty of WHO budget cuts. There are 100 days to the deadline, and by the end of this week’s talks, it should be clear whether the annex is on track for adoption in May. Mexico, meanwhile, indicated that it is available to facilitate “dialogue between blocs of countries”. “We are convinced that, with political will and pragmatism, we can reach the necessary consensus so that we can allow this process to conclude successfully and strengthen our multilateral stance for future pandemics.” said Mexico. WHO Executive Board Adopts New Efficiency Measures But Can They Stick? 09/02/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher Egypt leads the charge Friday against renewing WHO relations with NGOs working in the sexual and reproductive health rights space. After fits, starts, hours of back room negotiations and hesitations, the closing day of WHO’s Executive Board session Friday saw agreement on a number of small – but potentially meaningful – efficiency measures aimed at saving booth member states and the financially-strapped agency a time and money in preparing for and responding to member state mandates. The changes come amidst mounting geopolitical and social tensions amongst member states, with an increasing share of discussion time consumed by a handful of highly politicized items, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as sexual and reproductive health rights. At the same time, the Executive Board and the annual World Health Assembly (WHA) have become overloaded with a growing volume of draft decisions and resolutions – many costly to implement and not always aligned with established strategic plans. Among the key reforms is an initiative to streamline timelines and criteria for the submission of proposed draft resolutions and decisions by member states. This could curb the proliferation of proposals seen over the past several years. Streamlining discussion on Palestine and de-escalating flashpoints WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Friday evening in emotional appeals for streamlining debates around divisive issues such as reproductive health rights and Palestine. Another small efficiency steps for the upcoming WHA include a compromise on language, which enabled the approval of WHO’s continued engagement with five NGOs working on sexual and reproductive health rights. In addition, a plan to consolidate discussion around two overlapping reports on the thorny question of health conditions in the “Occupied Palestine Territory (OPT)’’ into a single WHA agenda item avoids duplications that have consumed hours of WHA time since 2024. That is when the Israel-Hamas war led to the development of a second WHO report on health conditions in the OPT, in addition to the annual report that has been a perennial feature on the WHA every year since Israel occupied the territories in 1967. Addressing the Executive Board on Friday, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus framed the latter consolidation as both an efficiency gain and a confidence-building measure. “As you know, the UN Security Council welcomed the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict last November through Resolution 2803. This holds the real promise for advancing peace and …in a region with such urgent needs, peace is built one brave step at a time. It’s a commitment we renew every day. Peace endures only when we carry it forward together. Each of us can contribute through our decisions in the EB and the WHA,” Tedros said. “Today, I propose one concrete step combining the two WHA agenda items… into a single discussion. …By taking this step together, we not only foster a more constructive environment for our governance deliberations, but also contribute, in a small way, to the success of the peace initiative.” More efficient process for advancing WHA resolutions Administratively, the Board also backed proposals to enforce stricter timelines for submitting draft resolutions and decisions, along with closer WHO Secretariat supervision to ensure their alignment with agency priorities and budgets, and manageable meeting agendas. While current rules hold that zero drafts should be submitted several months before a session – and final drafts no later than 15 days ahead – in practice, many proposals have arrived late, leaving little time for review by the WHO Secretariat or member states. In a draft decision Friday, Board members also agreed to advance a proposed rule change whereby three WHO member states from at least two regions must agree to co-sponsor any new decision or resolution. The innovation aims to curb member states’ debate on measures with little real backing. But the provision remains bracketed in the draft text, which also refers to the “piloting” of the reform measures, signalling the long road that remains to actual approval. Opposition to WHO’s engagement with reproductive health NGOs Norway’s EB representative, Cathrine Lofthus, Ministry of Health Director General, led negotiations with the Egyptian-led bloc on WHO collaborations with reproductive health NGOs. The Executive Board also reached a time-saving agreement on another topic of frequent WHA conflict – WHO engagements with non-state actors that work on sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). Egypt, where abortion is illegal unless a woman’s life is at risk and is even subject to a jail sentence, has long been a leader in opposing WHO’s engagements with NGOs working in this space. This year, that included opposition to WHO collaborations with five groups whose terms of engagement with WHO are due to be renewed this year, as part of a routine, triennial review process. The groups are the International Planned Parenthood Federation, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Family Health International, the Population Council and the World Association for Sexual Health. Speaking for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which includes states from WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region as well as countries in North Africa and Asia, Egypt’s delegate declared that continued engagement with the five NGOs is “contrary” to WHO’s Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA), which aims to ensure the agency’s “integrity, independence and credibility is not compromised” and that non-state actors do not wield undue “influence” in setting “policies, norms and standards.” Norway, leading the EU and other supportive member states, spent several hours negotiating an addendum that effectively renews collaboration while taking “note” of reservations and affirms that “member states have full sovereign rights over which non-state actors operate within their national territories,” in line with their “national context and legislation.” Addendum to EB decision renewing WHO’s collaboration’s with reproductive health NGOs de-escalated potential controversy at the upcoming World Health Assembly. Here too, Tedros added his own support, recalling how parliamentary reforms liberalizing Ethiopia’s abortion laws during his tenure as health minister helped cut maternal mortality fivefold, as many deaths were linked to unsafe abortions. “I myself invited not only WHO, but other international organizations for help, and it’s during that time, our Parliament passed a bill on how to handle unsafe abortion, because nobody wanted for our mothers to die, our sisters to die,” Tedros said. “We don’t allow our norms and standards to be influenced by anyone. We take sides with science,” Tedros affirmed. “Any country has sovereignty, either to invite us or not invite us [to support them]. But whatever relationship we have, it will not be forced on any country.” The EB negotiations and word-smithing, while tortuous and time-consuming, may help avert an even larger debate at the WHA. Temporary fixes? Palestinian EB representative Ryad Awaja: consolidated discussion on health conditions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is an “exceptional” move. Despite the budget pressure that helped push member states toward incremental reforms, most changes remain tentative—preliminary or applicable only to the upcoming WHA. Agreeing to combine discussions on the two overlapping WHO reports on “health conditions in the Occupied Palestine Territory (OPT)” into one dedicated discussion on the WHA agenda, Palestine’s EB representative Ryad Awaja stressed that the arrangement was temporary. He attributed it to logistical constraints facing this year’s WHA, with some meetings shifting to WHO headquarters during renovations at Geneva’s UN Offices in the Palais des Nations. “To know this is exceptional,” Awaja said of the consolidated discussion. “It’s not …forever. It’s just an exception from Palestine to help for this time.” Maternal and Child Nutrition Backslides: WHO Report Reveals 06/02/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The current status of six global maternal and child health targets as of 2023. The World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board faced a grim reckoning on Thursday in a report detailing how global progress on maternal, infant and child nutrition has largely stalled or even regressed. Notably, six critical nutrition targets remain “off track,” with rising rates of anaemia and childhood obesity sliding back, threatening to reverse years of development gains, according to a report reviewed by the EB. “Malnutrition is really a silent epidemic today in Africa,” stated the representative of Cameroon. “Despite all that has been done, we still see stunting, anaemia, and lack of certain nutrients.” International commitments aim to halve the prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age by 2030, as part of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). However, rates have climbed from 27.6% in 2012 to 30.7% in 2023. Driven by factors ranging from food insecurity and infectious diseases to poverty, this leaves millions of women without enough healthy red blood cells. Global targets for tackling the double burden of malnutrition, which includes both undernutrition and overweight, are similarly off-track. The global prevalence of childhood overweight has crept up to 5.5%, as food systems struggle to provide healthy options, the WHO report notes. Stunting, a measure of undernutrition, still affects 150.2 million children under five, with an estimated 136.3 million more children likely to face stunting by 2030. And low birth weight rates have barely improved, inching down just 0.3% to 14.7% of newborns between 2012 and 2023. Meanwhile, childhood wasting remains stubbornly high at 6.6% of children under the age of five years of age – well above the 5% threshold required to ensure child survival. Maternal and child health is crisis of inequality The delegation from Cameroon highlighted the ‘silent epidemic’ of malnutrition and the urgent need to prioritise maternal and child health amidst stalling global progress. In the first comprehensive debate since member states pledged to extend and accelerate action on maternal, infant and young child nutrition in a 2025 World Health Assembly resolution, delegates called out the stagnation as a systemic crisis of inequality deepened by conflict and climate change. Speaking on behalf of the 47 Member States of the African Region, the delegation from Lesotho warned that the continent bears the highest global burden of stunting and anaemia, a situation that persists, despite ongoing interventions, delegates from Cameroon added. Somalia, speaking for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, highlighted the devastating impact of climate and conflict-driven instability, noting a “complex nutrition burden driven by conflict, displacement, and climate shocks.” The delegation reported that 24.3 million children under five in the Africa region are currently stunted, urging prioritised support for fragile and conflict-affected settings. Outrage over ‘savage marketing’ of formula The Norwegian delegation joined the European Union and African nations in calling for stricter regulations on the formula industry’s digital marketing following recent safety recalls. A major point of contention during the session was the aggressive commercialisation of infant nutrition. In a sharp rebuke of the formula industry, the Central African Republic condemned “savage marketing for breast milk substitutes.” The delegate noted that these practices are “undermining breastfeeding and taking advantage of communities that are already poor and fragile”, putting industry interests over public health. This concern bridged the divide between the Global South and wealthy donor nations. Norway joined African nations in demanding stricter regulation, specifically targeting the digital sphere. The Norwegian delegation raised alarm over “recent large-scale recalls of breast milk substitutes,” arguing that food safety and robust monitoring must be paramount. Advocacy groups demand industry accountability The delegate from the Central African Republic condemned ‘aggressive’ and ‘savage marketing for breast milk substitutes.’ The tension between public health priorities and commercial interests was palpable in statements from non-state actors. The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) hit back at the formula industry. The advocacy group warned that recent contamination cases exposed “systemic failures” in formula production. IBFAN argued that cross-border social media marketing exacerbates food safety risks by allowing unregistered products to enter countries, demanding that governments take the lead in verifying safety rather than trusting manufacturers. Meanwhile, the Global Self-Care Federation, representing the consumer health industry, argued that policymakers also “must prioritise the provision of micronutrient supplements” to women. A statement by the group noted that iron, folate, iodine, and calcium supplementation can help reduce anaemia prevalence, and therefore maternal mortality and pre-term birth, as well as some “life-long NCD risks.” Such supplementation is thus a “cost-effective public health investment”, the group stated. Rising stakes in a climate of receding aid The WHO Executive Board convenes in Geneva to address a critical report revealing that most global maternal and child health targets are currently off track. The United Kingdom called the report “sobering,” noting that “no country is on track to meet the targets” and flagging worsening trends in minimum dietary diversity even within its borders. Canada emphasised the need to “step up nutritional interventions” that are based on evidence and take gender into account. Speaking for the 27-member European Union, Bulgaria admitted the world is “far off track.” However, the bloc reiterated its financial commitment, noting that Europe has pledged €6.5 billion to fight malnutrition up to 2029. The EU called for increased coordination on data collection to better target the most vulnerable populations. While officials figures are yet to be finalised, international development assistance for nutrition declined by an estimated 9% to 17% in 2025. In light of this, the Board faces the difficult task of reversing these trends in a constrained financial environment. Such reductions in donor aid threaten to “reverse hard work and increase preventable child deaths,” warned Nigeria, saying that nutrition needs to be considered an “essential” organising principle of primary health care. Image Credits: Felix Sassmannshausen, HPW/Felix Sassmannshausen. Argentina: No Withdrawal from Pan American Health Organization – Despite Leaving WHO 06/02/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher Argentina’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Carlos Mario Foradori, affirms his country will remain involved with WHO’s regional arm, PAHO, Although Argentina is withdrawing from the World Health Organization’s global body, it intends to remain an active member in WHO’s regional affiliate, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the country’s representative told the WHO Executive Board on Friday. His comments came in the course of a discussion on the legal and policy impacts of Argentina’s declaration in February 2025 that it would leave WHO, following that of the United States last January. Argentina’s official notice, made in March, is due to be discussed at the May World Health Assembly along with the United States withdrawal. But the two countries are in somewhat different legal positions vis a vis any WHA response. In terms of Argentina, there is no explicit provision in WHO’s Constitution for member states to withdraw, with the exception of the United States, which reserved that right explicitly when it joined in 1948. As for the United States, the US also owes WHO some $260.6 million in unpaid dues for 2024-2025, on which WHA member states could feasibly demand payment before its withdrawal is legally “accepted.” See related story. Stars and Stripes No Longer Flying at WHO – But US Can’t Really Leave Until Dues are Paid, Agency Says Argentina will continue to abide by International Health Regulations on Emergencies Regardless of the formalities, Argentina’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Carlos Mario Foradori, affirmed that the country would continue to abide by International Health Regulations whereby WHO must be notified of an infectious disease outbreak of epidemic potential. “We will not be isolated from the world. We will continue to respect all the rules that exist. We cooperate very closely with the Pan American Health Organization, and we will strengthen this even further,” Foradori said, adding that PAHO’s Director Jarbas Barbosa, is in fact visiting Argentina next week. “And it should be clear to the whole membership that we’re not leaving this world. To be very clear, as was mentioned, the pandemic knows no borders, and as a Western civilized country, we understand that we need to respect rules, and work with the whole world.” Some WHO observers called out Foradori’s reference to a “western civilized country” was as a slight on non-western regions of the world. So far, the US also has remained in PAHO, of which it was a founding member, and whose existence predates the 1948 formation of WHO by nearly half a century. Historically, the US is also PAHO’s largest funder. However, currently the US owes PAHO some 78.5 million in unpaid dues for the 2024-25 fiscal year, and a total of $136.5 million including 2026 dues. In August, meanwhile, the White House ordered cuts in some $45 million to already approved PAHO allocations in protest over a now-discontinued PAHO programme supporting the deployment of Cuban doctors to rural areas of Brazil at sub-market wages and with Cuba’s government reaping financial benefits. See related story: Pan American Health Organization Targeted in New Round of US Funding Cuts This week’s Congressional passage of a $9.42 billion global health appropriations bill , meanwhile, contained no explicit mention of funding to PAHO. And so it remains to be seen the cutbacks previously ordered by the White House are indeed implemented – as well as how PAHO will be funded for 2026. Legally, PAHO is an anomaly amongst WHO’s six regional offices insofar as it operates with its own budget and decision-making structure as a semi-autonomous entity – even though it also serves as a WHO Regional Office. This anomaly, in turn, opens up the unique possibility for nations in the Americas to retain their affiliation with PAHO as a regional organization, whilst disassociating themselves from WHO as a global body. No clear way forward on response to member states that withdraw Costa Rica’s delegate at the EB was one of several member states that expressed regret at Argentina’s withdrawal from WHO. The EB discussion did not yield a unanimous recommendation on whether the World Health Assembly should actively ‘accept’ Argentina’s withdrawal – or how to respond to the US withdrawal at a time when Washington stills owe WHO some $360 million in past dues. While many WHO member states at the EB meeting stressed that countries had the sovereign right to determine whether they remain in an international organization – others stressed the legal complexities around the issue and the need for further consideration before the WHA must take a position in May. Ultimately, the EB agreed to pass onto the WHA a draft resolution co-sponsored by Argentina and Israel, calling on WHO member states to formally acknowledge Argentina’s withdrawal. But some leading member states reserved their final position, asking for further legal analysis and clarification. “Argentina’s notification of withdrawal raises numerous issues that do require careful consideration,” said Australia’’s delegate. Said Switzerland, “We hear that there are still different legal, political, technical questions on the conditions and the implication in this context, on this agenda. ..We would all benefit from additional clarity for the WHA to be able to take an informed decision.” A report submitted to this Executive Board meeting has already has laid out the key issues relateld to the withdrawal of both Argentina and the US. Effectively, there is no legal provision in the WHO Constitution for a member state to withdraw – with the exception of the United States, which made that right an explicit condition of its joining in 1948, WHO’s paper notes. At the same time, Argentina and other member states argued that broader international legal principles guarantee a country the sovereign right to determine its affiliations in multilateral organizations like WHO. Australia, Costa Rica, Zimbabwe and other member states also expressed regret over Argentina’s departure from the global body, asking for continued dialogue over its decision and describing Argentina as a valued partner in global health. “We request them to reconsider in view of global health security,” said Zimbabwe. China says US withdrawal shows lack of ‘leadership’ China’s EB delegate describes US withdrawal from WHO as a lack of leadership. No such regrets were expressed at Friday’s meeting regarding the US departure. But China described the US move as a lack of leadership, saying: “As the most representative and authoritative intergovernmental, international health organization, the WHO bears a significant responsibility in global health governance….Major countries in particular, should lead by example. They should not treat the WHO as something to be used as it fits and abandoned when it does not. Nor should they bypass the WHO and set up alternative mechanisms,” China’s delegate said. “Countries should adhere to the rule of law and should not selectively fulfill their international obligations and commitments, and should not place [their] domestic political agenda above international law and governments.” At the same time, China called for a re-evaluation of WHO rules around the entry and exit of member states from the organization, for which WHO’s 1948 constitution made few provisions, saying: “The issue of withdrawal is complex and sensitive. Members cannot enter or exit at their will. At present, there are certain gaps and ambiguity in the WHO’s rule regarding membership changes based on fairness and transparency, necessary adjustments and improvements should be made to better respond to the new circumstances and requirements on global health governance.” Israel, meanwhile, said that WHA members should accept the US notice of withdrawal without hinging it to other issues – an indirect reference to the unpaid US dues for 2024-2025. Said Israel, “Any attempt to compel states against the national decisions is an infringement of their sovereign rights. There is no valid reason to further discuss this matter in any WHO forum. Further discussions only consume the limited resources this organization has without carrying any actual impact on the ground. Other issues of dispute between a member state and the organization do not affect the right of withdrawal in the context of the WHO,” Israel’s delegate said, an apparent reference to the outstanding, unpaid WHO dues still owed by the US. At Monday’s Executive Board opening, Israel’s EB Representative, Asher Salmon, warned that his country, a close ally of the US, is also under pressure to withdraw from WHO, saying, “in Israel, there are also, unfortunately, strong public voices calling for us to leave the organisation.” Claiming that the WHO had become “too politicised,” he called for a “brave conceptual overhaul” of the organization. See related story: Days After US Leaves WHO, Israel Warns it Faces Pressure to Withdraw Image Credits: DavidRockDesign/Pixabay. Spain to Restrict Social Media Access as Evidence Mounts of Health Harms for Children 06/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the World Governments Summit in Dubai Spain announced this week that it would tighten its social media laws, aiming to ban access for children under the age of 16 as part of a global tide against electronic platforms. Last year, Australia became the first country to restrict social media for children, while French lawmakers voted to follow suit last month. So far, the UK, Denmark, Norway, Greece and India are considering similar moves, while German lawmakers are considering a digital law to contain the anti-competitive behaviour of global digital platforms. There is growing evidence of the harmful effects of social media on children, including depression, anxiety, stress and cyberbullying – alongside evidence that digital platforms such as X are influencing political outcomes by manipulating content and algorithms. “First, we will change the law in Spain to hold platform executives legally accountable for many infringements taking place on their sites,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday. “This means that CEOs of these techno platforms will face criminal liability for failing to remove illegal or hateful content,” said Sanchez. “Second, we will turn algorithmic manipulation and amplification of illegal content into a new criminal offence,” he added. “No more hiding behind code. No more pretending technology is neutral. “Third, we will implement a hate and polarization footprint system to track, quantify, and expose how digital platforms fuel division and amplify hate. For too long, hate has been treated as invisible and untraceable, but we will change that.” Sanchez added that Spain “will ban access to social media for minors under the age of 16” and platforms“will be required to implement effective age verification systems”. “Today, our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone. A space of addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation… we will protect them from a digital wild west.” “Fifth and last, my government will work with our public prosecutor to investigate and pursue the infringement committed by Grok, TikTok, and Instagram. We will have zero tolerance and protect our digital sovereignty against foreign coercion.” Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, responded by describing Sanchez as “dirty” and a “tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain”. Dirty Sánchez is a tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain 💩 https://t.co/B3oyHrBYpR — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 3, 2026 However, X faces global probes after it emerged that the platform’s AI chatbot, Grok, is generating deepfake pornography, including involving children. Australia provides global example Australia’s ban on social media for children aged 15 and under came into effect on 10 December last year. It affects platforms including Tiktok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads. While children and their parents are not sanctioned for breaking the ban, the Australian government will impose heavy fines on companies that allow children to have accounts. Days before the ban came into effect, Meta – owner of Facebook, Instagram and Threads – said it had deleted about 550,000 accounts. A representative survey of children aged 10-15 commissioned by the Australian government in 2024/5 found that 96% used social media, and that 71% had experienced harmful content. “This included exposure to misogynistic or hateful material, dangerous online challenges, violent fight videos, and content promoting disordered eating and suicide,” according to a media release on the survey. One in seven children reported experiencing online “grooming” from adults or children at least four years older, which included being asked questions about their private parts or to share nude images. Growing evidence of harms to children Meanwhile, global evidence keeps growing of the negative effects of social media use – particularly on the developing brains of children. A scoping review of multiple studies published last year in PubMed linked social media to bullying, and prolonged use to depression, anxiety, and stress. The review notes the “alarming” increase in mental health disorders among youth and adolescents, particularly “anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyper-reactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder”. “One contributing factor that has received growing attention is the role of social media and technology in shaping adolescent brain development, behaviour, and emotional well-being,” the researchers note. “While digital platforms provide opportunities for social connection, self-expression, and mental health support, they also introduce significant risks, including compulsive social media use, cyberbullying, unrealistic beauty standards, and exposure to substance-related content.” A meta-analysis of 143 studies involving over one million adolescents, published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2024, found “a positive and significant meta-correlation between time spent on social media and mental health symptoms”, particularly depression and anxiety. Image Credits: Unsplash. As WHO Debates Global AI Regulation, States Clash Over ‘Data Sovereignty’ 05/02/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, warns that digital tools and AI may widen health gaps without proper governance and trust. A stark debate over who owns the data in the future of AI and digital health emerged at the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board on Wednesday. Low and middle-income countries warned that the rapid deployment of new technologies risks accelerating data extraction and increasing inequality, cautioning that – without strict AI governance, sustainable financing and equitable guardrails – the implementation of AI in health systems would compromise “data sovereignty”. The debate centred on a WHO report outlining the framework for a digital transformation strategy spanning 2028 to 2033. Highlighting the profound shifts driven by AI and genomics, the report notes that many member states remain paralysed by “fragmented systems with limited interoperability.” And it warns that without reliable, representative data, AI risks amplifying biases and inefficiencies. “Innovation alone is not enough,” stated Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “Without skills, governance and trust, digital tools widen gaps instead of closing them.” Kluge also warned that “the risk of a new digital divide is real”. Based on the deliberations, the Secretariat will continue its technical work on the strategy. To this end, the WHO has established a tripartite collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union and the World Intellectual Property Organization. The board also decided to move forward on consultations to strengthen the global health workforce code, while the fight against substandard medicines moves to a new operational phase under an approved work plan. Closing the rift in AI regulation The representative from Cameroon, speaking for the African Region, shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership at the WHO Executive Board session on Wednesday. Regarding AI and digital health, a regulatory rift is opening as high-income regions press forward. While the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have established guiding principles on AI, a formal global standard remains elusive. The European Union, represented by Bulgaria, argued that health data and information systems are the “essential foundation”, calling for the WHO to lead harmonisation efforts. These ought to focus on autonomy, safety, well-being of patients and health care professionals. Israel supported this, proposing “regulatory sandboxes” to test technologies safely while integrating economic considerations. However, the African Region and other LMICs shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership. Cameroon, speaking for the region, called for rigorous ethical governance. The prevailing fear is that international companies will harvest data from the Global South to train AI models or develop products that are then sold back for profit. Barbados reinforced this, rejecting the model of “donor-funded surveys”. The delegate argued that health data must be treated as a “national asset” under local control. Positioning the country as a “living laboratory” for digital innovation, Barbados demanded sustainable financing models to advance universal health coverage rather than short-term extraction. Rich nations urged to ‘pay up’ for imported health talent Zimbabwe’s representative calls for co-investment from rich nations to address the crisis of health worker migration. The board also confronted the escalating crisis of health worker migration, reviewing new data confirming that active recruitment from nations with fragile health systems is intensifying ‘brain drain’ to plug staffing gaps in the Global North. Zimbabwe, speaking for the African Region, issued a sharp rebuke of current practices. “Targeted recruitment continues to strain our fragile health systems,” the delegate warned. The region demanded that development banks and donor agencies move beyond rhetoric to “co-invest” in the education and retention of the workforce in source countries. Pakistan amplified this, arguing that while the principle of co-investment is recognised, there is currently a lack of “binding commitment to deliver it”. The United Kingdom, a major destination country, maintained that the Global Code of Practice remains “central to ethical international recruitment.” However, the UK acknowledged the need for clearer guidance on safeguards and supported a process to refine the Code’s application. To bridge this divide, the Secretariat, and member states agreed to launch informal consultations to draft a decision for the World Health Assembly in May. The talks will focus on specific additions to the Code, such as co-investment mechanisms and protections for care workers. Debate on ‘scourge’ of substandard medicines ongoing The WHO is intensifying surveillance of medical products following a deadly spike in contaminated products containing toxic chemicals like cough syrups. On a last item, the board confronted the lethal proliferation of substandard and falsified medical products, a crisis described by delegates as a critical threat to both public health and economic security. The WHO’s surveillance system has recorded over 10,000 suspect products since 2013, with the Secretariat highlighting a recent, deadly spike in contaminated medical products containing diethylene glycol, like cough syrups. Togo, speaking for the African Region, characterised the issue as a “scourge,” exacerbated by open borders and informal markets. The region called for “innovative financing” to support regulatory authorities in resource-poor settings, where the risk of infiltration into public supply chains remains high. Ukraine shifted the focus to modern distribution channels, warning of the specific threat posed by “unregulated online sales.” The delegate urged the WHO to help secure supply chains for high-risk excipients – inactive ingredients often implicated in contamination cases. The International Pharmaceutical Federation backed these concerns, emphasising that the workforce must be trained to detect fakes before they reach patients. “Protecting patients requires safeguarding the quality of medicines,” the Federation argued. To close the detection gap, the Board noted the urgent need to roll out market surveillance technologies, specifically the Epione reporting tool, to track suspect products in real-time. The Secretariat will now develop the draft global strategy for 2028 to 2033, which is scheduled for submission to the board at its 160th session in January 2027 before final consideration by the 80th World Health Assembly. Image Credits: Felix Sassmannshausen, WHO/Christopher Black , Pexels/Towfiqu barbhuiya. Tedros Expresses Confidence That Pandemic Talks Will Meet ‘Absolute Deadline’ 05/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan WHO Diector-General Dr Tedros and IGWG co-chair Matthew Harpur (right) World Health Organization (WHO) Director General expressed confidence that member states would agree on the last outstanding part of the Pandemic Agreement by the “absolute deadline” of May at the body’s Executive Board meeting on Wednesday. “This year’s World Health Assembly [in May] must receive a text that member states can consider and act upon. There is no scope for delay because the next pandemic will not wait,” Tedros urged. But questions by Pakistan, part of the Group for Equity negotiating bloc in the negotiations, indicated a lack of agreement on several key issues relating to how pathogens should be shared. Member states only have two more weeks of formal negotiations before the deadline – with the next round starting on Monday. However, the talks are also affected by WHO budget cuts which have limited their access to translators. Countries are hammering out a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, deciding on how materials and sequence information from pathogens with pandemic potential can be shared fast and fairly – and how countries sharing this information can also benefit from any products that are developed as a result. The Group for Equity and Africa Region want draft contracts to be included as part of the deal to set out the terms for those who want access to pathogen information – for example, pharmaceutical companies in order to make vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic tests. The Pakistan delegate said that the two groups – representing 80% of the world’s population – had come up with a standard material transfer agreement based on other international agreements, and a draft contract for digital sequence information. “We have had only one informal discussion on the draft contracts,” said Pakistan, urging those in charge of the process to organise more consultation on the contracts. “In order to complete the exercise, to have full legal clarity and certainty we would like to have a pandemic agreement with draft contracts.” Three key areas for talks Matthew Harpur, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) overseeing the negotiations, outlined the three key areas for the talks. “Firstly, we have the scope and objectives and the use of terms,” said Harpur, who added that by last meeting, “it was really good to see some progress”. “Secondly, we have the implementation and the operation of the PABS system,” he added. This includes the issue of “equal footing” – namely, that rapid access to pathogens information and how the benefits deriving from this sharing are of equal importance. “How do we how do we swiftly share that information that keeps us all safer and but how do we also ensure equity,” said Harpur, adding that issues such as monetary contributions had to be agreed on to ensure equity. The third part is “governance and enforcement”. “You can have the best words on paper, but if they’re not enforceable, if they don’t work in practice, it is meaningless,” said Harpur. “So how do we ensure an effective governance system, with the advisory group, the role of the [Conference of the Parties] and, of course, the role of the Secretariat.” The next IGWG meeting runs from 9-14 February. Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts This site uses cookies to help give you the best experience on our website. Cookies enable us to collect information that helps us personalise your experience and improve the functionality and performance of our site. By continuing to read our website, we assume you agree to this, otherwise you can adjust your browser settings. Please read our cookie and Privacy Policy. Our Cookies and Privacy Policy Loading Comments... You must be logged in to post a comment.
Danger Remains Despite a Drop in Measles in the European Region 11/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan A child getting a measles vaccination. Measles cases in Europe and Central Asia dropped by three-quarters in 2025 compared to the previous year – but the decline is partly due to the virus running out of people to infect after spreading rapidly through under-vaccinated communities. Preliminary data from 53 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region reported 33,998 measles cases in 2025 and 127,412 in 2024, according to the WHO and UNICEF. “While cases have reduced, the conditions that led to the resurgence of this deadly disease in recent years remain and must be addressed,” warned Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. “Until all children are reached with vaccination, and hesitancy fuelled by the spread of misinformation is addressed, children will remain at risk of death or serious illness from measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.” In 2024, 19 countries had ongoing measles cases – up from 12 the previous year, according to the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination. “This represents the most significant setback in measles elimination in the region in recent years,” according to the two UN bodies. WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri Kluge, warned that over 200,000 people in our region have contracted measles in the past three years. “Unless every community reaches 95% vaccination coverage, closes immunity gaps across all ages, strengthens disease surveillance and ensures timely outbreak response, this highly contagious virus will keep spreading,” Kluge warned. “In today’s environment of rampant fake news, it’s also crucial that people rely on verified health information from reliable sources such as WHO, UNICEF and national health agencies. Eliminating measles is essential for national and regional health security.” Two doses of the measles vaccine provide up to 97% life-long protection against the virus and a vaccination rate of 95% with both doses in every community each year is needed to prevent measles outbreaks and achieve herd immunity. This protects infants too young for measles vaccination and other people for whom it is not recommended due to medical conditions, like those who are immunocompromised. Measles is one of the most contagious viruses with every infected person able to infect up to 18 unvaccinated people. It can cause serious illness, death and damage to the immune system, including by “erasing” its memory of how to fight infections, leaving measles survivors vulnerable to other diseases and death. Image Credits: WHO. Powerful WHO Members Hint at Delay in Pandemic Talks if No Legal Certainty on Pathogen Information 09/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan Indonesia delivering a statement at IGWG5 on behalf of the Group of Equity. Powerful member state blocs at the World Health Organization (WHO) stressed on Monday that they will not compromise on the final outstanding piece of the Pandemic Agreement simply to meet the May deadline. The Group of Equity and the WHO’s Africa, Eastern Mediterranean and South-East Asia regions stated that they wanted a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system with legal certainty at the second-to-last meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG). “PABS is the heart of the Pandemic Agreement. If the heart is weak, the body cannot function, and the agreement will not deliver equity,” said Indonesia on behalf of the Group of Equity, and the three regions – collectively representing over 80% of the world’s population. The PABS system aims to set out how countries can share information about pathogens and their genetic sequence data and ensure that those sharing this information get access to the benefits developed as a result, such as vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics. But the current PABS draft contains “major loopholes” that will prevent the system – an annex to the Pandemic Agreement – from functioning effectively, Indonesia added. “The annex must articulate the operational details of the PABS System, and provide legal clarity on the rights and obligations of the providers of PABS material and sequence information, as well as various users of the system. We also question how any terms and conditions can be enforced when users are permitted to remain anonymous,” stressed Indonesia. “We understand the pressure of timelines. But we should be clear about the choices and decisions in front of us: We are aiming for an annex by [the World Health Assembly in] May, that can actually deliver a functioning PABS System in totality. But if we cut too many corners now, we will pay for it later in credibility and implementation.” Zimbabwe – speaking for the Africa Group – stated that “a system that safeguards some while leaving others exposed is not only unjust, it is ineffective”. “For the Africa Group, equity and benefit-sharing must be operational, enforceable and central to Pandemic Agreement, including the PABS annex. These elements cannot be aspirational, deferred or left to voluntary implementation. Past experiences has shown the consequences of such approaches.” Pragmatism and speed The EU representative and France’s Anne-Claire Amprou. However, the European Union, backed by G7 leader France, called for pragmatism and speed. “We remain deeply committed to work towards an effective, workable and implementable PABS system in the remaining 12 Days of negotiations that we have at our disposal,” said the EU representative. “We hope that a sense of pragmatism and common sense will help to guide us towards convergence on the key remaining outstanding areas for the purpose of bringing this process to a successful conclusion within the timeframe.” Speaking for France, Anne-Claire Amprou, a former co-chair of the Pandemic Agreement negotiations, urged “quick progress” to adopt the annex by the World Health Assembly in May. “Given the time remaining, we need to be reasonable in terms of the amendments we make to the text,” said Amprou. “We invite member states not to reopen subjects or provisions which were already adopted as part of the Pandemic Agreement.” The Pandemic Agreement cannot be endorsed or operationalised without the PABS annex, which means there is no global agreement on how to approach the next pandemic – which can strike at any time. Benefit-sharing demands India warned against adopting an ambiguous annex. But for many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the bitter memory of being unable to get access to vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic – even for health workers and their most vulnerable citizens – was a sobering lesson. Some indicated that they would be prepared to miss the May deadline rather than budge on their demand for a legally binding PABS system that balances access and benefit-sharing. India, speaking for the South-East Asia region, stated that “it is essential that quality is not compromised by the pressure of timelines”. “Our priority must be an annex that provides clear legal certainty with minimum room for interpretive ambiguity. Such clarity is critical for effective implementation and long-term trust in multilateralism, “ said India. “Benefit-sharing obligation must be proportionate to access and cannot be voluntary, aspirational or based on ‘best endeavours’. Non-monetary benefits Some LMICs also stressed – as India did – that benefit-sharing must extend “beyond monetary contributions and donations of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics”. “Non-monetary benefits, including timely capacity development, technical assistance and non-exclusive manufacturing licences for developing countries, must be clearly specified and applied both during pandemics and during the inter-pandemic period,” said India, for the South-East Asia region. Indonesia said that, while equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics (VTDs) is essential, “we should also be serious about benefits that support timely diversified regional and local production, including non-exclusive licensing to manufacturers in developing countries, transfer of technology, and meaningful collaboration in R&D.” “Benefit sharing cannot depend on purchasing power, ad hoc arrangements or discretionary decisions taken during emergencies,” said Namibia. “It must be triggered by access, governed by multilateral rules and delivered when it matters most. Namibia also places strong emphasis on technology transfer and regional manufacturing capacity. Strengthening local and regional production is essential to reducing dependency and building real resilience.” Way forward The IGWG meeting – the fifth of six – ends on Saturday, and while it plans four evening sessions, co-chair Tovar da Silva Nunes reminded delegates that the meeting’s access to interpreters is limited, a casualty of WHO budget cuts. There are 100 days to the deadline, and by the end of this week’s talks, it should be clear whether the annex is on track for adoption in May. Mexico, meanwhile, indicated that it is available to facilitate “dialogue between blocs of countries”. “We are convinced that, with political will and pragmatism, we can reach the necessary consensus so that we can allow this process to conclude successfully and strengthen our multilateral stance for future pandemics.” said Mexico. WHO Executive Board Adopts New Efficiency Measures But Can They Stick? 09/02/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher Egypt leads the charge Friday against renewing WHO relations with NGOs working in the sexual and reproductive health rights space. After fits, starts, hours of back room negotiations and hesitations, the closing day of WHO’s Executive Board session Friday saw agreement on a number of small – but potentially meaningful – efficiency measures aimed at saving booth member states and the financially-strapped agency a time and money in preparing for and responding to member state mandates. The changes come amidst mounting geopolitical and social tensions amongst member states, with an increasing share of discussion time consumed by a handful of highly politicized items, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as sexual and reproductive health rights. At the same time, the Executive Board and the annual World Health Assembly (WHA) have become overloaded with a growing volume of draft decisions and resolutions – many costly to implement and not always aligned with established strategic plans. Among the key reforms is an initiative to streamline timelines and criteria for the submission of proposed draft resolutions and decisions by member states. This could curb the proliferation of proposals seen over the past several years. Streamlining discussion on Palestine and de-escalating flashpoints WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Friday evening in emotional appeals for streamlining debates around divisive issues such as reproductive health rights and Palestine. Another small efficiency steps for the upcoming WHA include a compromise on language, which enabled the approval of WHO’s continued engagement with five NGOs working on sexual and reproductive health rights. In addition, a plan to consolidate discussion around two overlapping reports on the thorny question of health conditions in the “Occupied Palestine Territory (OPT)’’ into a single WHA agenda item avoids duplications that have consumed hours of WHA time since 2024. That is when the Israel-Hamas war led to the development of a second WHO report on health conditions in the OPT, in addition to the annual report that has been a perennial feature on the WHA every year since Israel occupied the territories in 1967. Addressing the Executive Board on Friday, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus framed the latter consolidation as both an efficiency gain and a confidence-building measure. “As you know, the UN Security Council welcomed the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict last November through Resolution 2803. This holds the real promise for advancing peace and …in a region with such urgent needs, peace is built one brave step at a time. It’s a commitment we renew every day. Peace endures only when we carry it forward together. Each of us can contribute through our decisions in the EB and the WHA,” Tedros said. “Today, I propose one concrete step combining the two WHA agenda items… into a single discussion. …By taking this step together, we not only foster a more constructive environment for our governance deliberations, but also contribute, in a small way, to the success of the peace initiative.” More efficient process for advancing WHA resolutions Administratively, the Board also backed proposals to enforce stricter timelines for submitting draft resolutions and decisions, along with closer WHO Secretariat supervision to ensure their alignment with agency priorities and budgets, and manageable meeting agendas. While current rules hold that zero drafts should be submitted several months before a session – and final drafts no later than 15 days ahead – in practice, many proposals have arrived late, leaving little time for review by the WHO Secretariat or member states. In a draft decision Friday, Board members also agreed to advance a proposed rule change whereby three WHO member states from at least two regions must agree to co-sponsor any new decision or resolution. The innovation aims to curb member states’ debate on measures with little real backing. But the provision remains bracketed in the draft text, which also refers to the “piloting” of the reform measures, signalling the long road that remains to actual approval. Opposition to WHO’s engagement with reproductive health NGOs Norway’s EB representative, Cathrine Lofthus, Ministry of Health Director General, led negotiations with the Egyptian-led bloc on WHO collaborations with reproductive health NGOs. The Executive Board also reached a time-saving agreement on another topic of frequent WHA conflict – WHO engagements with non-state actors that work on sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). Egypt, where abortion is illegal unless a woman’s life is at risk and is even subject to a jail sentence, has long been a leader in opposing WHO’s engagements with NGOs working in this space. This year, that included opposition to WHO collaborations with five groups whose terms of engagement with WHO are due to be renewed this year, as part of a routine, triennial review process. The groups are the International Planned Parenthood Federation, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Family Health International, the Population Council and the World Association for Sexual Health. Speaking for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which includes states from WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region as well as countries in North Africa and Asia, Egypt’s delegate declared that continued engagement with the five NGOs is “contrary” to WHO’s Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA), which aims to ensure the agency’s “integrity, independence and credibility is not compromised” and that non-state actors do not wield undue “influence” in setting “policies, norms and standards.” Norway, leading the EU and other supportive member states, spent several hours negotiating an addendum that effectively renews collaboration while taking “note” of reservations and affirms that “member states have full sovereign rights over which non-state actors operate within their national territories,” in line with their “national context and legislation.” Addendum to EB decision renewing WHO’s collaboration’s with reproductive health NGOs de-escalated potential controversy at the upcoming World Health Assembly. Here too, Tedros added his own support, recalling how parliamentary reforms liberalizing Ethiopia’s abortion laws during his tenure as health minister helped cut maternal mortality fivefold, as many deaths were linked to unsafe abortions. “I myself invited not only WHO, but other international organizations for help, and it’s during that time, our Parliament passed a bill on how to handle unsafe abortion, because nobody wanted for our mothers to die, our sisters to die,” Tedros said. “We don’t allow our norms and standards to be influenced by anyone. We take sides with science,” Tedros affirmed. “Any country has sovereignty, either to invite us or not invite us [to support them]. But whatever relationship we have, it will not be forced on any country.” The EB negotiations and word-smithing, while tortuous and time-consuming, may help avert an even larger debate at the WHA. Temporary fixes? Palestinian EB representative Ryad Awaja: consolidated discussion on health conditions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is an “exceptional” move. Despite the budget pressure that helped push member states toward incremental reforms, most changes remain tentative—preliminary or applicable only to the upcoming WHA. Agreeing to combine discussions on the two overlapping WHO reports on “health conditions in the Occupied Palestine Territory (OPT)” into one dedicated discussion on the WHA agenda, Palestine’s EB representative Ryad Awaja stressed that the arrangement was temporary. He attributed it to logistical constraints facing this year’s WHA, with some meetings shifting to WHO headquarters during renovations at Geneva’s UN Offices in the Palais des Nations. “To know this is exceptional,” Awaja said of the consolidated discussion. “It’s not …forever. It’s just an exception from Palestine to help for this time.” Maternal and Child Nutrition Backslides: WHO Report Reveals 06/02/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The current status of six global maternal and child health targets as of 2023. The World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board faced a grim reckoning on Thursday in a report detailing how global progress on maternal, infant and child nutrition has largely stalled or even regressed. Notably, six critical nutrition targets remain “off track,” with rising rates of anaemia and childhood obesity sliding back, threatening to reverse years of development gains, according to a report reviewed by the EB. “Malnutrition is really a silent epidemic today in Africa,” stated the representative of Cameroon. “Despite all that has been done, we still see stunting, anaemia, and lack of certain nutrients.” International commitments aim to halve the prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age by 2030, as part of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). However, rates have climbed from 27.6% in 2012 to 30.7% in 2023. Driven by factors ranging from food insecurity and infectious diseases to poverty, this leaves millions of women without enough healthy red blood cells. Global targets for tackling the double burden of malnutrition, which includes both undernutrition and overweight, are similarly off-track. The global prevalence of childhood overweight has crept up to 5.5%, as food systems struggle to provide healthy options, the WHO report notes. Stunting, a measure of undernutrition, still affects 150.2 million children under five, with an estimated 136.3 million more children likely to face stunting by 2030. And low birth weight rates have barely improved, inching down just 0.3% to 14.7% of newborns between 2012 and 2023. Meanwhile, childhood wasting remains stubbornly high at 6.6% of children under the age of five years of age – well above the 5% threshold required to ensure child survival. Maternal and child health is crisis of inequality The delegation from Cameroon highlighted the ‘silent epidemic’ of malnutrition and the urgent need to prioritise maternal and child health amidst stalling global progress. In the first comprehensive debate since member states pledged to extend and accelerate action on maternal, infant and young child nutrition in a 2025 World Health Assembly resolution, delegates called out the stagnation as a systemic crisis of inequality deepened by conflict and climate change. Speaking on behalf of the 47 Member States of the African Region, the delegation from Lesotho warned that the continent bears the highest global burden of stunting and anaemia, a situation that persists, despite ongoing interventions, delegates from Cameroon added. Somalia, speaking for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, highlighted the devastating impact of climate and conflict-driven instability, noting a “complex nutrition burden driven by conflict, displacement, and climate shocks.” The delegation reported that 24.3 million children under five in the Africa region are currently stunted, urging prioritised support for fragile and conflict-affected settings. Outrage over ‘savage marketing’ of formula The Norwegian delegation joined the European Union and African nations in calling for stricter regulations on the formula industry’s digital marketing following recent safety recalls. A major point of contention during the session was the aggressive commercialisation of infant nutrition. In a sharp rebuke of the formula industry, the Central African Republic condemned “savage marketing for breast milk substitutes.” The delegate noted that these practices are “undermining breastfeeding and taking advantage of communities that are already poor and fragile”, putting industry interests over public health. This concern bridged the divide between the Global South and wealthy donor nations. Norway joined African nations in demanding stricter regulation, specifically targeting the digital sphere. The Norwegian delegation raised alarm over “recent large-scale recalls of breast milk substitutes,” arguing that food safety and robust monitoring must be paramount. Advocacy groups demand industry accountability The delegate from the Central African Republic condemned ‘aggressive’ and ‘savage marketing for breast milk substitutes.’ The tension between public health priorities and commercial interests was palpable in statements from non-state actors. The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) hit back at the formula industry. The advocacy group warned that recent contamination cases exposed “systemic failures” in formula production. IBFAN argued that cross-border social media marketing exacerbates food safety risks by allowing unregistered products to enter countries, demanding that governments take the lead in verifying safety rather than trusting manufacturers. Meanwhile, the Global Self-Care Federation, representing the consumer health industry, argued that policymakers also “must prioritise the provision of micronutrient supplements” to women. A statement by the group noted that iron, folate, iodine, and calcium supplementation can help reduce anaemia prevalence, and therefore maternal mortality and pre-term birth, as well as some “life-long NCD risks.” Such supplementation is thus a “cost-effective public health investment”, the group stated. Rising stakes in a climate of receding aid The WHO Executive Board convenes in Geneva to address a critical report revealing that most global maternal and child health targets are currently off track. The United Kingdom called the report “sobering,” noting that “no country is on track to meet the targets” and flagging worsening trends in minimum dietary diversity even within its borders. Canada emphasised the need to “step up nutritional interventions” that are based on evidence and take gender into account. Speaking for the 27-member European Union, Bulgaria admitted the world is “far off track.” However, the bloc reiterated its financial commitment, noting that Europe has pledged €6.5 billion to fight malnutrition up to 2029. The EU called for increased coordination on data collection to better target the most vulnerable populations. While officials figures are yet to be finalised, international development assistance for nutrition declined by an estimated 9% to 17% in 2025. In light of this, the Board faces the difficult task of reversing these trends in a constrained financial environment. Such reductions in donor aid threaten to “reverse hard work and increase preventable child deaths,” warned Nigeria, saying that nutrition needs to be considered an “essential” organising principle of primary health care. Image Credits: Felix Sassmannshausen, HPW/Felix Sassmannshausen. Argentina: No Withdrawal from Pan American Health Organization – Despite Leaving WHO 06/02/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher Argentina’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Carlos Mario Foradori, affirms his country will remain involved with WHO’s regional arm, PAHO, Although Argentina is withdrawing from the World Health Organization’s global body, it intends to remain an active member in WHO’s regional affiliate, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the country’s representative told the WHO Executive Board on Friday. His comments came in the course of a discussion on the legal and policy impacts of Argentina’s declaration in February 2025 that it would leave WHO, following that of the United States last January. Argentina’s official notice, made in March, is due to be discussed at the May World Health Assembly along with the United States withdrawal. But the two countries are in somewhat different legal positions vis a vis any WHA response. In terms of Argentina, there is no explicit provision in WHO’s Constitution for member states to withdraw, with the exception of the United States, which reserved that right explicitly when it joined in 1948. As for the United States, the US also owes WHO some $260.6 million in unpaid dues for 2024-2025, on which WHA member states could feasibly demand payment before its withdrawal is legally “accepted.” See related story. Stars and Stripes No Longer Flying at WHO – But US Can’t Really Leave Until Dues are Paid, Agency Says Argentina will continue to abide by International Health Regulations on Emergencies Regardless of the formalities, Argentina’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Carlos Mario Foradori, affirmed that the country would continue to abide by International Health Regulations whereby WHO must be notified of an infectious disease outbreak of epidemic potential. “We will not be isolated from the world. We will continue to respect all the rules that exist. We cooperate very closely with the Pan American Health Organization, and we will strengthen this even further,” Foradori said, adding that PAHO’s Director Jarbas Barbosa, is in fact visiting Argentina next week. “And it should be clear to the whole membership that we’re not leaving this world. To be very clear, as was mentioned, the pandemic knows no borders, and as a Western civilized country, we understand that we need to respect rules, and work with the whole world.” Some WHO observers called out Foradori’s reference to a “western civilized country” was as a slight on non-western regions of the world. So far, the US also has remained in PAHO, of which it was a founding member, and whose existence predates the 1948 formation of WHO by nearly half a century. Historically, the US is also PAHO’s largest funder. However, currently the US owes PAHO some 78.5 million in unpaid dues for the 2024-25 fiscal year, and a total of $136.5 million including 2026 dues. In August, meanwhile, the White House ordered cuts in some $45 million to already approved PAHO allocations in protest over a now-discontinued PAHO programme supporting the deployment of Cuban doctors to rural areas of Brazil at sub-market wages and with Cuba’s government reaping financial benefits. See related story: Pan American Health Organization Targeted in New Round of US Funding Cuts This week’s Congressional passage of a $9.42 billion global health appropriations bill , meanwhile, contained no explicit mention of funding to PAHO. And so it remains to be seen the cutbacks previously ordered by the White House are indeed implemented – as well as how PAHO will be funded for 2026. Legally, PAHO is an anomaly amongst WHO’s six regional offices insofar as it operates with its own budget and decision-making structure as a semi-autonomous entity – even though it also serves as a WHO Regional Office. This anomaly, in turn, opens up the unique possibility for nations in the Americas to retain their affiliation with PAHO as a regional organization, whilst disassociating themselves from WHO as a global body. No clear way forward on response to member states that withdraw Costa Rica’s delegate at the EB was one of several member states that expressed regret at Argentina’s withdrawal from WHO. The EB discussion did not yield a unanimous recommendation on whether the World Health Assembly should actively ‘accept’ Argentina’s withdrawal – or how to respond to the US withdrawal at a time when Washington stills owe WHO some $360 million in past dues. While many WHO member states at the EB meeting stressed that countries had the sovereign right to determine whether they remain in an international organization – others stressed the legal complexities around the issue and the need for further consideration before the WHA must take a position in May. Ultimately, the EB agreed to pass onto the WHA a draft resolution co-sponsored by Argentina and Israel, calling on WHO member states to formally acknowledge Argentina’s withdrawal. But some leading member states reserved their final position, asking for further legal analysis and clarification. “Argentina’s notification of withdrawal raises numerous issues that do require careful consideration,” said Australia’’s delegate. Said Switzerland, “We hear that there are still different legal, political, technical questions on the conditions and the implication in this context, on this agenda. ..We would all benefit from additional clarity for the WHA to be able to take an informed decision.” A report submitted to this Executive Board meeting has already has laid out the key issues relateld to the withdrawal of both Argentina and the US. Effectively, there is no legal provision in the WHO Constitution for a member state to withdraw – with the exception of the United States, which made that right an explicit condition of its joining in 1948, WHO’s paper notes. At the same time, Argentina and other member states argued that broader international legal principles guarantee a country the sovereign right to determine its affiliations in multilateral organizations like WHO. Australia, Costa Rica, Zimbabwe and other member states also expressed regret over Argentina’s departure from the global body, asking for continued dialogue over its decision and describing Argentina as a valued partner in global health. “We request them to reconsider in view of global health security,” said Zimbabwe. China says US withdrawal shows lack of ‘leadership’ China’s EB delegate describes US withdrawal from WHO as a lack of leadership. No such regrets were expressed at Friday’s meeting regarding the US departure. But China described the US move as a lack of leadership, saying: “As the most representative and authoritative intergovernmental, international health organization, the WHO bears a significant responsibility in global health governance….Major countries in particular, should lead by example. They should not treat the WHO as something to be used as it fits and abandoned when it does not. Nor should they bypass the WHO and set up alternative mechanisms,” China’s delegate said. “Countries should adhere to the rule of law and should not selectively fulfill their international obligations and commitments, and should not place [their] domestic political agenda above international law and governments.” At the same time, China called for a re-evaluation of WHO rules around the entry and exit of member states from the organization, for which WHO’s 1948 constitution made few provisions, saying: “The issue of withdrawal is complex and sensitive. Members cannot enter or exit at their will. At present, there are certain gaps and ambiguity in the WHO’s rule regarding membership changes based on fairness and transparency, necessary adjustments and improvements should be made to better respond to the new circumstances and requirements on global health governance.” Israel, meanwhile, said that WHA members should accept the US notice of withdrawal without hinging it to other issues – an indirect reference to the unpaid US dues for 2024-2025. Said Israel, “Any attempt to compel states against the national decisions is an infringement of their sovereign rights. There is no valid reason to further discuss this matter in any WHO forum. Further discussions only consume the limited resources this organization has without carrying any actual impact on the ground. Other issues of dispute between a member state and the organization do not affect the right of withdrawal in the context of the WHO,” Israel’s delegate said, an apparent reference to the outstanding, unpaid WHO dues still owed by the US. At Monday’s Executive Board opening, Israel’s EB Representative, Asher Salmon, warned that his country, a close ally of the US, is also under pressure to withdraw from WHO, saying, “in Israel, there are also, unfortunately, strong public voices calling for us to leave the organisation.” Claiming that the WHO had become “too politicised,” he called for a “brave conceptual overhaul” of the organization. See related story: Days After US Leaves WHO, Israel Warns it Faces Pressure to Withdraw Image Credits: DavidRockDesign/Pixabay. Spain to Restrict Social Media Access as Evidence Mounts of Health Harms for Children 06/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the World Governments Summit in Dubai Spain announced this week that it would tighten its social media laws, aiming to ban access for children under the age of 16 as part of a global tide against electronic platforms. Last year, Australia became the first country to restrict social media for children, while French lawmakers voted to follow suit last month. So far, the UK, Denmark, Norway, Greece and India are considering similar moves, while German lawmakers are considering a digital law to contain the anti-competitive behaviour of global digital platforms. There is growing evidence of the harmful effects of social media on children, including depression, anxiety, stress and cyberbullying – alongside evidence that digital platforms such as X are influencing political outcomes by manipulating content and algorithms. “First, we will change the law in Spain to hold platform executives legally accountable for many infringements taking place on their sites,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday. “This means that CEOs of these techno platforms will face criminal liability for failing to remove illegal or hateful content,” said Sanchez. “Second, we will turn algorithmic manipulation and amplification of illegal content into a new criminal offence,” he added. “No more hiding behind code. No more pretending technology is neutral. “Third, we will implement a hate and polarization footprint system to track, quantify, and expose how digital platforms fuel division and amplify hate. For too long, hate has been treated as invisible and untraceable, but we will change that.” Sanchez added that Spain “will ban access to social media for minors under the age of 16” and platforms“will be required to implement effective age verification systems”. “Today, our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone. A space of addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation… we will protect them from a digital wild west.” “Fifth and last, my government will work with our public prosecutor to investigate and pursue the infringement committed by Grok, TikTok, and Instagram. We will have zero tolerance and protect our digital sovereignty against foreign coercion.” Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, responded by describing Sanchez as “dirty” and a “tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain”. Dirty Sánchez is a tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain 💩 https://t.co/B3oyHrBYpR — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 3, 2026 However, X faces global probes after it emerged that the platform’s AI chatbot, Grok, is generating deepfake pornography, including involving children. Australia provides global example Australia’s ban on social media for children aged 15 and under came into effect on 10 December last year. It affects platforms including Tiktok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads. While children and their parents are not sanctioned for breaking the ban, the Australian government will impose heavy fines on companies that allow children to have accounts. Days before the ban came into effect, Meta – owner of Facebook, Instagram and Threads – said it had deleted about 550,000 accounts. A representative survey of children aged 10-15 commissioned by the Australian government in 2024/5 found that 96% used social media, and that 71% had experienced harmful content. “This included exposure to misogynistic or hateful material, dangerous online challenges, violent fight videos, and content promoting disordered eating and suicide,” according to a media release on the survey. One in seven children reported experiencing online “grooming” from adults or children at least four years older, which included being asked questions about their private parts or to share nude images. Growing evidence of harms to children Meanwhile, global evidence keeps growing of the negative effects of social media use – particularly on the developing brains of children. A scoping review of multiple studies published last year in PubMed linked social media to bullying, and prolonged use to depression, anxiety, and stress. The review notes the “alarming” increase in mental health disorders among youth and adolescents, particularly “anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyper-reactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder”. “One contributing factor that has received growing attention is the role of social media and technology in shaping adolescent brain development, behaviour, and emotional well-being,” the researchers note. “While digital platforms provide opportunities for social connection, self-expression, and mental health support, they also introduce significant risks, including compulsive social media use, cyberbullying, unrealistic beauty standards, and exposure to substance-related content.” A meta-analysis of 143 studies involving over one million adolescents, published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2024, found “a positive and significant meta-correlation between time spent on social media and mental health symptoms”, particularly depression and anxiety. Image Credits: Unsplash. As WHO Debates Global AI Regulation, States Clash Over ‘Data Sovereignty’ 05/02/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, warns that digital tools and AI may widen health gaps without proper governance and trust. A stark debate over who owns the data in the future of AI and digital health emerged at the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board on Wednesday. Low and middle-income countries warned that the rapid deployment of new technologies risks accelerating data extraction and increasing inequality, cautioning that – without strict AI governance, sustainable financing and equitable guardrails – the implementation of AI in health systems would compromise “data sovereignty”. The debate centred on a WHO report outlining the framework for a digital transformation strategy spanning 2028 to 2033. Highlighting the profound shifts driven by AI and genomics, the report notes that many member states remain paralysed by “fragmented systems with limited interoperability.” And it warns that without reliable, representative data, AI risks amplifying biases and inefficiencies. “Innovation alone is not enough,” stated Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “Without skills, governance and trust, digital tools widen gaps instead of closing them.” Kluge also warned that “the risk of a new digital divide is real”. Based on the deliberations, the Secretariat will continue its technical work on the strategy. To this end, the WHO has established a tripartite collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union and the World Intellectual Property Organization. The board also decided to move forward on consultations to strengthen the global health workforce code, while the fight against substandard medicines moves to a new operational phase under an approved work plan. Closing the rift in AI regulation The representative from Cameroon, speaking for the African Region, shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership at the WHO Executive Board session on Wednesday. Regarding AI and digital health, a regulatory rift is opening as high-income regions press forward. While the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have established guiding principles on AI, a formal global standard remains elusive. The European Union, represented by Bulgaria, argued that health data and information systems are the “essential foundation”, calling for the WHO to lead harmonisation efforts. These ought to focus on autonomy, safety, well-being of patients and health care professionals. Israel supported this, proposing “regulatory sandboxes” to test technologies safely while integrating economic considerations. However, the African Region and other LMICs shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership. Cameroon, speaking for the region, called for rigorous ethical governance. The prevailing fear is that international companies will harvest data from the Global South to train AI models or develop products that are then sold back for profit. Barbados reinforced this, rejecting the model of “donor-funded surveys”. The delegate argued that health data must be treated as a “national asset” under local control. Positioning the country as a “living laboratory” for digital innovation, Barbados demanded sustainable financing models to advance universal health coverage rather than short-term extraction. Rich nations urged to ‘pay up’ for imported health talent Zimbabwe’s representative calls for co-investment from rich nations to address the crisis of health worker migration. The board also confronted the escalating crisis of health worker migration, reviewing new data confirming that active recruitment from nations with fragile health systems is intensifying ‘brain drain’ to plug staffing gaps in the Global North. Zimbabwe, speaking for the African Region, issued a sharp rebuke of current practices. “Targeted recruitment continues to strain our fragile health systems,” the delegate warned. The region demanded that development banks and donor agencies move beyond rhetoric to “co-invest” in the education and retention of the workforce in source countries. Pakistan amplified this, arguing that while the principle of co-investment is recognised, there is currently a lack of “binding commitment to deliver it”. The United Kingdom, a major destination country, maintained that the Global Code of Practice remains “central to ethical international recruitment.” However, the UK acknowledged the need for clearer guidance on safeguards and supported a process to refine the Code’s application. To bridge this divide, the Secretariat, and member states agreed to launch informal consultations to draft a decision for the World Health Assembly in May. The talks will focus on specific additions to the Code, such as co-investment mechanisms and protections for care workers. Debate on ‘scourge’ of substandard medicines ongoing The WHO is intensifying surveillance of medical products following a deadly spike in contaminated products containing toxic chemicals like cough syrups. On a last item, the board confronted the lethal proliferation of substandard and falsified medical products, a crisis described by delegates as a critical threat to both public health and economic security. The WHO’s surveillance system has recorded over 10,000 suspect products since 2013, with the Secretariat highlighting a recent, deadly spike in contaminated medical products containing diethylene glycol, like cough syrups. Togo, speaking for the African Region, characterised the issue as a “scourge,” exacerbated by open borders and informal markets. The region called for “innovative financing” to support regulatory authorities in resource-poor settings, where the risk of infiltration into public supply chains remains high. Ukraine shifted the focus to modern distribution channels, warning of the specific threat posed by “unregulated online sales.” The delegate urged the WHO to help secure supply chains for high-risk excipients – inactive ingredients often implicated in contamination cases. The International Pharmaceutical Federation backed these concerns, emphasising that the workforce must be trained to detect fakes before they reach patients. “Protecting patients requires safeguarding the quality of medicines,” the Federation argued. To close the detection gap, the Board noted the urgent need to roll out market surveillance technologies, specifically the Epione reporting tool, to track suspect products in real-time. The Secretariat will now develop the draft global strategy for 2028 to 2033, which is scheduled for submission to the board at its 160th session in January 2027 before final consideration by the 80th World Health Assembly. Image Credits: Felix Sassmannshausen, WHO/Christopher Black , Pexels/Towfiqu barbhuiya. Tedros Expresses Confidence That Pandemic Talks Will Meet ‘Absolute Deadline’ 05/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan WHO Diector-General Dr Tedros and IGWG co-chair Matthew Harpur (right) World Health Organization (WHO) Director General expressed confidence that member states would agree on the last outstanding part of the Pandemic Agreement by the “absolute deadline” of May at the body’s Executive Board meeting on Wednesday. “This year’s World Health Assembly [in May] must receive a text that member states can consider and act upon. There is no scope for delay because the next pandemic will not wait,” Tedros urged. But questions by Pakistan, part of the Group for Equity negotiating bloc in the negotiations, indicated a lack of agreement on several key issues relating to how pathogens should be shared. Member states only have two more weeks of formal negotiations before the deadline – with the next round starting on Monday. However, the talks are also affected by WHO budget cuts which have limited their access to translators. Countries are hammering out a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, deciding on how materials and sequence information from pathogens with pandemic potential can be shared fast and fairly – and how countries sharing this information can also benefit from any products that are developed as a result. The Group for Equity and Africa Region want draft contracts to be included as part of the deal to set out the terms for those who want access to pathogen information – for example, pharmaceutical companies in order to make vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic tests. The Pakistan delegate said that the two groups – representing 80% of the world’s population – had come up with a standard material transfer agreement based on other international agreements, and a draft contract for digital sequence information. “We have had only one informal discussion on the draft contracts,” said Pakistan, urging those in charge of the process to organise more consultation on the contracts. “In order to complete the exercise, to have full legal clarity and certainty we would like to have a pandemic agreement with draft contracts.” Three key areas for talks Matthew Harpur, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) overseeing the negotiations, outlined the three key areas for the talks. “Firstly, we have the scope and objectives and the use of terms,” said Harpur, who added that by last meeting, “it was really good to see some progress”. “Secondly, we have the implementation and the operation of the PABS system,” he added. This includes the issue of “equal footing” – namely, that rapid access to pathogens information and how the benefits deriving from this sharing are of equal importance. “How do we how do we swiftly share that information that keeps us all safer and but how do we also ensure equity,” said Harpur, adding that issues such as monetary contributions had to be agreed on to ensure equity. The third part is “governance and enforcement”. “You can have the best words on paper, but if they’re not enforceable, if they don’t work in practice, it is meaningless,” said Harpur. “So how do we ensure an effective governance system, with the advisory group, the role of the [Conference of the Parties] and, of course, the role of the Secretariat.” The next IGWG meeting runs from 9-14 February. Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts This site uses cookies to help give you the best experience on our website. Cookies enable us to collect information that helps us personalise your experience and improve the functionality and performance of our site. By continuing to read our website, we assume you agree to this, otherwise you can adjust your browser settings. Please read our cookie and Privacy Policy. Our Cookies and Privacy Policy Loading Comments... You must be logged in to post a comment.
Powerful WHO Members Hint at Delay in Pandemic Talks if No Legal Certainty on Pathogen Information 09/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan Indonesia delivering a statement at IGWG5 on behalf of the Group of Equity. Powerful member state blocs at the World Health Organization (WHO) stressed on Monday that they will not compromise on the final outstanding piece of the Pandemic Agreement simply to meet the May deadline. The Group of Equity and the WHO’s Africa, Eastern Mediterranean and South-East Asia regions stated that they wanted a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system with legal certainty at the second-to-last meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG). “PABS is the heart of the Pandemic Agreement. If the heart is weak, the body cannot function, and the agreement will not deliver equity,” said Indonesia on behalf of the Group of Equity, and the three regions – collectively representing over 80% of the world’s population. The PABS system aims to set out how countries can share information about pathogens and their genetic sequence data and ensure that those sharing this information get access to the benefits developed as a result, such as vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics. But the current PABS draft contains “major loopholes” that will prevent the system – an annex to the Pandemic Agreement – from functioning effectively, Indonesia added. “The annex must articulate the operational details of the PABS System, and provide legal clarity on the rights and obligations of the providers of PABS material and sequence information, as well as various users of the system. We also question how any terms and conditions can be enforced when users are permitted to remain anonymous,” stressed Indonesia. “We understand the pressure of timelines. But we should be clear about the choices and decisions in front of us: We are aiming for an annex by [the World Health Assembly in] May, that can actually deliver a functioning PABS System in totality. But if we cut too many corners now, we will pay for it later in credibility and implementation.” Zimbabwe – speaking for the Africa Group – stated that “a system that safeguards some while leaving others exposed is not only unjust, it is ineffective”. “For the Africa Group, equity and benefit-sharing must be operational, enforceable and central to Pandemic Agreement, including the PABS annex. These elements cannot be aspirational, deferred or left to voluntary implementation. Past experiences has shown the consequences of such approaches.” Pragmatism and speed The EU representative and France’s Anne-Claire Amprou. However, the European Union, backed by G7 leader France, called for pragmatism and speed. “We remain deeply committed to work towards an effective, workable and implementable PABS system in the remaining 12 Days of negotiations that we have at our disposal,” said the EU representative. “We hope that a sense of pragmatism and common sense will help to guide us towards convergence on the key remaining outstanding areas for the purpose of bringing this process to a successful conclusion within the timeframe.” Speaking for France, Anne-Claire Amprou, a former co-chair of the Pandemic Agreement negotiations, urged “quick progress” to adopt the annex by the World Health Assembly in May. “Given the time remaining, we need to be reasonable in terms of the amendments we make to the text,” said Amprou. “We invite member states not to reopen subjects or provisions which were already adopted as part of the Pandemic Agreement.” The Pandemic Agreement cannot be endorsed or operationalised without the PABS annex, which means there is no global agreement on how to approach the next pandemic – which can strike at any time. Benefit-sharing demands India warned against adopting an ambiguous annex. But for many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the bitter memory of being unable to get access to vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic – even for health workers and their most vulnerable citizens – was a sobering lesson. Some indicated that they would be prepared to miss the May deadline rather than budge on their demand for a legally binding PABS system that balances access and benefit-sharing. India, speaking for the South-East Asia region, stated that “it is essential that quality is not compromised by the pressure of timelines”. “Our priority must be an annex that provides clear legal certainty with minimum room for interpretive ambiguity. Such clarity is critical for effective implementation and long-term trust in multilateralism, “ said India. “Benefit-sharing obligation must be proportionate to access and cannot be voluntary, aspirational or based on ‘best endeavours’. Non-monetary benefits Some LMICs also stressed – as India did – that benefit-sharing must extend “beyond monetary contributions and donations of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics”. “Non-monetary benefits, including timely capacity development, technical assistance and non-exclusive manufacturing licences for developing countries, must be clearly specified and applied both during pandemics and during the inter-pandemic period,” said India, for the South-East Asia region. Indonesia said that, while equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics (VTDs) is essential, “we should also be serious about benefits that support timely diversified regional and local production, including non-exclusive licensing to manufacturers in developing countries, transfer of technology, and meaningful collaboration in R&D.” “Benefit sharing cannot depend on purchasing power, ad hoc arrangements or discretionary decisions taken during emergencies,” said Namibia. “It must be triggered by access, governed by multilateral rules and delivered when it matters most. Namibia also places strong emphasis on technology transfer and regional manufacturing capacity. Strengthening local and regional production is essential to reducing dependency and building real resilience.” Way forward The IGWG meeting – the fifth of six – ends on Saturday, and while it plans four evening sessions, co-chair Tovar da Silva Nunes reminded delegates that the meeting’s access to interpreters is limited, a casualty of WHO budget cuts. There are 100 days to the deadline, and by the end of this week’s talks, it should be clear whether the annex is on track for adoption in May. Mexico, meanwhile, indicated that it is available to facilitate “dialogue between blocs of countries”. “We are convinced that, with political will and pragmatism, we can reach the necessary consensus so that we can allow this process to conclude successfully and strengthen our multilateral stance for future pandemics.” said Mexico. WHO Executive Board Adopts New Efficiency Measures But Can They Stick? 09/02/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher Egypt leads the charge Friday against renewing WHO relations with NGOs working in the sexual and reproductive health rights space. After fits, starts, hours of back room negotiations and hesitations, the closing day of WHO’s Executive Board session Friday saw agreement on a number of small – but potentially meaningful – efficiency measures aimed at saving booth member states and the financially-strapped agency a time and money in preparing for and responding to member state mandates. The changes come amidst mounting geopolitical and social tensions amongst member states, with an increasing share of discussion time consumed by a handful of highly politicized items, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as sexual and reproductive health rights. At the same time, the Executive Board and the annual World Health Assembly (WHA) have become overloaded with a growing volume of draft decisions and resolutions – many costly to implement and not always aligned with established strategic plans. Among the key reforms is an initiative to streamline timelines and criteria for the submission of proposed draft resolutions and decisions by member states. This could curb the proliferation of proposals seen over the past several years. Streamlining discussion on Palestine and de-escalating flashpoints WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Friday evening in emotional appeals for streamlining debates around divisive issues such as reproductive health rights and Palestine. Another small efficiency steps for the upcoming WHA include a compromise on language, which enabled the approval of WHO’s continued engagement with five NGOs working on sexual and reproductive health rights. In addition, a plan to consolidate discussion around two overlapping reports on the thorny question of health conditions in the “Occupied Palestine Territory (OPT)’’ into a single WHA agenda item avoids duplications that have consumed hours of WHA time since 2024. That is when the Israel-Hamas war led to the development of a second WHO report on health conditions in the OPT, in addition to the annual report that has been a perennial feature on the WHA every year since Israel occupied the territories in 1967. Addressing the Executive Board on Friday, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus framed the latter consolidation as both an efficiency gain and a confidence-building measure. “As you know, the UN Security Council welcomed the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict last November through Resolution 2803. This holds the real promise for advancing peace and …in a region with such urgent needs, peace is built one brave step at a time. It’s a commitment we renew every day. Peace endures only when we carry it forward together. Each of us can contribute through our decisions in the EB and the WHA,” Tedros said. “Today, I propose one concrete step combining the two WHA agenda items… into a single discussion. …By taking this step together, we not only foster a more constructive environment for our governance deliberations, but also contribute, in a small way, to the success of the peace initiative.” More efficient process for advancing WHA resolutions Administratively, the Board also backed proposals to enforce stricter timelines for submitting draft resolutions and decisions, along with closer WHO Secretariat supervision to ensure their alignment with agency priorities and budgets, and manageable meeting agendas. While current rules hold that zero drafts should be submitted several months before a session – and final drafts no later than 15 days ahead – in practice, many proposals have arrived late, leaving little time for review by the WHO Secretariat or member states. In a draft decision Friday, Board members also agreed to advance a proposed rule change whereby three WHO member states from at least two regions must agree to co-sponsor any new decision or resolution. The innovation aims to curb member states’ debate on measures with little real backing. But the provision remains bracketed in the draft text, which also refers to the “piloting” of the reform measures, signalling the long road that remains to actual approval. Opposition to WHO’s engagement with reproductive health NGOs Norway’s EB representative, Cathrine Lofthus, Ministry of Health Director General, led negotiations with the Egyptian-led bloc on WHO collaborations with reproductive health NGOs. The Executive Board also reached a time-saving agreement on another topic of frequent WHA conflict – WHO engagements with non-state actors that work on sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). Egypt, where abortion is illegal unless a woman’s life is at risk and is even subject to a jail sentence, has long been a leader in opposing WHO’s engagements with NGOs working in this space. This year, that included opposition to WHO collaborations with five groups whose terms of engagement with WHO are due to be renewed this year, as part of a routine, triennial review process. The groups are the International Planned Parenthood Federation, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Family Health International, the Population Council and the World Association for Sexual Health. Speaking for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which includes states from WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region as well as countries in North Africa and Asia, Egypt’s delegate declared that continued engagement with the five NGOs is “contrary” to WHO’s Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA), which aims to ensure the agency’s “integrity, independence and credibility is not compromised” and that non-state actors do not wield undue “influence” in setting “policies, norms and standards.” Norway, leading the EU and other supportive member states, spent several hours negotiating an addendum that effectively renews collaboration while taking “note” of reservations and affirms that “member states have full sovereign rights over which non-state actors operate within their national territories,” in line with their “national context and legislation.” Addendum to EB decision renewing WHO’s collaboration’s with reproductive health NGOs de-escalated potential controversy at the upcoming World Health Assembly. Here too, Tedros added his own support, recalling how parliamentary reforms liberalizing Ethiopia’s abortion laws during his tenure as health minister helped cut maternal mortality fivefold, as many deaths were linked to unsafe abortions. “I myself invited not only WHO, but other international organizations for help, and it’s during that time, our Parliament passed a bill on how to handle unsafe abortion, because nobody wanted for our mothers to die, our sisters to die,” Tedros said. “We don’t allow our norms and standards to be influenced by anyone. We take sides with science,” Tedros affirmed. “Any country has sovereignty, either to invite us or not invite us [to support them]. But whatever relationship we have, it will not be forced on any country.” The EB negotiations and word-smithing, while tortuous and time-consuming, may help avert an even larger debate at the WHA. Temporary fixes? Palestinian EB representative Ryad Awaja: consolidated discussion on health conditions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is an “exceptional” move. Despite the budget pressure that helped push member states toward incremental reforms, most changes remain tentative—preliminary or applicable only to the upcoming WHA. Agreeing to combine discussions on the two overlapping WHO reports on “health conditions in the Occupied Palestine Territory (OPT)” into one dedicated discussion on the WHA agenda, Palestine’s EB representative Ryad Awaja stressed that the arrangement was temporary. He attributed it to logistical constraints facing this year’s WHA, with some meetings shifting to WHO headquarters during renovations at Geneva’s UN Offices in the Palais des Nations. “To know this is exceptional,” Awaja said of the consolidated discussion. “It’s not …forever. It’s just an exception from Palestine to help for this time.” Maternal and Child Nutrition Backslides: WHO Report Reveals 06/02/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The current status of six global maternal and child health targets as of 2023. The World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board faced a grim reckoning on Thursday in a report detailing how global progress on maternal, infant and child nutrition has largely stalled or even regressed. Notably, six critical nutrition targets remain “off track,” with rising rates of anaemia and childhood obesity sliding back, threatening to reverse years of development gains, according to a report reviewed by the EB. “Malnutrition is really a silent epidemic today in Africa,” stated the representative of Cameroon. “Despite all that has been done, we still see stunting, anaemia, and lack of certain nutrients.” International commitments aim to halve the prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age by 2030, as part of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). However, rates have climbed from 27.6% in 2012 to 30.7% in 2023. Driven by factors ranging from food insecurity and infectious diseases to poverty, this leaves millions of women without enough healthy red blood cells. Global targets for tackling the double burden of malnutrition, which includes both undernutrition and overweight, are similarly off-track. The global prevalence of childhood overweight has crept up to 5.5%, as food systems struggle to provide healthy options, the WHO report notes. Stunting, a measure of undernutrition, still affects 150.2 million children under five, with an estimated 136.3 million more children likely to face stunting by 2030. And low birth weight rates have barely improved, inching down just 0.3% to 14.7% of newborns between 2012 and 2023. Meanwhile, childhood wasting remains stubbornly high at 6.6% of children under the age of five years of age – well above the 5% threshold required to ensure child survival. Maternal and child health is crisis of inequality The delegation from Cameroon highlighted the ‘silent epidemic’ of malnutrition and the urgent need to prioritise maternal and child health amidst stalling global progress. In the first comprehensive debate since member states pledged to extend and accelerate action on maternal, infant and young child nutrition in a 2025 World Health Assembly resolution, delegates called out the stagnation as a systemic crisis of inequality deepened by conflict and climate change. Speaking on behalf of the 47 Member States of the African Region, the delegation from Lesotho warned that the continent bears the highest global burden of stunting and anaemia, a situation that persists, despite ongoing interventions, delegates from Cameroon added. Somalia, speaking for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, highlighted the devastating impact of climate and conflict-driven instability, noting a “complex nutrition burden driven by conflict, displacement, and climate shocks.” The delegation reported that 24.3 million children under five in the Africa region are currently stunted, urging prioritised support for fragile and conflict-affected settings. Outrage over ‘savage marketing’ of formula The Norwegian delegation joined the European Union and African nations in calling for stricter regulations on the formula industry’s digital marketing following recent safety recalls. A major point of contention during the session was the aggressive commercialisation of infant nutrition. In a sharp rebuke of the formula industry, the Central African Republic condemned “savage marketing for breast milk substitutes.” The delegate noted that these practices are “undermining breastfeeding and taking advantage of communities that are already poor and fragile”, putting industry interests over public health. This concern bridged the divide between the Global South and wealthy donor nations. Norway joined African nations in demanding stricter regulation, specifically targeting the digital sphere. The Norwegian delegation raised alarm over “recent large-scale recalls of breast milk substitutes,” arguing that food safety and robust monitoring must be paramount. Advocacy groups demand industry accountability The delegate from the Central African Republic condemned ‘aggressive’ and ‘savage marketing for breast milk substitutes.’ The tension between public health priorities and commercial interests was palpable in statements from non-state actors. The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) hit back at the formula industry. The advocacy group warned that recent contamination cases exposed “systemic failures” in formula production. IBFAN argued that cross-border social media marketing exacerbates food safety risks by allowing unregistered products to enter countries, demanding that governments take the lead in verifying safety rather than trusting manufacturers. Meanwhile, the Global Self-Care Federation, representing the consumer health industry, argued that policymakers also “must prioritise the provision of micronutrient supplements” to women. A statement by the group noted that iron, folate, iodine, and calcium supplementation can help reduce anaemia prevalence, and therefore maternal mortality and pre-term birth, as well as some “life-long NCD risks.” Such supplementation is thus a “cost-effective public health investment”, the group stated. Rising stakes in a climate of receding aid The WHO Executive Board convenes in Geneva to address a critical report revealing that most global maternal and child health targets are currently off track. The United Kingdom called the report “sobering,” noting that “no country is on track to meet the targets” and flagging worsening trends in minimum dietary diversity even within its borders. Canada emphasised the need to “step up nutritional interventions” that are based on evidence and take gender into account. Speaking for the 27-member European Union, Bulgaria admitted the world is “far off track.” However, the bloc reiterated its financial commitment, noting that Europe has pledged €6.5 billion to fight malnutrition up to 2029. The EU called for increased coordination on data collection to better target the most vulnerable populations. While officials figures are yet to be finalised, international development assistance for nutrition declined by an estimated 9% to 17% in 2025. In light of this, the Board faces the difficult task of reversing these trends in a constrained financial environment. Such reductions in donor aid threaten to “reverse hard work and increase preventable child deaths,” warned Nigeria, saying that nutrition needs to be considered an “essential” organising principle of primary health care. Image Credits: Felix Sassmannshausen, HPW/Felix Sassmannshausen. Argentina: No Withdrawal from Pan American Health Organization – Despite Leaving WHO 06/02/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher Argentina’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Carlos Mario Foradori, affirms his country will remain involved with WHO’s regional arm, PAHO, Although Argentina is withdrawing from the World Health Organization’s global body, it intends to remain an active member in WHO’s regional affiliate, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the country’s representative told the WHO Executive Board on Friday. His comments came in the course of a discussion on the legal and policy impacts of Argentina’s declaration in February 2025 that it would leave WHO, following that of the United States last January. Argentina’s official notice, made in March, is due to be discussed at the May World Health Assembly along with the United States withdrawal. But the two countries are in somewhat different legal positions vis a vis any WHA response. In terms of Argentina, there is no explicit provision in WHO’s Constitution for member states to withdraw, with the exception of the United States, which reserved that right explicitly when it joined in 1948. As for the United States, the US also owes WHO some $260.6 million in unpaid dues for 2024-2025, on which WHA member states could feasibly demand payment before its withdrawal is legally “accepted.” See related story. Stars and Stripes No Longer Flying at WHO – But US Can’t Really Leave Until Dues are Paid, Agency Says Argentina will continue to abide by International Health Regulations on Emergencies Regardless of the formalities, Argentina’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Carlos Mario Foradori, affirmed that the country would continue to abide by International Health Regulations whereby WHO must be notified of an infectious disease outbreak of epidemic potential. “We will not be isolated from the world. We will continue to respect all the rules that exist. We cooperate very closely with the Pan American Health Organization, and we will strengthen this even further,” Foradori said, adding that PAHO’s Director Jarbas Barbosa, is in fact visiting Argentina next week. “And it should be clear to the whole membership that we’re not leaving this world. To be very clear, as was mentioned, the pandemic knows no borders, and as a Western civilized country, we understand that we need to respect rules, and work with the whole world.” Some WHO observers called out Foradori’s reference to a “western civilized country” was as a slight on non-western regions of the world. So far, the US also has remained in PAHO, of which it was a founding member, and whose existence predates the 1948 formation of WHO by nearly half a century. Historically, the US is also PAHO’s largest funder. However, currently the US owes PAHO some 78.5 million in unpaid dues for the 2024-25 fiscal year, and a total of $136.5 million including 2026 dues. In August, meanwhile, the White House ordered cuts in some $45 million to already approved PAHO allocations in protest over a now-discontinued PAHO programme supporting the deployment of Cuban doctors to rural areas of Brazil at sub-market wages and with Cuba’s government reaping financial benefits. See related story: Pan American Health Organization Targeted in New Round of US Funding Cuts This week’s Congressional passage of a $9.42 billion global health appropriations bill , meanwhile, contained no explicit mention of funding to PAHO. And so it remains to be seen the cutbacks previously ordered by the White House are indeed implemented – as well as how PAHO will be funded for 2026. Legally, PAHO is an anomaly amongst WHO’s six regional offices insofar as it operates with its own budget and decision-making structure as a semi-autonomous entity – even though it also serves as a WHO Regional Office. This anomaly, in turn, opens up the unique possibility for nations in the Americas to retain their affiliation with PAHO as a regional organization, whilst disassociating themselves from WHO as a global body. No clear way forward on response to member states that withdraw Costa Rica’s delegate at the EB was one of several member states that expressed regret at Argentina’s withdrawal from WHO. The EB discussion did not yield a unanimous recommendation on whether the World Health Assembly should actively ‘accept’ Argentina’s withdrawal – or how to respond to the US withdrawal at a time when Washington stills owe WHO some $360 million in past dues. While many WHO member states at the EB meeting stressed that countries had the sovereign right to determine whether they remain in an international organization – others stressed the legal complexities around the issue and the need for further consideration before the WHA must take a position in May. Ultimately, the EB agreed to pass onto the WHA a draft resolution co-sponsored by Argentina and Israel, calling on WHO member states to formally acknowledge Argentina’s withdrawal. But some leading member states reserved their final position, asking for further legal analysis and clarification. “Argentina’s notification of withdrawal raises numerous issues that do require careful consideration,” said Australia’’s delegate. Said Switzerland, “We hear that there are still different legal, political, technical questions on the conditions and the implication in this context, on this agenda. ..We would all benefit from additional clarity for the WHA to be able to take an informed decision.” A report submitted to this Executive Board meeting has already has laid out the key issues relateld to the withdrawal of both Argentina and the US. Effectively, there is no legal provision in the WHO Constitution for a member state to withdraw – with the exception of the United States, which made that right an explicit condition of its joining in 1948, WHO’s paper notes. At the same time, Argentina and other member states argued that broader international legal principles guarantee a country the sovereign right to determine its affiliations in multilateral organizations like WHO. Australia, Costa Rica, Zimbabwe and other member states also expressed regret over Argentina’s departure from the global body, asking for continued dialogue over its decision and describing Argentina as a valued partner in global health. “We request them to reconsider in view of global health security,” said Zimbabwe. China says US withdrawal shows lack of ‘leadership’ China’s EB delegate describes US withdrawal from WHO as a lack of leadership. No such regrets were expressed at Friday’s meeting regarding the US departure. But China described the US move as a lack of leadership, saying: “As the most representative and authoritative intergovernmental, international health organization, the WHO bears a significant responsibility in global health governance….Major countries in particular, should lead by example. They should not treat the WHO as something to be used as it fits and abandoned when it does not. Nor should they bypass the WHO and set up alternative mechanisms,” China’s delegate said. “Countries should adhere to the rule of law and should not selectively fulfill their international obligations and commitments, and should not place [their] domestic political agenda above international law and governments.” At the same time, China called for a re-evaluation of WHO rules around the entry and exit of member states from the organization, for which WHO’s 1948 constitution made few provisions, saying: “The issue of withdrawal is complex and sensitive. Members cannot enter or exit at their will. At present, there are certain gaps and ambiguity in the WHO’s rule regarding membership changes based on fairness and transparency, necessary adjustments and improvements should be made to better respond to the new circumstances and requirements on global health governance.” Israel, meanwhile, said that WHA members should accept the US notice of withdrawal without hinging it to other issues – an indirect reference to the unpaid US dues for 2024-2025. Said Israel, “Any attempt to compel states against the national decisions is an infringement of their sovereign rights. There is no valid reason to further discuss this matter in any WHO forum. Further discussions only consume the limited resources this organization has without carrying any actual impact on the ground. Other issues of dispute between a member state and the organization do not affect the right of withdrawal in the context of the WHO,” Israel’s delegate said, an apparent reference to the outstanding, unpaid WHO dues still owed by the US. At Monday’s Executive Board opening, Israel’s EB Representative, Asher Salmon, warned that his country, a close ally of the US, is also under pressure to withdraw from WHO, saying, “in Israel, there are also, unfortunately, strong public voices calling for us to leave the organisation.” Claiming that the WHO had become “too politicised,” he called for a “brave conceptual overhaul” of the organization. See related story: Days After US Leaves WHO, Israel Warns it Faces Pressure to Withdraw Image Credits: DavidRockDesign/Pixabay. Spain to Restrict Social Media Access as Evidence Mounts of Health Harms for Children 06/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the World Governments Summit in Dubai Spain announced this week that it would tighten its social media laws, aiming to ban access for children under the age of 16 as part of a global tide against electronic platforms. Last year, Australia became the first country to restrict social media for children, while French lawmakers voted to follow suit last month. So far, the UK, Denmark, Norway, Greece and India are considering similar moves, while German lawmakers are considering a digital law to contain the anti-competitive behaviour of global digital platforms. There is growing evidence of the harmful effects of social media on children, including depression, anxiety, stress and cyberbullying – alongside evidence that digital platforms such as X are influencing political outcomes by manipulating content and algorithms. “First, we will change the law in Spain to hold platform executives legally accountable for many infringements taking place on their sites,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday. “This means that CEOs of these techno platforms will face criminal liability for failing to remove illegal or hateful content,” said Sanchez. “Second, we will turn algorithmic manipulation and amplification of illegal content into a new criminal offence,” he added. “No more hiding behind code. No more pretending technology is neutral. “Third, we will implement a hate and polarization footprint system to track, quantify, and expose how digital platforms fuel division and amplify hate. For too long, hate has been treated as invisible and untraceable, but we will change that.” Sanchez added that Spain “will ban access to social media for minors under the age of 16” and platforms“will be required to implement effective age verification systems”. “Today, our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone. A space of addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation… we will protect them from a digital wild west.” “Fifth and last, my government will work with our public prosecutor to investigate and pursue the infringement committed by Grok, TikTok, and Instagram. We will have zero tolerance and protect our digital sovereignty against foreign coercion.” Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, responded by describing Sanchez as “dirty” and a “tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain”. Dirty Sánchez is a tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain 💩 https://t.co/B3oyHrBYpR — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 3, 2026 However, X faces global probes after it emerged that the platform’s AI chatbot, Grok, is generating deepfake pornography, including involving children. Australia provides global example Australia’s ban on social media for children aged 15 and under came into effect on 10 December last year. It affects platforms including Tiktok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads. While children and their parents are not sanctioned for breaking the ban, the Australian government will impose heavy fines on companies that allow children to have accounts. Days before the ban came into effect, Meta – owner of Facebook, Instagram and Threads – said it had deleted about 550,000 accounts. A representative survey of children aged 10-15 commissioned by the Australian government in 2024/5 found that 96% used social media, and that 71% had experienced harmful content. “This included exposure to misogynistic or hateful material, dangerous online challenges, violent fight videos, and content promoting disordered eating and suicide,” according to a media release on the survey. One in seven children reported experiencing online “grooming” from adults or children at least four years older, which included being asked questions about their private parts or to share nude images. Growing evidence of harms to children Meanwhile, global evidence keeps growing of the negative effects of social media use – particularly on the developing brains of children. A scoping review of multiple studies published last year in PubMed linked social media to bullying, and prolonged use to depression, anxiety, and stress. The review notes the “alarming” increase in mental health disorders among youth and adolescents, particularly “anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyper-reactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder”. “One contributing factor that has received growing attention is the role of social media and technology in shaping adolescent brain development, behaviour, and emotional well-being,” the researchers note. “While digital platforms provide opportunities for social connection, self-expression, and mental health support, they also introduce significant risks, including compulsive social media use, cyberbullying, unrealistic beauty standards, and exposure to substance-related content.” A meta-analysis of 143 studies involving over one million adolescents, published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2024, found “a positive and significant meta-correlation between time spent on social media and mental health symptoms”, particularly depression and anxiety. Image Credits: Unsplash. As WHO Debates Global AI Regulation, States Clash Over ‘Data Sovereignty’ 05/02/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, warns that digital tools and AI may widen health gaps without proper governance and trust. A stark debate over who owns the data in the future of AI and digital health emerged at the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board on Wednesday. Low and middle-income countries warned that the rapid deployment of new technologies risks accelerating data extraction and increasing inequality, cautioning that – without strict AI governance, sustainable financing and equitable guardrails – the implementation of AI in health systems would compromise “data sovereignty”. The debate centred on a WHO report outlining the framework for a digital transformation strategy spanning 2028 to 2033. Highlighting the profound shifts driven by AI and genomics, the report notes that many member states remain paralysed by “fragmented systems with limited interoperability.” And it warns that without reliable, representative data, AI risks amplifying biases and inefficiencies. “Innovation alone is not enough,” stated Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “Without skills, governance and trust, digital tools widen gaps instead of closing them.” Kluge also warned that “the risk of a new digital divide is real”. Based on the deliberations, the Secretariat will continue its technical work on the strategy. To this end, the WHO has established a tripartite collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union and the World Intellectual Property Organization. The board also decided to move forward on consultations to strengthen the global health workforce code, while the fight against substandard medicines moves to a new operational phase under an approved work plan. Closing the rift in AI regulation The representative from Cameroon, speaking for the African Region, shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership at the WHO Executive Board session on Wednesday. Regarding AI and digital health, a regulatory rift is opening as high-income regions press forward. While the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have established guiding principles on AI, a formal global standard remains elusive. The European Union, represented by Bulgaria, argued that health data and information systems are the “essential foundation”, calling for the WHO to lead harmonisation efforts. These ought to focus on autonomy, safety, well-being of patients and health care professionals. Israel supported this, proposing “regulatory sandboxes” to test technologies safely while integrating economic considerations. However, the African Region and other LMICs shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership. Cameroon, speaking for the region, called for rigorous ethical governance. The prevailing fear is that international companies will harvest data from the Global South to train AI models or develop products that are then sold back for profit. Barbados reinforced this, rejecting the model of “donor-funded surveys”. The delegate argued that health data must be treated as a “national asset” under local control. Positioning the country as a “living laboratory” for digital innovation, Barbados demanded sustainable financing models to advance universal health coverage rather than short-term extraction. Rich nations urged to ‘pay up’ for imported health talent Zimbabwe’s representative calls for co-investment from rich nations to address the crisis of health worker migration. The board also confronted the escalating crisis of health worker migration, reviewing new data confirming that active recruitment from nations with fragile health systems is intensifying ‘brain drain’ to plug staffing gaps in the Global North. Zimbabwe, speaking for the African Region, issued a sharp rebuke of current practices. “Targeted recruitment continues to strain our fragile health systems,” the delegate warned. The region demanded that development banks and donor agencies move beyond rhetoric to “co-invest” in the education and retention of the workforce in source countries. Pakistan amplified this, arguing that while the principle of co-investment is recognised, there is currently a lack of “binding commitment to deliver it”. The United Kingdom, a major destination country, maintained that the Global Code of Practice remains “central to ethical international recruitment.” However, the UK acknowledged the need for clearer guidance on safeguards and supported a process to refine the Code’s application. To bridge this divide, the Secretariat, and member states agreed to launch informal consultations to draft a decision for the World Health Assembly in May. The talks will focus on specific additions to the Code, such as co-investment mechanisms and protections for care workers. Debate on ‘scourge’ of substandard medicines ongoing The WHO is intensifying surveillance of medical products following a deadly spike in contaminated products containing toxic chemicals like cough syrups. On a last item, the board confronted the lethal proliferation of substandard and falsified medical products, a crisis described by delegates as a critical threat to both public health and economic security. The WHO’s surveillance system has recorded over 10,000 suspect products since 2013, with the Secretariat highlighting a recent, deadly spike in contaminated medical products containing diethylene glycol, like cough syrups. Togo, speaking for the African Region, characterised the issue as a “scourge,” exacerbated by open borders and informal markets. The region called for “innovative financing” to support regulatory authorities in resource-poor settings, where the risk of infiltration into public supply chains remains high. Ukraine shifted the focus to modern distribution channels, warning of the specific threat posed by “unregulated online sales.” The delegate urged the WHO to help secure supply chains for high-risk excipients – inactive ingredients often implicated in contamination cases. The International Pharmaceutical Federation backed these concerns, emphasising that the workforce must be trained to detect fakes before they reach patients. “Protecting patients requires safeguarding the quality of medicines,” the Federation argued. To close the detection gap, the Board noted the urgent need to roll out market surveillance technologies, specifically the Epione reporting tool, to track suspect products in real-time. The Secretariat will now develop the draft global strategy for 2028 to 2033, which is scheduled for submission to the board at its 160th session in January 2027 before final consideration by the 80th World Health Assembly. Image Credits: Felix Sassmannshausen, WHO/Christopher Black , Pexels/Towfiqu barbhuiya. Tedros Expresses Confidence That Pandemic Talks Will Meet ‘Absolute Deadline’ 05/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan WHO Diector-General Dr Tedros and IGWG co-chair Matthew Harpur (right) World Health Organization (WHO) Director General expressed confidence that member states would agree on the last outstanding part of the Pandemic Agreement by the “absolute deadline” of May at the body’s Executive Board meeting on Wednesday. “This year’s World Health Assembly [in May] must receive a text that member states can consider and act upon. There is no scope for delay because the next pandemic will not wait,” Tedros urged. But questions by Pakistan, part of the Group for Equity negotiating bloc in the negotiations, indicated a lack of agreement on several key issues relating to how pathogens should be shared. Member states only have two more weeks of formal negotiations before the deadline – with the next round starting on Monday. However, the talks are also affected by WHO budget cuts which have limited their access to translators. Countries are hammering out a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, deciding on how materials and sequence information from pathogens with pandemic potential can be shared fast and fairly – and how countries sharing this information can also benefit from any products that are developed as a result. The Group for Equity and Africa Region want draft contracts to be included as part of the deal to set out the terms for those who want access to pathogen information – for example, pharmaceutical companies in order to make vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic tests. The Pakistan delegate said that the two groups – representing 80% of the world’s population – had come up with a standard material transfer agreement based on other international agreements, and a draft contract for digital sequence information. “We have had only one informal discussion on the draft contracts,” said Pakistan, urging those in charge of the process to organise more consultation on the contracts. “In order to complete the exercise, to have full legal clarity and certainty we would like to have a pandemic agreement with draft contracts.” Three key areas for talks Matthew Harpur, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) overseeing the negotiations, outlined the three key areas for the talks. “Firstly, we have the scope and objectives and the use of terms,” said Harpur, who added that by last meeting, “it was really good to see some progress”. “Secondly, we have the implementation and the operation of the PABS system,” he added. This includes the issue of “equal footing” – namely, that rapid access to pathogens information and how the benefits deriving from this sharing are of equal importance. “How do we how do we swiftly share that information that keeps us all safer and but how do we also ensure equity,” said Harpur, adding that issues such as monetary contributions had to be agreed on to ensure equity. The third part is “governance and enforcement”. “You can have the best words on paper, but if they’re not enforceable, if they don’t work in practice, it is meaningless,” said Harpur. “So how do we ensure an effective governance system, with the advisory group, the role of the [Conference of the Parties] and, of course, the role of the Secretariat.” The next IGWG meeting runs from 9-14 February. Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts This site uses cookies to help give you the best experience on our website. Cookies enable us to collect information that helps us personalise your experience and improve the functionality and performance of our site. By continuing to read our website, we assume you agree to this, otherwise you can adjust your browser settings. Please read our cookie and Privacy Policy. Our Cookies and Privacy Policy Loading Comments... You must be logged in to post a comment.
WHO Executive Board Adopts New Efficiency Measures But Can They Stick? 09/02/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher Egypt leads the charge Friday against renewing WHO relations with NGOs working in the sexual and reproductive health rights space. After fits, starts, hours of back room negotiations and hesitations, the closing day of WHO’s Executive Board session Friday saw agreement on a number of small – but potentially meaningful – efficiency measures aimed at saving booth member states and the financially-strapped agency a time and money in preparing for and responding to member state mandates. The changes come amidst mounting geopolitical and social tensions amongst member states, with an increasing share of discussion time consumed by a handful of highly politicized items, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as sexual and reproductive health rights. At the same time, the Executive Board and the annual World Health Assembly (WHA) have become overloaded with a growing volume of draft decisions and resolutions – many costly to implement and not always aligned with established strategic plans. Among the key reforms is an initiative to streamline timelines and criteria for the submission of proposed draft resolutions and decisions by member states. This could curb the proliferation of proposals seen over the past several years. Streamlining discussion on Palestine and de-escalating flashpoints WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Friday evening in emotional appeals for streamlining debates around divisive issues such as reproductive health rights and Palestine. Another small efficiency steps for the upcoming WHA include a compromise on language, which enabled the approval of WHO’s continued engagement with five NGOs working on sexual and reproductive health rights. In addition, a plan to consolidate discussion around two overlapping reports on the thorny question of health conditions in the “Occupied Palestine Territory (OPT)’’ into a single WHA agenda item avoids duplications that have consumed hours of WHA time since 2024. That is when the Israel-Hamas war led to the development of a second WHO report on health conditions in the OPT, in addition to the annual report that has been a perennial feature on the WHA every year since Israel occupied the territories in 1967. Addressing the Executive Board on Friday, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus framed the latter consolidation as both an efficiency gain and a confidence-building measure. “As you know, the UN Security Council welcomed the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict last November through Resolution 2803. This holds the real promise for advancing peace and …in a region with such urgent needs, peace is built one brave step at a time. It’s a commitment we renew every day. Peace endures only when we carry it forward together. Each of us can contribute through our decisions in the EB and the WHA,” Tedros said. “Today, I propose one concrete step combining the two WHA agenda items… into a single discussion. …By taking this step together, we not only foster a more constructive environment for our governance deliberations, but also contribute, in a small way, to the success of the peace initiative.” More efficient process for advancing WHA resolutions Administratively, the Board also backed proposals to enforce stricter timelines for submitting draft resolutions and decisions, along with closer WHO Secretariat supervision to ensure their alignment with agency priorities and budgets, and manageable meeting agendas. While current rules hold that zero drafts should be submitted several months before a session – and final drafts no later than 15 days ahead – in practice, many proposals have arrived late, leaving little time for review by the WHO Secretariat or member states. In a draft decision Friday, Board members also agreed to advance a proposed rule change whereby three WHO member states from at least two regions must agree to co-sponsor any new decision or resolution. The innovation aims to curb member states’ debate on measures with little real backing. But the provision remains bracketed in the draft text, which also refers to the “piloting” of the reform measures, signalling the long road that remains to actual approval. Opposition to WHO’s engagement with reproductive health NGOs Norway’s EB representative, Cathrine Lofthus, Ministry of Health Director General, led negotiations with the Egyptian-led bloc on WHO collaborations with reproductive health NGOs. The Executive Board also reached a time-saving agreement on another topic of frequent WHA conflict – WHO engagements with non-state actors that work on sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). Egypt, where abortion is illegal unless a woman’s life is at risk and is even subject to a jail sentence, has long been a leader in opposing WHO’s engagements with NGOs working in this space. This year, that included opposition to WHO collaborations with five groups whose terms of engagement with WHO are due to be renewed this year, as part of a routine, triennial review process. The groups are the International Planned Parenthood Federation, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Family Health International, the Population Council and the World Association for Sexual Health. Speaking for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which includes states from WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region as well as countries in North Africa and Asia, Egypt’s delegate declared that continued engagement with the five NGOs is “contrary” to WHO’s Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA), which aims to ensure the agency’s “integrity, independence and credibility is not compromised” and that non-state actors do not wield undue “influence” in setting “policies, norms and standards.” Norway, leading the EU and other supportive member states, spent several hours negotiating an addendum that effectively renews collaboration while taking “note” of reservations and affirms that “member states have full sovereign rights over which non-state actors operate within their national territories,” in line with their “national context and legislation.” Addendum to EB decision renewing WHO’s collaboration’s with reproductive health NGOs de-escalated potential controversy at the upcoming World Health Assembly. Here too, Tedros added his own support, recalling how parliamentary reforms liberalizing Ethiopia’s abortion laws during his tenure as health minister helped cut maternal mortality fivefold, as many deaths were linked to unsafe abortions. “I myself invited not only WHO, but other international organizations for help, and it’s during that time, our Parliament passed a bill on how to handle unsafe abortion, because nobody wanted for our mothers to die, our sisters to die,” Tedros said. “We don’t allow our norms and standards to be influenced by anyone. We take sides with science,” Tedros affirmed. “Any country has sovereignty, either to invite us or not invite us [to support them]. But whatever relationship we have, it will not be forced on any country.” The EB negotiations and word-smithing, while tortuous and time-consuming, may help avert an even larger debate at the WHA. Temporary fixes? Palestinian EB representative Ryad Awaja: consolidated discussion on health conditions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is an “exceptional” move. Despite the budget pressure that helped push member states toward incremental reforms, most changes remain tentative—preliminary or applicable only to the upcoming WHA. Agreeing to combine discussions on the two overlapping WHO reports on “health conditions in the Occupied Palestine Territory (OPT)” into one dedicated discussion on the WHA agenda, Palestine’s EB representative Ryad Awaja stressed that the arrangement was temporary. He attributed it to logistical constraints facing this year’s WHA, with some meetings shifting to WHO headquarters during renovations at Geneva’s UN Offices in the Palais des Nations. “To know this is exceptional,” Awaja said of the consolidated discussion. “It’s not …forever. It’s just an exception from Palestine to help for this time.” Maternal and Child Nutrition Backslides: WHO Report Reveals 06/02/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The current status of six global maternal and child health targets as of 2023. The World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board faced a grim reckoning on Thursday in a report detailing how global progress on maternal, infant and child nutrition has largely stalled or even regressed. Notably, six critical nutrition targets remain “off track,” with rising rates of anaemia and childhood obesity sliding back, threatening to reverse years of development gains, according to a report reviewed by the EB. “Malnutrition is really a silent epidemic today in Africa,” stated the representative of Cameroon. “Despite all that has been done, we still see stunting, anaemia, and lack of certain nutrients.” International commitments aim to halve the prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age by 2030, as part of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). However, rates have climbed from 27.6% in 2012 to 30.7% in 2023. Driven by factors ranging from food insecurity and infectious diseases to poverty, this leaves millions of women without enough healthy red blood cells. Global targets for tackling the double burden of malnutrition, which includes both undernutrition and overweight, are similarly off-track. The global prevalence of childhood overweight has crept up to 5.5%, as food systems struggle to provide healthy options, the WHO report notes. Stunting, a measure of undernutrition, still affects 150.2 million children under five, with an estimated 136.3 million more children likely to face stunting by 2030. And low birth weight rates have barely improved, inching down just 0.3% to 14.7% of newborns between 2012 and 2023. Meanwhile, childhood wasting remains stubbornly high at 6.6% of children under the age of five years of age – well above the 5% threshold required to ensure child survival. Maternal and child health is crisis of inequality The delegation from Cameroon highlighted the ‘silent epidemic’ of malnutrition and the urgent need to prioritise maternal and child health amidst stalling global progress. In the first comprehensive debate since member states pledged to extend and accelerate action on maternal, infant and young child nutrition in a 2025 World Health Assembly resolution, delegates called out the stagnation as a systemic crisis of inequality deepened by conflict and climate change. Speaking on behalf of the 47 Member States of the African Region, the delegation from Lesotho warned that the continent bears the highest global burden of stunting and anaemia, a situation that persists, despite ongoing interventions, delegates from Cameroon added. Somalia, speaking for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, highlighted the devastating impact of climate and conflict-driven instability, noting a “complex nutrition burden driven by conflict, displacement, and climate shocks.” The delegation reported that 24.3 million children under five in the Africa region are currently stunted, urging prioritised support for fragile and conflict-affected settings. Outrage over ‘savage marketing’ of formula The Norwegian delegation joined the European Union and African nations in calling for stricter regulations on the formula industry’s digital marketing following recent safety recalls. A major point of contention during the session was the aggressive commercialisation of infant nutrition. In a sharp rebuke of the formula industry, the Central African Republic condemned “savage marketing for breast milk substitutes.” The delegate noted that these practices are “undermining breastfeeding and taking advantage of communities that are already poor and fragile”, putting industry interests over public health. This concern bridged the divide between the Global South and wealthy donor nations. Norway joined African nations in demanding stricter regulation, specifically targeting the digital sphere. The Norwegian delegation raised alarm over “recent large-scale recalls of breast milk substitutes,” arguing that food safety and robust monitoring must be paramount. Advocacy groups demand industry accountability The delegate from the Central African Republic condemned ‘aggressive’ and ‘savage marketing for breast milk substitutes.’ The tension between public health priorities and commercial interests was palpable in statements from non-state actors. The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) hit back at the formula industry. The advocacy group warned that recent contamination cases exposed “systemic failures” in formula production. IBFAN argued that cross-border social media marketing exacerbates food safety risks by allowing unregistered products to enter countries, demanding that governments take the lead in verifying safety rather than trusting manufacturers. Meanwhile, the Global Self-Care Federation, representing the consumer health industry, argued that policymakers also “must prioritise the provision of micronutrient supplements” to women. A statement by the group noted that iron, folate, iodine, and calcium supplementation can help reduce anaemia prevalence, and therefore maternal mortality and pre-term birth, as well as some “life-long NCD risks.” Such supplementation is thus a “cost-effective public health investment”, the group stated. Rising stakes in a climate of receding aid The WHO Executive Board convenes in Geneva to address a critical report revealing that most global maternal and child health targets are currently off track. The United Kingdom called the report “sobering,” noting that “no country is on track to meet the targets” and flagging worsening trends in minimum dietary diversity even within its borders. Canada emphasised the need to “step up nutritional interventions” that are based on evidence and take gender into account. Speaking for the 27-member European Union, Bulgaria admitted the world is “far off track.” However, the bloc reiterated its financial commitment, noting that Europe has pledged €6.5 billion to fight malnutrition up to 2029. The EU called for increased coordination on data collection to better target the most vulnerable populations. While officials figures are yet to be finalised, international development assistance for nutrition declined by an estimated 9% to 17% in 2025. In light of this, the Board faces the difficult task of reversing these trends in a constrained financial environment. Such reductions in donor aid threaten to “reverse hard work and increase preventable child deaths,” warned Nigeria, saying that nutrition needs to be considered an “essential” organising principle of primary health care. Image Credits: Felix Sassmannshausen, HPW/Felix Sassmannshausen. Argentina: No Withdrawal from Pan American Health Organization – Despite Leaving WHO 06/02/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher Argentina’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Carlos Mario Foradori, affirms his country will remain involved with WHO’s regional arm, PAHO, Although Argentina is withdrawing from the World Health Organization’s global body, it intends to remain an active member in WHO’s regional affiliate, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the country’s representative told the WHO Executive Board on Friday. His comments came in the course of a discussion on the legal and policy impacts of Argentina’s declaration in February 2025 that it would leave WHO, following that of the United States last January. Argentina’s official notice, made in March, is due to be discussed at the May World Health Assembly along with the United States withdrawal. But the two countries are in somewhat different legal positions vis a vis any WHA response. In terms of Argentina, there is no explicit provision in WHO’s Constitution for member states to withdraw, with the exception of the United States, which reserved that right explicitly when it joined in 1948. As for the United States, the US also owes WHO some $260.6 million in unpaid dues for 2024-2025, on which WHA member states could feasibly demand payment before its withdrawal is legally “accepted.” See related story. Stars and Stripes No Longer Flying at WHO – But US Can’t Really Leave Until Dues are Paid, Agency Says Argentina will continue to abide by International Health Regulations on Emergencies Regardless of the formalities, Argentina’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Carlos Mario Foradori, affirmed that the country would continue to abide by International Health Regulations whereby WHO must be notified of an infectious disease outbreak of epidemic potential. “We will not be isolated from the world. We will continue to respect all the rules that exist. We cooperate very closely with the Pan American Health Organization, and we will strengthen this even further,” Foradori said, adding that PAHO’s Director Jarbas Barbosa, is in fact visiting Argentina next week. “And it should be clear to the whole membership that we’re not leaving this world. To be very clear, as was mentioned, the pandemic knows no borders, and as a Western civilized country, we understand that we need to respect rules, and work with the whole world.” Some WHO observers called out Foradori’s reference to a “western civilized country” was as a slight on non-western regions of the world. So far, the US also has remained in PAHO, of which it was a founding member, and whose existence predates the 1948 formation of WHO by nearly half a century. Historically, the US is also PAHO’s largest funder. However, currently the US owes PAHO some 78.5 million in unpaid dues for the 2024-25 fiscal year, and a total of $136.5 million including 2026 dues. In August, meanwhile, the White House ordered cuts in some $45 million to already approved PAHO allocations in protest over a now-discontinued PAHO programme supporting the deployment of Cuban doctors to rural areas of Brazil at sub-market wages and with Cuba’s government reaping financial benefits. See related story: Pan American Health Organization Targeted in New Round of US Funding Cuts This week’s Congressional passage of a $9.42 billion global health appropriations bill , meanwhile, contained no explicit mention of funding to PAHO. And so it remains to be seen the cutbacks previously ordered by the White House are indeed implemented – as well as how PAHO will be funded for 2026. Legally, PAHO is an anomaly amongst WHO’s six regional offices insofar as it operates with its own budget and decision-making structure as a semi-autonomous entity – even though it also serves as a WHO Regional Office. This anomaly, in turn, opens up the unique possibility for nations in the Americas to retain their affiliation with PAHO as a regional organization, whilst disassociating themselves from WHO as a global body. No clear way forward on response to member states that withdraw Costa Rica’s delegate at the EB was one of several member states that expressed regret at Argentina’s withdrawal from WHO. The EB discussion did not yield a unanimous recommendation on whether the World Health Assembly should actively ‘accept’ Argentina’s withdrawal – or how to respond to the US withdrawal at a time when Washington stills owe WHO some $360 million in past dues. While many WHO member states at the EB meeting stressed that countries had the sovereign right to determine whether they remain in an international organization – others stressed the legal complexities around the issue and the need for further consideration before the WHA must take a position in May. Ultimately, the EB agreed to pass onto the WHA a draft resolution co-sponsored by Argentina and Israel, calling on WHO member states to formally acknowledge Argentina’s withdrawal. But some leading member states reserved their final position, asking for further legal analysis and clarification. “Argentina’s notification of withdrawal raises numerous issues that do require careful consideration,” said Australia’’s delegate. Said Switzerland, “We hear that there are still different legal, political, technical questions on the conditions and the implication in this context, on this agenda. ..We would all benefit from additional clarity for the WHA to be able to take an informed decision.” A report submitted to this Executive Board meeting has already has laid out the key issues relateld to the withdrawal of both Argentina and the US. Effectively, there is no legal provision in the WHO Constitution for a member state to withdraw – with the exception of the United States, which made that right an explicit condition of its joining in 1948, WHO’s paper notes. At the same time, Argentina and other member states argued that broader international legal principles guarantee a country the sovereign right to determine its affiliations in multilateral organizations like WHO. Australia, Costa Rica, Zimbabwe and other member states also expressed regret over Argentina’s departure from the global body, asking for continued dialogue over its decision and describing Argentina as a valued partner in global health. “We request them to reconsider in view of global health security,” said Zimbabwe. China says US withdrawal shows lack of ‘leadership’ China’s EB delegate describes US withdrawal from WHO as a lack of leadership. No such regrets were expressed at Friday’s meeting regarding the US departure. But China described the US move as a lack of leadership, saying: “As the most representative and authoritative intergovernmental, international health organization, the WHO bears a significant responsibility in global health governance….Major countries in particular, should lead by example. They should not treat the WHO as something to be used as it fits and abandoned when it does not. Nor should they bypass the WHO and set up alternative mechanisms,” China’s delegate said. “Countries should adhere to the rule of law and should not selectively fulfill their international obligations and commitments, and should not place [their] domestic political agenda above international law and governments.” At the same time, China called for a re-evaluation of WHO rules around the entry and exit of member states from the organization, for which WHO’s 1948 constitution made few provisions, saying: “The issue of withdrawal is complex and sensitive. Members cannot enter or exit at their will. At present, there are certain gaps and ambiguity in the WHO’s rule regarding membership changes based on fairness and transparency, necessary adjustments and improvements should be made to better respond to the new circumstances and requirements on global health governance.” Israel, meanwhile, said that WHA members should accept the US notice of withdrawal without hinging it to other issues – an indirect reference to the unpaid US dues for 2024-2025. Said Israel, “Any attempt to compel states against the national decisions is an infringement of their sovereign rights. There is no valid reason to further discuss this matter in any WHO forum. Further discussions only consume the limited resources this organization has without carrying any actual impact on the ground. Other issues of dispute between a member state and the organization do not affect the right of withdrawal in the context of the WHO,” Israel’s delegate said, an apparent reference to the outstanding, unpaid WHO dues still owed by the US. At Monday’s Executive Board opening, Israel’s EB Representative, Asher Salmon, warned that his country, a close ally of the US, is also under pressure to withdraw from WHO, saying, “in Israel, there are also, unfortunately, strong public voices calling for us to leave the organisation.” Claiming that the WHO had become “too politicised,” he called for a “brave conceptual overhaul” of the organization. See related story: Days After US Leaves WHO, Israel Warns it Faces Pressure to Withdraw Image Credits: DavidRockDesign/Pixabay. Spain to Restrict Social Media Access as Evidence Mounts of Health Harms for Children 06/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the World Governments Summit in Dubai Spain announced this week that it would tighten its social media laws, aiming to ban access for children under the age of 16 as part of a global tide against electronic platforms. Last year, Australia became the first country to restrict social media for children, while French lawmakers voted to follow suit last month. So far, the UK, Denmark, Norway, Greece and India are considering similar moves, while German lawmakers are considering a digital law to contain the anti-competitive behaviour of global digital platforms. There is growing evidence of the harmful effects of social media on children, including depression, anxiety, stress and cyberbullying – alongside evidence that digital platforms such as X are influencing political outcomes by manipulating content and algorithms. “First, we will change the law in Spain to hold platform executives legally accountable for many infringements taking place on their sites,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday. “This means that CEOs of these techno platforms will face criminal liability for failing to remove illegal or hateful content,” said Sanchez. “Second, we will turn algorithmic manipulation and amplification of illegal content into a new criminal offence,” he added. “No more hiding behind code. No more pretending technology is neutral. “Third, we will implement a hate and polarization footprint system to track, quantify, and expose how digital platforms fuel division and amplify hate. For too long, hate has been treated as invisible and untraceable, but we will change that.” Sanchez added that Spain “will ban access to social media for minors under the age of 16” and platforms“will be required to implement effective age verification systems”. “Today, our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone. A space of addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation… we will protect them from a digital wild west.” “Fifth and last, my government will work with our public prosecutor to investigate and pursue the infringement committed by Grok, TikTok, and Instagram. We will have zero tolerance and protect our digital sovereignty against foreign coercion.” Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, responded by describing Sanchez as “dirty” and a “tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain”. Dirty Sánchez is a tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain 💩 https://t.co/B3oyHrBYpR — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 3, 2026 However, X faces global probes after it emerged that the platform’s AI chatbot, Grok, is generating deepfake pornography, including involving children. Australia provides global example Australia’s ban on social media for children aged 15 and under came into effect on 10 December last year. It affects platforms including Tiktok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads. While children and their parents are not sanctioned for breaking the ban, the Australian government will impose heavy fines on companies that allow children to have accounts. Days before the ban came into effect, Meta – owner of Facebook, Instagram and Threads – said it had deleted about 550,000 accounts. A representative survey of children aged 10-15 commissioned by the Australian government in 2024/5 found that 96% used social media, and that 71% had experienced harmful content. “This included exposure to misogynistic or hateful material, dangerous online challenges, violent fight videos, and content promoting disordered eating and suicide,” according to a media release on the survey. One in seven children reported experiencing online “grooming” from adults or children at least four years older, which included being asked questions about their private parts or to share nude images. Growing evidence of harms to children Meanwhile, global evidence keeps growing of the negative effects of social media use – particularly on the developing brains of children. A scoping review of multiple studies published last year in PubMed linked social media to bullying, and prolonged use to depression, anxiety, and stress. The review notes the “alarming” increase in mental health disorders among youth and adolescents, particularly “anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyper-reactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder”. “One contributing factor that has received growing attention is the role of social media and technology in shaping adolescent brain development, behaviour, and emotional well-being,” the researchers note. “While digital platforms provide opportunities for social connection, self-expression, and mental health support, they also introduce significant risks, including compulsive social media use, cyberbullying, unrealistic beauty standards, and exposure to substance-related content.” A meta-analysis of 143 studies involving over one million adolescents, published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2024, found “a positive and significant meta-correlation between time spent on social media and mental health symptoms”, particularly depression and anxiety. Image Credits: Unsplash. As WHO Debates Global AI Regulation, States Clash Over ‘Data Sovereignty’ 05/02/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, warns that digital tools and AI may widen health gaps without proper governance and trust. A stark debate over who owns the data in the future of AI and digital health emerged at the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board on Wednesday. Low and middle-income countries warned that the rapid deployment of new technologies risks accelerating data extraction and increasing inequality, cautioning that – without strict AI governance, sustainable financing and equitable guardrails – the implementation of AI in health systems would compromise “data sovereignty”. The debate centred on a WHO report outlining the framework for a digital transformation strategy spanning 2028 to 2033. Highlighting the profound shifts driven by AI and genomics, the report notes that many member states remain paralysed by “fragmented systems with limited interoperability.” And it warns that without reliable, representative data, AI risks amplifying biases and inefficiencies. “Innovation alone is not enough,” stated Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “Without skills, governance and trust, digital tools widen gaps instead of closing them.” Kluge also warned that “the risk of a new digital divide is real”. Based on the deliberations, the Secretariat will continue its technical work on the strategy. To this end, the WHO has established a tripartite collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union and the World Intellectual Property Organization. The board also decided to move forward on consultations to strengthen the global health workforce code, while the fight against substandard medicines moves to a new operational phase under an approved work plan. Closing the rift in AI regulation The representative from Cameroon, speaking for the African Region, shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership at the WHO Executive Board session on Wednesday. Regarding AI and digital health, a regulatory rift is opening as high-income regions press forward. While the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have established guiding principles on AI, a formal global standard remains elusive. The European Union, represented by Bulgaria, argued that health data and information systems are the “essential foundation”, calling for the WHO to lead harmonisation efforts. These ought to focus on autonomy, safety, well-being of patients and health care professionals. Israel supported this, proposing “regulatory sandboxes” to test technologies safely while integrating economic considerations. However, the African Region and other LMICs shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership. Cameroon, speaking for the region, called for rigorous ethical governance. The prevailing fear is that international companies will harvest data from the Global South to train AI models or develop products that are then sold back for profit. Barbados reinforced this, rejecting the model of “donor-funded surveys”. The delegate argued that health data must be treated as a “national asset” under local control. Positioning the country as a “living laboratory” for digital innovation, Barbados demanded sustainable financing models to advance universal health coverage rather than short-term extraction. Rich nations urged to ‘pay up’ for imported health talent Zimbabwe’s representative calls for co-investment from rich nations to address the crisis of health worker migration. The board also confronted the escalating crisis of health worker migration, reviewing new data confirming that active recruitment from nations with fragile health systems is intensifying ‘brain drain’ to plug staffing gaps in the Global North. Zimbabwe, speaking for the African Region, issued a sharp rebuke of current practices. “Targeted recruitment continues to strain our fragile health systems,” the delegate warned. The region demanded that development banks and donor agencies move beyond rhetoric to “co-invest” in the education and retention of the workforce in source countries. Pakistan amplified this, arguing that while the principle of co-investment is recognised, there is currently a lack of “binding commitment to deliver it”. The United Kingdom, a major destination country, maintained that the Global Code of Practice remains “central to ethical international recruitment.” However, the UK acknowledged the need for clearer guidance on safeguards and supported a process to refine the Code’s application. To bridge this divide, the Secretariat, and member states agreed to launch informal consultations to draft a decision for the World Health Assembly in May. The talks will focus on specific additions to the Code, such as co-investment mechanisms and protections for care workers. Debate on ‘scourge’ of substandard medicines ongoing The WHO is intensifying surveillance of medical products following a deadly spike in contaminated products containing toxic chemicals like cough syrups. On a last item, the board confronted the lethal proliferation of substandard and falsified medical products, a crisis described by delegates as a critical threat to both public health and economic security. The WHO’s surveillance system has recorded over 10,000 suspect products since 2013, with the Secretariat highlighting a recent, deadly spike in contaminated medical products containing diethylene glycol, like cough syrups. Togo, speaking for the African Region, characterised the issue as a “scourge,” exacerbated by open borders and informal markets. The region called for “innovative financing” to support regulatory authorities in resource-poor settings, where the risk of infiltration into public supply chains remains high. Ukraine shifted the focus to modern distribution channels, warning of the specific threat posed by “unregulated online sales.” The delegate urged the WHO to help secure supply chains for high-risk excipients – inactive ingredients often implicated in contamination cases. The International Pharmaceutical Federation backed these concerns, emphasising that the workforce must be trained to detect fakes before they reach patients. “Protecting patients requires safeguarding the quality of medicines,” the Federation argued. To close the detection gap, the Board noted the urgent need to roll out market surveillance technologies, specifically the Epione reporting tool, to track suspect products in real-time. The Secretariat will now develop the draft global strategy for 2028 to 2033, which is scheduled for submission to the board at its 160th session in January 2027 before final consideration by the 80th World Health Assembly. Image Credits: Felix Sassmannshausen, WHO/Christopher Black , Pexels/Towfiqu barbhuiya. Tedros Expresses Confidence That Pandemic Talks Will Meet ‘Absolute Deadline’ 05/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan WHO Diector-General Dr Tedros and IGWG co-chair Matthew Harpur (right) World Health Organization (WHO) Director General expressed confidence that member states would agree on the last outstanding part of the Pandemic Agreement by the “absolute deadline” of May at the body’s Executive Board meeting on Wednesday. “This year’s World Health Assembly [in May] must receive a text that member states can consider and act upon. There is no scope for delay because the next pandemic will not wait,” Tedros urged. But questions by Pakistan, part of the Group for Equity negotiating bloc in the negotiations, indicated a lack of agreement on several key issues relating to how pathogens should be shared. Member states only have two more weeks of formal negotiations before the deadline – with the next round starting on Monday. However, the talks are also affected by WHO budget cuts which have limited their access to translators. Countries are hammering out a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, deciding on how materials and sequence information from pathogens with pandemic potential can be shared fast and fairly – and how countries sharing this information can also benefit from any products that are developed as a result. The Group for Equity and Africa Region want draft contracts to be included as part of the deal to set out the terms for those who want access to pathogen information – for example, pharmaceutical companies in order to make vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic tests. The Pakistan delegate said that the two groups – representing 80% of the world’s population – had come up with a standard material transfer agreement based on other international agreements, and a draft contract for digital sequence information. “We have had only one informal discussion on the draft contracts,” said Pakistan, urging those in charge of the process to organise more consultation on the contracts. “In order to complete the exercise, to have full legal clarity and certainty we would like to have a pandemic agreement with draft contracts.” Three key areas for talks Matthew Harpur, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) overseeing the negotiations, outlined the three key areas for the talks. “Firstly, we have the scope and objectives and the use of terms,” said Harpur, who added that by last meeting, “it was really good to see some progress”. “Secondly, we have the implementation and the operation of the PABS system,” he added. This includes the issue of “equal footing” – namely, that rapid access to pathogens information and how the benefits deriving from this sharing are of equal importance. “How do we how do we swiftly share that information that keeps us all safer and but how do we also ensure equity,” said Harpur, adding that issues such as monetary contributions had to be agreed on to ensure equity. The third part is “governance and enforcement”. “You can have the best words on paper, but if they’re not enforceable, if they don’t work in practice, it is meaningless,” said Harpur. “So how do we ensure an effective governance system, with the advisory group, the role of the [Conference of the Parties] and, of course, the role of the Secretariat.” The next IGWG meeting runs from 9-14 February. Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts This site uses cookies to help give you the best experience on our website. Cookies enable us to collect information that helps us personalise your experience and improve the functionality and performance of our site. By continuing to read our website, we assume you agree to this, otherwise you can adjust your browser settings. Please read our cookie and Privacy Policy. Our Cookies and Privacy Policy Loading Comments... You must be logged in to post a comment.
Maternal and Child Nutrition Backslides: WHO Report Reveals 06/02/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen The current status of six global maternal and child health targets as of 2023. The World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board faced a grim reckoning on Thursday in a report detailing how global progress on maternal, infant and child nutrition has largely stalled or even regressed. Notably, six critical nutrition targets remain “off track,” with rising rates of anaemia and childhood obesity sliding back, threatening to reverse years of development gains, according to a report reviewed by the EB. “Malnutrition is really a silent epidemic today in Africa,” stated the representative of Cameroon. “Despite all that has been done, we still see stunting, anaemia, and lack of certain nutrients.” International commitments aim to halve the prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age by 2030, as part of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). However, rates have climbed from 27.6% in 2012 to 30.7% in 2023. Driven by factors ranging from food insecurity and infectious diseases to poverty, this leaves millions of women without enough healthy red blood cells. Global targets for tackling the double burden of malnutrition, which includes both undernutrition and overweight, are similarly off-track. The global prevalence of childhood overweight has crept up to 5.5%, as food systems struggle to provide healthy options, the WHO report notes. Stunting, a measure of undernutrition, still affects 150.2 million children under five, with an estimated 136.3 million more children likely to face stunting by 2030. And low birth weight rates have barely improved, inching down just 0.3% to 14.7% of newborns between 2012 and 2023. Meanwhile, childhood wasting remains stubbornly high at 6.6% of children under the age of five years of age – well above the 5% threshold required to ensure child survival. Maternal and child health is crisis of inequality The delegation from Cameroon highlighted the ‘silent epidemic’ of malnutrition and the urgent need to prioritise maternal and child health amidst stalling global progress. In the first comprehensive debate since member states pledged to extend and accelerate action on maternal, infant and young child nutrition in a 2025 World Health Assembly resolution, delegates called out the stagnation as a systemic crisis of inequality deepened by conflict and climate change. Speaking on behalf of the 47 Member States of the African Region, the delegation from Lesotho warned that the continent bears the highest global burden of stunting and anaemia, a situation that persists, despite ongoing interventions, delegates from Cameroon added. Somalia, speaking for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, highlighted the devastating impact of climate and conflict-driven instability, noting a “complex nutrition burden driven by conflict, displacement, and climate shocks.” The delegation reported that 24.3 million children under five in the Africa region are currently stunted, urging prioritised support for fragile and conflict-affected settings. Outrage over ‘savage marketing’ of formula The Norwegian delegation joined the European Union and African nations in calling for stricter regulations on the formula industry’s digital marketing following recent safety recalls. A major point of contention during the session was the aggressive commercialisation of infant nutrition. In a sharp rebuke of the formula industry, the Central African Republic condemned “savage marketing for breast milk substitutes.” The delegate noted that these practices are “undermining breastfeeding and taking advantage of communities that are already poor and fragile”, putting industry interests over public health. This concern bridged the divide between the Global South and wealthy donor nations. Norway joined African nations in demanding stricter regulation, specifically targeting the digital sphere. The Norwegian delegation raised alarm over “recent large-scale recalls of breast milk substitutes,” arguing that food safety and robust monitoring must be paramount. Advocacy groups demand industry accountability The delegate from the Central African Republic condemned ‘aggressive’ and ‘savage marketing for breast milk substitutes.’ The tension between public health priorities and commercial interests was palpable in statements from non-state actors. The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) hit back at the formula industry. The advocacy group warned that recent contamination cases exposed “systemic failures” in formula production. IBFAN argued that cross-border social media marketing exacerbates food safety risks by allowing unregistered products to enter countries, demanding that governments take the lead in verifying safety rather than trusting manufacturers. Meanwhile, the Global Self-Care Federation, representing the consumer health industry, argued that policymakers also “must prioritise the provision of micronutrient supplements” to women. A statement by the group noted that iron, folate, iodine, and calcium supplementation can help reduce anaemia prevalence, and therefore maternal mortality and pre-term birth, as well as some “life-long NCD risks.” Such supplementation is thus a “cost-effective public health investment”, the group stated. Rising stakes in a climate of receding aid The WHO Executive Board convenes in Geneva to address a critical report revealing that most global maternal and child health targets are currently off track. The United Kingdom called the report “sobering,” noting that “no country is on track to meet the targets” and flagging worsening trends in minimum dietary diversity even within its borders. Canada emphasised the need to “step up nutritional interventions” that are based on evidence and take gender into account. Speaking for the 27-member European Union, Bulgaria admitted the world is “far off track.” However, the bloc reiterated its financial commitment, noting that Europe has pledged €6.5 billion to fight malnutrition up to 2029. The EU called for increased coordination on data collection to better target the most vulnerable populations. While officials figures are yet to be finalised, international development assistance for nutrition declined by an estimated 9% to 17% in 2025. In light of this, the Board faces the difficult task of reversing these trends in a constrained financial environment. Such reductions in donor aid threaten to “reverse hard work and increase preventable child deaths,” warned Nigeria, saying that nutrition needs to be considered an “essential” organising principle of primary health care. Image Credits: Felix Sassmannshausen, HPW/Felix Sassmannshausen. Argentina: No Withdrawal from Pan American Health Organization – Despite Leaving WHO 06/02/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher Argentina’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Carlos Mario Foradori, affirms his country will remain involved with WHO’s regional arm, PAHO, Although Argentina is withdrawing from the World Health Organization’s global body, it intends to remain an active member in WHO’s regional affiliate, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the country’s representative told the WHO Executive Board on Friday. His comments came in the course of a discussion on the legal and policy impacts of Argentina’s declaration in February 2025 that it would leave WHO, following that of the United States last January. Argentina’s official notice, made in March, is due to be discussed at the May World Health Assembly along with the United States withdrawal. But the two countries are in somewhat different legal positions vis a vis any WHA response. In terms of Argentina, there is no explicit provision in WHO’s Constitution for member states to withdraw, with the exception of the United States, which reserved that right explicitly when it joined in 1948. As for the United States, the US also owes WHO some $260.6 million in unpaid dues for 2024-2025, on which WHA member states could feasibly demand payment before its withdrawal is legally “accepted.” See related story. Stars and Stripes No Longer Flying at WHO – But US Can’t Really Leave Until Dues are Paid, Agency Says Argentina will continue to abide by International Health Regulations on Emergencies Regardless of the formalities, Argentina’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Carlos Mario Foradori, affirmed that the country would continue to abide by International Health Regulations whereby WHO must be notified of an infectious disease outbreak of epidemic potential. “We will not be isolated from the world. We will continue to respect all the rules that exist. We cooperate very closely with the Pan American Health Organization, and we will strengthen this even further,” Foradori said, adding that PAHO’s Director Jarbas Barbosa, is in fact visiting Argentina next week. “And it should be clear to the whole membership that we’re not leaving this world. To be very clear, as was mentioned, the pandemic knows no borders, and as a Western civilized country, we understand that we need to respect rules, and work with the whole world.” Some WHO observers called out Foradori’s reference to a “western civilized country” was as a slight on non-western regions of the world. So far, the US also has remained in PAHO, of which it was a founding member, and whose existence predates the 1948 formation of WHO by nearly half a century. Historically, the US is also PAHO’s largest funder. However, currently the US owes PAHO some 78.5 million in unpaid dues for the 2024-25 fiscal year, and a total of $136.5 million including 2026 dues. In August, meanwhile, the White House ordered cuts in some $45 million to already approved PAHO allocations in protest over a now-discontinued PAHO programme supporting the deployment of Cuban doctors to rural areas of Brazil at sub-market wages and with Cuba’s government reaping financial benefits. See related story: Pan American Health Organization Targeted in New Round of US Funding Cuts This week’s Congressional passage of a $9.42 billion global health appropriations bill , meanwhile, contained no explicit mention of funding to PAHO. And so it remains to be seen the cutbacks previously ordered by the White House are indeed implemented – as well as how PAHO will be funded for 2026. Legally, PAHO is an anomaly amongst WHO’s six regional offices insofar as it operates with its own budget and decision-making structure as a semi-autonomous entity – even though it also serves as a WHO Regional Office. This anomaly, in turn, opens up the unique possibility for nations in the Americas to retain their affiliation with PAHO as a regional organization, whilst disassociating themselves from WHO as a global body. No clear way forward on response to member states that withdraw Costa Rica’s delegate at the EB was one of several member states that expressed regret at Argentina’s withdrawal from WHO. The EB discussion did not yield a unanimous recommendation on whether the World Health Assembly should actively ‘accept’ Argentina’s withdrawal – or how to respond to the US withdrawal at a time when Washington stills owe WHO some $360 million in past dues. While many WHO member states at the EB meeting stressed that countries had the sovereign right to determine whether they remain in an international organization – others stressed the legal complexities around the issue and the need for further consideration before the WHA must take a position in May. Ultimately, the EB agreed to pass onto the WHA a draft resolution co-sponsored by Argentina and Israel, calling on WHO member states to formally acknowledge Argentina’s withdrawal. But some leading member states reserved their final position, asking for further legal analysis and clarification. “Argentina’s notification of withdrawal raises numerous issues that do require careful consideration,” said Australia’’s delegate. Said Switzerland, “We hear that there are still different legal, political, technical questions on the conditions and the implication in this context, on this agenda. ..We would all benefit from additional clarity for the WHA to be able to take an informed decision.” A report submitted to this Executive Board meeting has already has laid out the key issues relateld to the withdrawal of both Argentina and the US. Effectively, there is no legal provision in the WHO Constitution for a member state to withdraw – with the exception of the United States, which made that right an explicit condition of its joining in 1948, WHO’s paper notes. At the same time, Argentina and other member states argued that broader international legal principles guarantee a country the sovereign right to determine its affiliations in multilateral organizations like WHO. Australia, Costa Rica, Zimbabwe and other member states also expressed regret over Argentina’s departure from the global body, asking for continued dialogue over its decision and describing Argentina as a valued partner in global health. “We request them to reconsider in view of global health security,” said Zimbabwe. China says US withdrawal shows lack of ‘leadership’ China’s EB delegate describes US withdrawal from WHO as a lack of leadership. No such regrets were expressed at Friday’s meeting regarding the US departure. But China described the US move as a lack of leadership, saying: “As the most representative and authoritative intergovernmental, international health organization, the WHO bears a significant responsibility in global health governance….Major countries in particular, should lead by example. They should not treat the WHO as something to be used as it fits and abandoned when it does not. Nor should they bypass the WHO and set up alternative mechanisms,” China’s delegate said. “Countries should adhere to the rule of law and should not selectively fulfill their international obligations and commitments, and should not place [their] domestic political agenda above international law and governments.” At the same time, China called for a re-evaluation of WHO rules around the entry and exit of member states from the organization, for which WHO’s 1948 constitution made few provisions, saying: “The issue of withdrawal is complex and sensitive. Members cannot enter or exit at their will. At present, there are certain gaps and ambiguity in the WHO’s rule regarding membership changes based on fairness and transparency, necessary adjustments and improvements should be made to better respond to the new circumstances and requirements on global health governance.” Israel, meanwhile, said that WHA members should accept the US notice of withdrawal without hinging it to other issues – an indirect reference to the unpaid US dues for 2024-2025. Said Israel, “Any attempt to compel states against the national decisions is an infringement of their sovereign rights. There is no valid reason to further discuss this matter in any WHO forum. Further discussions only consume the limited resources this organization has without carrying any actual impact on the ground. Other issues of dispute between a member state and the organization do not affect the right of withdrawal in the context of the WHO,” Israel’s delegate said, an apparent reference to the outstanding, unpaid WHO dues still owed by the US. At Monday’s Executive Board opening, Israel’s EB Representative, Asher Salmon, warned that his country, a close ally of the US, is also under pressure to withdraw from WHO, saying, “in Israel, there are also, unfortunately, strong public voices calling for us to leave the organisation.” Claiming that the WHO had become “too politicised,” he called for a “brave conceptual overhaul” of the organization. See related story: Days After US Leaves WHO, Israel Warns it Faces Pressure to Withdraw Image Credits: DavidRockDesign/Pixabay. Spain to Restrict Social Media Access as Evidence Mounts of Health Harms for Children 06/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the World Governments Summit in Dubai Spain announced this week that it would tighten its social media laws, aiming to ban access for children under the age of 16 as part of a global tide against electronic platforms. Last year, Australia became the first country to restrict social media for children, while French lawmakers voted to follow suit last month. So far, the UK, Denmark, Norway, Greece and India are considering similar moves, while German lawmakers are considering a digital law to contain the anti-competitive behaviour of global digital platforms. There is growing evidence of the harmful effects of social media on children, including depression, anxiety, stress and cyberbullying – alongside evidence that digital platforms such as X are influencing political outcomes by manipulating content and algorithms. “First, we will change the law in Spain to hold platform executives legally accountable for many infringements taking place on their sites,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday. “This means that CEOs of these techno platforms will face criminal liability for failing to remove illegal or hateful content,” said Sanchez. “Second, we will turn algorithmic manipulation and amplification of illegal content into a new criminal offence,” he added. “No more hiding behind code. No more pretending technology is neutral. “Third, we will implement a hate and polarization footprint system to track, quantify, and expose how digital platforms fuel division and amplify hate. For too long, hate has been treated as invisible and untraceable, but we will change that.” Sanchez added that Spain “will ban access to social media for minors under the age of 16” and platforms“will be required to implement effective age verification systems”. “Today, our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone. A space of addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation… we will protect them from a digital wild west.” “Fifth and last, my government will work with our public prosecutor to investigate and pursue the infringement committed by Grok, TikTok, and Instagram. We will have zero tolerance and protect our digital sovereignty against foreign coercion.” Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, responded by describing Sanchez as “dirty” and a “tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain”. Dirty Sánchez is a tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain 💩 https://t.co/B3oyHrBYpR — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 3, 2026 However, X faces global probes after it emerged that the platform’s AI chatbot, Grok, is generating deepfake pornography, including involving children. Australia provides global example Australia’s ban on social media for children aged 15 and under came into effect on 10 December last year. It affects platforms including Tiktok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads. While children and their parents are not sanctioned for breaking the ban, the Australian government will impose heavy fines on companies that allow children to have accounts. Days before the ban came into effect, Meta – owner of Facebook, Instagram and Threads – said it had deleted about 550,000 accounts. A representative survey of children aged 10-15 commissioned by the Australian government in 2024/5 found that 96% used social media, and that 71% had experienced harmful content. “This included exposure to misogynistic or hateful material, dangerous online challenges, violent fight videos, and content promoting disordered eating and suicide,” according to a media release on the survey. One in seven children reported experiencing online “grooming” from adults or children at least four years older, which included being asked questions about their private parts or to share nude images. Growing evidence of harms to children Meanwhile, global evidence keeps growing of the negative effects of social media use – particularly on the developing brains of children. A scoping review of multiple studies published last year in PubMed linked social media to bullying, and prolonged use to depression, anxiety, and stress. The review notes the “alarming” increase in mental health disorders among youth and adolescents, particularly “anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyper-reactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder”. “One contributing factor that has received growing attention is the role of social media and technology in shaping adolescent brain development, behaviour, and emotional well-being,” the researchers note. “While digital platforms provide opportunities for social connection, self-expression, and mental health support, they also introduce significant risks, including compulsive social media use, cyberbullying, unrealistic beauty standards, and exposure to substance-related content.” A meta-analysis of 143 studies involving over one million adolescents, published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2024, found “a positive and significant meta-correlation between time spent on social media and mental health symptoms”, particularly depression and anxiety. Image Credits: Unsplash. As WHO Debates Global AI Regulation, States Clash Over ‘Data Sovereignty’ 05/02/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, warns that digital tools and AI may widen health gaps without proper governance and trust. A stark debate over who owns the data in the future of AI and digital health emerged at the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board on Wednesday. Low and middle-income countries warned that the rapid deployment of new technologies risks accelerating data extraction and increasing inequality, cautioning that – without strict AI governance, sustainable financing and equitable guardrails – the implementation of AI in health systems would compromise “data sovereignty”. The debate centred on a WHO report outlining the framework for a digital transformation strategy spanning 2028 to 2033. Highlighting the profound shifts driven by AI and genomics, the report notes that many member states remain paralysed by “fragmented systems with limited interoperability.” And it warns that without reliable, representative data, AI risks amplifying biases and inefficiencies. “Innovation alone is not enough,” stated Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “Without skills, governance and trust, digital tools widen gaps instead of closing them.” Kluge also warned that “the risk of a new digital divide is real”. Based on the deliberations, the Secretariat will continue its technical work on the strategy. To this end, the WHO has established a tripartite collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union and the World Intellectual Property Organization. The board also decided to move forward on consultations to strengthen the global health workforce code, while the fight against substandard medicines moves to a new operational phase under an approved work plan. Closing the rift in AI regulation The representative from Cameroon, speaking for the African Region, shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership at the WHO Executive Board session on Wednesday. Regarding AI and digital health, a regulatory rift is opening as high-income regions press forward. While the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have established guiding principles on AI, a formal global standard remains elusive. The European Union, represented by Bulgaria, argued that health data and information systems are the “essential foundation”, calling for the WHO to lead harmonisation efforts. These ought to focus on autonomy, safety, well-being of patients and health care professionals. Israel supported this, proposing “regulatory sandboxes” to test technologies safely while integrating economic considerations. However, the African Region and other LMICs shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership. Cameroon, speaking for the region, called for rigorous ethical governance. The prevailing fear is that international companies will harvest data from the Global South to train AI models or develop products that are then sold back for profit. Barbados reinforced this, rejecting the model of “donor-funded surveys”. The delegate argued that health data must be treated as a “national asset” under local control. Positioning the country as a “living laboratory” for digital innovation, Barbados demanded sustainable financing models to advance universal health coverage rather than short-term extraction. Rich nations urged to ‘pay up’ for imported health talent Zimbabwe’s representative calls for co-investment from rich nations to address the crisis of health worker migration. The board also confronted the escalating crisis of health worker migration, reviewing new data confirming that active recruitment from nations with fragile health systems is intensifying ‘brain drain’ to plug staffing gaps in the Global North. Zimbabwe, speaking for the African Region, issued a sharp rebuke of current practices. “Targeted recruitment continues to strain our fragile health systems,” the delegate warned. The region demanded that development banks and donor agencies move beyond rhetoric to “co-invest” in the education and retention of the workforce in source countries. Pakistan amplified this, arguing that while the principle of co-investment is recognised, there is currently a lack of “binding commitment to deliver it”. The United Kingdom, a major destination country, maintained that the Global Code of Practice remains “central to ethical international recruitment.” However, the UK acknowledged the need for clearer guidance on safeguards and supported a process to refine the Code’s application. To bridge this divide, the Secretariat, and member states agreed to launch informal consultations to draft a decision for the World Health Assembly in May. The talks will focus on specific additions to the Code, such as co-investment mechanisms and protections for care workers. Debate on ‘scourge’ of substandard medicines ongoing The WHO is intensifying surveillance of medical products following a deadly spike in contaminated products containing toxic chemicals like cough syrups. On a last item, the board confronted the lethal proliferation of substandard and falsified medical products, a crisis described by delegates as a critical threat to both public health and economic security. The WHO’s surveillance system has recorded over 10,000 suspect products since 2013, with the Secretariat highlighting a recent, deadly spike in contaminated medical products containing diethylene glycol, like cough syrups. Togo, speaking for the African Region, characterised the issue as a “scourge,” exacerbated by open borders and informal markets. The region called for “innovative financing” to support regulatory authorities in resource-poor settings, where the risk of infiltration into public supply chains remains high. Ukraine shifted the focus to modern distribution channels, warning of the specific threat posed by “unregulated online sales.” The delegate urged the WHO to help secure supply chains for high-risk excipients – inactive ingredients often implicated in contamination cases. The International Pharmaceutical Federation backed these concerns, emphasising that the workforce must be trained to detect fakes before they reach patients. “Protecting patients requires safeguarding the quality of medicines,” the Federation argued. To close the detection gap, the Board noted the urgent need to roll out market surveillance technologies, specifically the Epione reporting tool, to track suspect products in real-time. The Secretariat will now develop the draft global strategy for 2028 to 2033, which is scheduled for submission to the board at its 160th session in January 2027 before final consideration by the 80th World Health Assembly. Image Credits: Felix Sassmannshausen, WHO/Christopher Black , Pexels/Towfiqu barbhuiya. Tedros Expresses Confidence That Pandemic Talks Will Meet ‘Absolute Deadline’ 05/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan WHO Diector-General Dr Tedros and IGWG co-chair Matthew Harpur (right) World Health Organization (WHO) Director General expressed confidence that member states would agree on the last outstanding part of the Pandemic Agreement by the “absolute deadline” of May at the body’s Executive Board meeting on Wednesday. “This year’s World Health Assembly [in May] must receive a text that member states can consider and act upon. There is no scope for delay because the next pandemic will not wait,” Tedros urged. But questions by Pakistan, part of the Group for Equity negotiating bloc in the negotiations, indicated a lack of agreement on several key issues relating to how pathogens should be shared. Member states only have two more weeks of formal negotiations before the deadline – with the next round starting on Monday. However, the talks are also affected by WHO budget cuts which have limited their access to translators. Countries are hammering out a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, deciding on how materials and sequence information from pathogens with pandemic potential can be shared fast and fairly – and how countries sharing this information can also benefit from any products that are developed as a result. The Group for Equity and Africa Region want draft contracts to be included as part of the deal to set out the terms for those who want access to pathogen information – for example, pharmaceutical companies in order to make vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic tests. The Pakistan delegate said that the two groups – representing 80% of the world’s population – had come up with a standard material transfer agreement based on other international agreements, and a draft contract for digital sequence information. “We have had only one informal discussion on the draft contracts,” said Pakistan, urging those in charge of the process to organise more consultation on the contracts. “In order to complete the exercise, to have full legal clarity and certainty we would like to have a pandemic agreement with draft contracts.” Three key areas for talks Matthew Harpur, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) overseeing the negotiations, outlined the three key areas for the talks. “Firstly, we have the scope and objectives and the use of terms,” said Harpur, who added that by last meeting, “it was really good to see some progress”. “Secondly, we have the implementation and the operation of the PABS system,” he added. This includes the issue of “equal footing” – namely, that rapid access to pathogens information and how the benefits deriving from this sharing are of equal importance. “How do we how do we swiftly share that information that keeps us all safer and but how do we also ensure equity,” said Harpur, adding that issues such as monetary contributions had to be agreed on to ensure equity. The third part is “governance and enforcement”. “You can have the best words on paper, but if they’re not enforceable, if they don’t work in practice, it is meaningless,” said Harpur. “So how do we ensure an effective governance system, with the advisory group, the role of the [Conference of the Parties] and, of course, the role of the Secretariat.” The next IGWG meeting runs from 9-14 February. Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts This site uses cookies to help give you the best experience on our website. Cookies enable us to collect information that helps us personalise your experience and improve the functionality and performance of our site. By continuing to read our website, we assume you agree to this, otherwise you can adjust your browser settings. Please read our cookie and Privacy Policy. Our Cookies and Privacy Policy Loading Comments... You must be logged in to post a comment.
Argentina: No Withdrawal from Pan American Health Organization – Despite Leaving WHO 06/02/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher Argentina’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Carlos Mario Foradori, affirms his country will remain involved with WHO’s regional arm, PAHO, Although Argentina is withdrawing from the World Health Organization’s global body, it intends to remain an active member in WHO’s regional affiliate, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the country’s representative told the WHO Executive Board on Friday. His comments came in the course of a discussion on the legal and policy impacts of Argentina’s declaration in February 2025 that it would leave WHO, following that of the United States last January. Argentina’s official notice, made in March, is due to be discussed at the May World Health Assembly along with the United States withdrawal. But the two countries are in somewhat different legal positions vis a vis any WHA response. In terms of Argentina, there is no explicit provision in WHO’s Constitution for member states to withdraw, with the exception of the United States, which reserved that right explicitly when it joined in 1948. As for the United States, the US also owes WHO some $260.6 million in unpaid dues for 2024-2025, on which WHA member states could feasibly demand payment before its withdrawal is legally “accepted.” See related story. Stars and Stripes No Longer Flying at WHO – But US Can’t Really Leave Until Dues are Paid, Agency Says Argentina will continue to abide by International Health Regulations on Emergencies Regardless of the formalities, Argentina’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Carlos Mario Foradori, affirmed that the country would continue to abide by International Health Regulations whereby WHO must be notified of an infectious disease outbreak of epidemic potential. “We will not be isolated from the world. We will continue to respect all the rules that exist. We cooperate very closely with the Pan American Health Organization, and we will strengthen this even further,” Foradori said, adding that PAHO’s Director Jarbas Barbosa, is in fact visiting Argentina next week. “And it should be clear to the whole membership that we’re not leaving this world. To be very clear, as was mentioned, the pandemic knows no borders, and as a Western civilized country, we understand that we need to respect rules, and work with the whole world.” Some WHO observers called out Foradori’s reference to a “western civilized country” was as a slight on non-western regions of the world. So far, the US also has remained in PAHO, of which it was a founding member, and whose existence predates the 1948 formation of WHO by nearly half a century. Historically, the US is also PAHO’s largest funder. However, currently the US owes PAHO some 78.5 million in unpaid dues for the 2024-25 fiscal year, and a total of $136.5 million including 2026 dues. In August, meanwhile, the White House ordered cuts in some $45 million to already approved PAHO allocations in protest over a now-discontinued PAHO programme supporting the deployment of Cuban doctors to rural areas of Brazil at sub-market wages and with Cuba’s government reaping financial benefits. See related story: Pan American Health Organization Targeted in New Round of US Funding Cuts This week’s Congressional passage of a $9.42 billion global health appropriations bill , meanwhile, contained no explicit mention of funding to PAHO. And so it remains to be seen the cutbacks previously ordered by the White House are indeed implemented – as well as how PAHO will be funded for 2026. Legally, PAHO is an anomaly amongst WHO’s six regional offices insofar as it operates with its own budget and decision-making structure as a semi-autonomous entity – even though it also serves as a WHO Regional Office. This anomaly, in turn, opens up the unique possibility for nations in the Americas to retain their affiliation with PAHO as a regional organization, whilst disassociating themselves from WHO as a global body. No clear way forward on response to member states that withdraw Costa Rica’s delegate at the EB was one of several member states that expressed regret at Argentina’s withdrawal from WHO. The EB discussion did not yield a unanimous recommendation on whether the World Health Assembly should actively ‘accept’ Argentina’s withdrawal – or how to respond to the US withdrawal at a time when Washington stills owe WHO some $360 million in past dues. While many WHO member states at the EB meeting stressed that countries had the sovereign right to determine whether they remain in an international organization – others stressed the legal complexities around the issue and the need for further consideration before the WHA must take a position in May. Ultimately, the EB agreed to pass onto the WHA a draft resolution co-sponsored by Argentina and Israel, calling on WHO member states to formally acknowledge Argentina’s withdrawal. But some leading member states reserved their final position, asking for further legal analysis and clarification. “Argentina’s notification of withdrawal raises numerous issues that do require careful consideration,” said Australia’’s delegate. Said Switzerland, “We hear that there are still different legal, political, technical questions on the conditions and the implication in this context, on this agenda. ..We would all benefit from additional clarity for the WHA to be able to take an informed decision.” A report submitted to this Executive Board meeting has already has laid out the key issues relateld to the withdrawal of both Argentina and the US. Effectively, there is no legal provision in the WHO Constitution for a member state to withdraw – with the exception of the United States, which made that right an explicit condition of its joining in 1948, WHO’s paper notes. At the same time, Argentina and other member states argued that broader international legal principles guarantee a country the sovereign right to determine its affiliations in multilateral organizations like WHO. Australia, Costa Rica, Zimbabwe and other member states also expressed regret over Argentina’s departure from the global body, asking for continued dialogue over its decision and describing Argentina as a valued partner in global health. “We request them to reconsider in view of global health security,” said Zimbabwe. China says US withdrawal shows lack of ‘leadership’ China’s EB delegate describes US withdrawal from WHO as a lack of leadership. No such regrets were expressed at Friday’s meeting regarding the US departure. But China described the US move as a lack of leadership, saying: “As the most representative and authoritative intergovernmental, international health organization, the WHO bears a significant responsibility in global health governance….Major countries in particular, should lead by example. They should not treat the WHO as something to be used as it fits and abandoned when it does not. Nor should they bypass the WHO and set up alternative mechanisms,” China’s delegate said. “Countries should adhere to the rule of law and should not selectively fulfill their international obligations and commitments, and should not place [their] domestic political agenda above international law and governments.” At the same time, China called for a re-evaluation of WHO rules around the entry and exit of member states from the organization, for which WHO’s 1948 constitution made few provisions, saying: “The issue of withdrawal is complex and sensitive. Members cannot enter or exit at their will. At present, there are certain gaps and ambiguity in the WHO’s rule regarding membership changes based on fairness and transparency, necessary adjustments and improvements should be made to better respond to the new circumstances and requirements on global health governance.” Israel, meanwhile, said that WHA members should accept the US notice of withdrawal without hinging it to other issues – an indirect reference to the unpaid US dues for 2024-2025. Said Israel, “Any attempt to compel states against the national decisions is an infringement of their sovereign rights. There is no valid reason to further discuss this matter in any WHO forum. Further discussions only consume the limited resources this organization has without carrying any actual impact on the ground. Other issues of dispute between a member state and the organization do not affect the right of withdrawal in the context of the WHO,” Israel’s delegate said, an apparent reference to the outstanding, unpaid WHO dues still owed by the US. At Monday’s Executive Board opening, Israel’s EB Representative, Asher Salmon, warned that his country, a close ally of the US, is also under pressure to withdraw from WHO, saying, “in Israel, there are also, unfortunately, strong public voices calling for us to leave the organisation.” Claiming that the WHO had become “too politicised,” he called for a “brave conceptual overhaul” of the organization. See related story: Days After US Leaves WHO, Israel Warns it Faces Pressure to Withdraw Image Credits: DavidRockDesign/Pixabay. Spain to Restrict Social Media Access as Evidence Mounts of Health Harms for Children 06/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the World Governments Summit in Dubai Spain announced this week that it would tighten its social media laws, aiming to ban access for children under the age of 16 as part of a global tide against electronic platforms. Last year, Australia became the first country to restrict social media for children, while French lawmakers voted to follow suit last month. So far, the UK, Denmark, Norway, Greece and India are considering similar moves, while German lawmakers are considering a digital law to contain the anti-competitive behaviour of global digital platforms. There is growing evidence of the harmful effects of social media on children, including depression, anxiety, stress and cyberbullying – alongside evidence that digital platforms such as X are influencing political outcomes by manipulating content and algorithms. “First, we will change the law in Spain to hold platform executives legally accountable for many infringements taking place on their sites,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday. “This means that CEOs of these techno platforms will face criminal liability for failing to remove illegal or hateful content,” said Sanchez. “Second, we will turn algorithmic manipulation and amplification of illegal content into a new criminal offence,” he added. “No more hiding behind code. No more pretending technology is neutral. “Third, we will implement a hate and polarization footprint system to track, quantify, and expose how digital platforms fuel division and amplify hate. For too long, hate has been treated as invisible and untraceable, but we will change that.” Sanchez added that Spain “will ban access to social media for minors under the age of 16” and platforms“will be required to implement effective age verification systems”. “Today, our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone. A space of addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation… we will protect them from a digital wild west.” “Fifth and last, my government will work with our public prosecutor to investigate and pursue the infringement committed by Grok, TikTok, and Instagram. We will have zero tolerance and protect our digital sovereignty against foreign coercion.” Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, responded by describing Sanchez as “dirty” and a “tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain”. Dirty Sánchez is a tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain 💩 https://t.co/B3oyHrBYpR — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 3, 2026 However, X faces global probes after it emerged that the platform’s AI chatbot, Grok, is generating deepfake pornography, including involving children. Australia provides global example Australia’s ban on social media for children aged 15 and under came into effect on 10 December last year. It affects platforms including Tiktok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads. While children and their parents are not sanctioned for breaking the ban, the Australian government will impose heavy fines on companies that allow children to have accounts. Days before the ban came into effect, Meta – owner of Facebook, Instagram and Threads – said it had deleted about 550,000 accounts. A representative survey of children aged 10-15 commissioned by the Australian government in 2024/5 found that 96% used social media, and that 71% had experienced harmful content. “This included exposure to misogynistic or hateful material, dangerous online challenges, violent fight videos, and content promoting disordered eating and suicide,” according to a media release on the survey. One in seven children reported experiencing online “grooming” from adults or children at least four years older, which included being asked questions about their private parts or to share nude images. Growing evidence of harms to children Meanwhile, global evidence keeps growing of the negative effects of social media use – particularly on the developing brains of children. A scoping review of multiple studies published last year in PubMed linked social media to bullying, and prolonged use to depression, anxiety, and stress. The review notes the “alarming” increase in mental health disorders among youth and adolescents, particularly “anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyper-reactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder”. “One contributing factor that has received growing attention is the role of social media and technology in shaping adolescent brain development, behaviour, and emotional well-being,” the researchers note. “While digital platforms provide opportunities for social connection, self-expression, and mental health support, they also introduce significant risks, including compulsive social media use, cyberbullying, unrealistic beauty standards, and exposure to substance-related content.” A meta-analysis of 143 studies involving over one million adolescents, published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2024, found “a positive and significant meta-correlation between time spent on social media and mental health symptoms”, particularly depression and anxiety. Image Credits: Unsplash. As WHO Debates Global AI Regulation, States Clash Over ‘Data Sovereignty’ 05/02/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, warns that digital tools and AI may widen health gaps without proper governance and trust. A stark debate over who owns the data in the future of AI and digital health emerged at the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board on Wednesday. Low and middle-income countries warned that the rapid deployment of new technologies risks accelerating data extraction and increasing inequality, cautioning that – without strict AI governance, sustainable financing and equitable guardrails – the implementation of AI in health systems would compromise “data sovereignty”. The debate centred on a WHO report outlining the framework for a digital transformation strategy spanning 2028 to 2033. Highlighting the profound shifts driven by AI and genomics, the report notes that many member states remain paralysed by “fragmented systems with limited interoperability.” And it warns that without reliable, representative data, AI risks amplifying biases and inefficiencies. “Innovation alone is not enough,” stated Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “Without skills, governance and trust, digital tools widen gaps instead of closing them.” Kluge also warned that “the risk of a new digital divide is real”. Based on the deliberations, the Secretariat will continue its technical work on the strategy. To this end, the WHO has established a tripartite collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union and the World Intellectual Property Organization. The board also decided to move forward on consultations to strengthen the global health workforce code, while the fight against substandard medicines moves to a new operational phase under an approved work plan. Closing the rift in AI regulation The representative from Cameroon, speaking for the African Region, shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership at the WHO Executive Board session on Wednesday. Regarding AI and digital health, a regulatory rift is opening as high-income regions press forward. While the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have established guiding principles on AI, a formal global standard remains elusive. The European Union, represented by Bulgaria, argued that health data and information systems are the “essential foundation”, calling for the WHO to lead harmonisation efforts. These ought to focus on autonomy, safety, well-being of patients and health care professionals. Israel supported this, proposing “regulatory sandboxes” to test technologies safely while integrating economic considerations. However, the African Region and other LMICs shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership. Cameroon, speaking for the region, called for rigorous ethical governance. The prevailing fear is that international companies will harvest data from the Global South to train AI models or develop products that are then sold back for profit. Barbados reinforced this, rejecting the model of “donor-funded surveys”. The delegate argued that health data must be treated as a “national asset” under local control. Positioning the country as a “living laboratory” for digital innovation, Barbados demanded sustainable financing models to advance universal health coverage rather than short-term extraction. Rich nations urged to ‘pay up’ for imported health talent Zimbabwe’s representative calls for co-investment from rich nations to address the crisis of health worker migration. The board also confronted the escalating crisis of health worker migration, reviewing new data confirming that active recruitment from nations with fragile health systems is intensifying ‘brain drain’ to plug staffing gaps in the Global North. Zimbabwe, speaking for the African Region, issued a sharp rebuke of current practices. “Targeted recruitment continues to strain our fragile health systems,” the delegate warned. The region demanded that development banks and donor agencies move beyond rhetoric to “co-invest” in the education and retention of the workforce in source countries. Pakistan amplified this, arguing that while the principle of co-investment is recognised, there is currently a lack of “binding commitment to deliver it”. The United Kingdom, a major destination country, maintained that the Global Code of Practice remains “central to ethical international recruitment.” However, the UK acknowledged the need for clearer guidance on safeguards and supported a process to refine the Code’s application. To bridge this divide, the Secretariat, and member states agreed to launch informal consultations to draft a decision for the World Health Assembly in May. The talks will focus on specific additions to the Code, such as co-investment mechanisms and protections for care workers. Debate on ‘scourge’ of substandard medicines ongoing The WHO is intensifying surveillance of medical products following a deadly spike in contaminated products containing toxic chemicals like cough syrups. On a last item, the board confronted the lethal proliferation of substandard and falsified medical products, a crisis described by delegates as a critical threat to both public health and economic security. The WHO’s surveillance system has recorded over 10,000 suspect products since 2013, with the Secretariat highlighting a recent, deadly spike in contaminated medical products containing diethylene glycol, like cough syrups. Togo, speaking for the African Region, characterised the issue as a “scourge,” exacerbated by open borders and informal markets. The region called for “innovative financing” to support regulatory authorities in resource-poor settings, where the risk of infiltration into public supply chains remains high. Ukraine shifted the focus to modern distribution channels, warning of the specific threat posed by “unregulated online sales.” The delegate urged the WHO to help secure supply chains for high-risk excipients – inactive ingredients often implicated in contamination cases. The International Pharmaceutical Federation backed these concerns, emphasising that the workforce must be trained to detect fakes before they reach patients. “Protecting patients requires safeguarding the quality of medicines,” the Federation argued. To close the detection gap, the Board noted the urgent need to roll out market surveillance technologies, specifically the Epione reporting tool, to track suspect products in real-time. The Secretariat will now develop the draft global strategy for 2028 to 2033, which is scheduled for submission to the board at its 160th session in January 2027 before final consideration by the 80th World Health Assembly. Image Credits: Felix Sassmannshausen, WHO/Christopher Black , Pexels/Towfiqu barbhuiya. Tedros Expresses Confidence That Pandemic Talks Will Meet ‘Absolute Deadline’ 05/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan WHO Diector-General Dr Tedros and IGWG co-chair Matthew Harpur (right) World Health Organization (WHO) Director General expressed confidence that member states would agree on the last outstanding part of the Pandemic Agreement by the “absolute deadline” of May at the body’s Executive Board meeting on Wednesday. “This year’s World Health Assembly [in May] must receive a text that member states can consider and act upon. There is no scope for delay because the next pandemic will not wait,” Tedros urged. But questions by Pakistan, part of the Group for Equity negotiating bloc in the negotiations, indicated a lack of agreement on several key issues relating to how pathogens should be shared. Member states only have two more weeks of formal negotiations before the deadline – with the next round starting on Monday. However, the talks are also affected by WHO budget cuts which have limited their access to translators. Countries are hammering out a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, deciding on how materials and sequence information from pathogens with pandemic potential can be shared fast and fairly – and how countries sharing this information can also benefit from any products that are developed as a result. The Group for Equity and Africa Region want draft contracts to be included as part of the deal to set out the terms for those who want access to pathogen information – for example, pharmaceutical companies in order to make vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic tests. The Pakistan delegate said that the two groups – representing 80% of the world’s population – had come up with a standard material transfer agreement based on other international agreements, and a draft contract for digital sequence information. “We have had only one informal discussion on the draft contracts,” said Pakistan, urging those in charge of the process to organise more consultation on the contracts. “In order to complete the exercise, to have full legal clarity and certainty we would like to have a pandemic agreement with draft contracts.” Three key areas for talks Matthew Harpur, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) overseeing the negotiations, outlined the three key areas for the talks. “Firstly, we have the scope and objectives and the use of terms,” said Harpur, who added that by last meeting, “it was really good to see some progress”. “Secondly, we have the implementation and the operation of the PABS system,” he added. This includes the issue of “equal footing” – namely, that rapid access to pathogens information and how the benefits deriving from this sharing are of equal importance. “How do we how do we swiftly share that information that keeps us all safer and but how do we also ensure equity,” said Harpur, adding that issues such as monetary contributions had to be agreed on to ensure equity. The third part is “governance and enforcement”. “You can have the best words on paper, but if they’re not enforceable, if they don’t work in practice, it is meaningless,” said Harpur. “So how do we ensure an effective governance system, with the advisory group, the role of the [Conference of the Parties] and, of course, the role of the Secretariat.” The next IGWG meeting runs from 9-14 February. Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts This site uses cookies to help give you the best experience on our website. Cookies enable us to collect information that helps us personalise your experience and improve the functionality and performance of our site. By continuing to read our website, we assume you agree to this, otherwise you can adjust your browser settings. Please read our cookie and Privacy Policy. Our Cookies and Privacy Policy Loading Comments... You must be logged in to post a comment.
Spain to Restrict Social Media Access as Evidence Mounts of Health Harms for Children 06/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the World Governments Summit in Dubai Spain announced this week that it would tighten its social media laws, aiming to ban access for children under the age of 16 as part of a global tide against electronic platforms. Last year, Australia became the first country to restrict social media for children, while French lawmakers voted to follow suit last month. So far, the UK, Denmark, Norway, Greece and India are considering similar moves, while German lawmakers are considering a digital law to contain the anti-competitive behaviour of global digital platforms. There is growing evidence of the harmful effects of social media on children, including depression, anxiety, stress and cyberbullying – alongside evidence that digital platforms such as X are influencing political outcomes by manipulating content and algorithms. “First, we will change the law in Spain to hold platform executives legally accountable for many infringements taking place on their sites,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday. “This means that CEOs of these techno platforms will face criminal liability for failing to remove illegal or hateful content,” said Sanchez. “Second, we will turn algorithmic manipulation and amplification of illegal content into a new criminal offence,” he added. “No more hiding behind code. No more pretending technology is neutral. “Third, we will implement a hate and polarization footprint system to track, quantify, and expose how digital platforms fuel division and amplify hate. For too long, hate has been treated as invisible and untraceable, but we will change that.” Sanchez added that Spain “will ban access to social media for minors under the age of 16” and platforms“will be required to implement effective age verification systems”. “Today, our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone. A space of addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation… we will protect them from a digital wild west.” “Fifth and last, my government will work with our public prosecutor to investigate and pursue the infringement committed by Grok, TikTok, and Instagram. We will have zero tolerance and protect our digital sovereignty against foreign coercion.” Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, responded by describing Sanchez as “dirty” and a “tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain”. Dirty Sánchez is a tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain 💩 https://t.co/B3oyHrBYpR — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 3, 2026 However, X faces global probes after it emerged that the platform’s AI chatbot, Grok, is generating deepfake pornography, including involving children. Australia provides global example Australia’s ban on social media for children aged 15 and under came into effect on 10 December last year. It affects platforms including Tiktok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads. While children and their parents are not sanctioned for breaking the ban, the Australian government will impose heavy fines on companies that allow children to have accounts. Days before the ban came into effect, Meta – owner of Facebook, Instagram and Threads – said it had deleted about 550,000 accounts. A representative survey of children aged 10-15 commissioned by the Australian government in 2024/5 found that 96% used social media, and that 71% had experienced harmful content. “This included exposure to misogynistic or hateful material, dangerous online challenges, violent fight videos, and content promoting disordered eating and suicide,” according to a media release on the survey. One in seven children reported experiencing online “grooming” from adults or children at least four years older, which included being asked questions about their private parts or to share nude images. Growing evidence of harms to children Meanwhile, global evidence keeps growing of the negative effects of social media use – particularly on the developing brains of children. A scoping review of multiple studies published last year in PubMed linked social media to bullying, and prolonged use to depression, anxiety, and stress. The review notes the “alarming” increase in mental health disorders among youth and adolescents, particularly “anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyper-reactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder”. “One contributing factor that has received growing attention is the role of social media and technology in shaping adolescent brain development, behaviour, and emotional well-being,” the researchers note. “While digital platforms provide opportunities for social connection, self-expression, and mental health support, they also introduce significant risks, including compulsive social media use, cyberbullying, unrealistic beauty standards, and exposure to substance-related content.” A meta-analysis of 143 studies involving over one million adolescents, published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2024, found “a positive and significant meta-correlation between time spent on social media and mental health symptoms”, particularly depression and anxiety. Image Credits: Unsplash. As WHO Debates Global AI Regulation, States Clash Over ‘Data Sovereignty’ 05/02/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, warns that digital tools and AI may widen health gaps without proper governance and trust. A stark debate over who owns the data in the future of AI and digital health emerged at the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board on Wednesday. Low and middle-income countries warned that the rapid deployment of new technologies risks accelerating data extraction and increasing inequality, cautioning that – without strict AI governance, sustainable financing and equitable guardrails – the implementation of AI in health systems would compromise “data sovereignty”. The debate centred on a WHO report outlining the framework for a digital transformation strategy spanning 2028 to 2033. Highlighting the profound shifts driven by AI and genomics, the report notes that many member states remain paralysed by “fragmented systems with limited interoperability.” And it warns that without reliable, representative data, AI risks amplifying biases and inefficiencies. “Innovation alone is not enough,” stated Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “Without skills, governance and trust, digital tools widen gaps instead of closing them.” Kluge also warned that “the risk of a new digital divide is real”. Based on the deliberations, the Secretariat will continue its technical work on the strategy. To this end, the WHO has established a tripartite collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union and the World Intellectual Property Organization. The board also decided to move forward on consultations to strengthen the global health workforce code, while the fight against substandard medicines moves to a new operational phase under an approved work plan. Closing the rift in AI regulation The representative from Cameroon, speaking for the African Region, shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership at the WHO Executive Board session on Wednesday. Regarding AI and digital health, a regulatory rift is opening as high-income regions press forward. While the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have established guiding principles on AI, a formal global standard remains elusive. The European Union, represented by Bulgaria, argued that health data and information systems are the “essential foundation”, calling for the WHO to lead harmonisation efforts. These ought to focus on autonomy, safety, well-being of patients and health care professionals. Israel supported this, proposing “regulatory sandboxes” to test technologies safely while integrating economic considerations. However, the African Region and other LMICs shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership. Cameroon, speaking for the region, called for rigorous ethical governance. The prevailing fear is that international companies will harvest data from the Global South to train AI models or develop products that are then sold back for profit. Barbados reinforced this, rejecting the model of “donor-funded surveys”. The delegate argued that health data must be treated as a “national asset” under local control. Positioning the country as a “living laboratory” for digital innovation, Barbados demanded sustainable financing models to advance universal health coverage rather than short-term extraction. Rich nations urged to ‘pay up’ for imported health talent Zimbabwe’s representative calls for co-investment from rich nations to address the crisis of health worker migration. The board also confronted the escalating crisis of health worker migration, reviewing new data confirming that active recruitment from nations with fragile health systems is intensifying ‘brain drain’ to plug staffing gaps in the Global North. Zimbabwe, speaking for the African Region, issued a sharp rebuke of current practices. “Targeted recruitment continues to strain our fragile health systems,” the delegate warned. The region demanded that development banks and donor agencies move beyond rhetoric to “co-invest” in the education and retention of the workforce in source countries. Pakistan amplified this, arguing that while the principle of co-investment is recognised, there is currently a lack of “binding commitment to deliver it”. The United Kingdom, a major destination country, maintained that the Global Code of Practice remains “central to ethical international recruitment.” However, the UK acknowledged the need for clearer guidance on safeguards and supported a process to refine the Code’s application. To bridge this divide, the Secretariat, and member states agreed to launch informal consultations to draft a decision for the World Health Assembly in May. The talks will focus on specific additions to the Code, such as co-investment mechanisms and protections for care workers. Debate on ‘scourge’ of substandard medicines ongoing The WHO is intensifying surveillance of medical products following a deadly spike in contaminated products containing toxic chemicals like cough syrups. On a last item, the board confronted the lethal proliferation of substandard and falsified medical products, a crisis described by delegates as a critical threat to both public health and economic security. The WHO’s surveillance system has recorded over 10,000 suspect products since 2013, with the Secretariat highlighting a recent, deadly spike in contaminated medical products containing diethylene glycol, like cough syrups. Togo, speaking for the African Region, characterised the issue as a “scourge,” exacerbated by open borders and informal markets. The region called for “innovative financing” to support regulatory authorities in resource-poor settings, where the risk of infiltration into public supply chains remains high. Ukraine shifted the focus to modern distribution channels, warning of the specific threat posed by “unregulated online sales.” The delegate urged the WHO to help secure supply chains for high-risk excipients – inactive ingredients often implicated in contamination cases. The International Pharmaceutical Federation backed these concerns, emphasising that the workforce must be trained to detect fakes before they reach patients. “Protecting patients requires safeguarding the quality of medicines,” the Federation argued. To close the detection gap, the Board noted the urgent need to roll out market surveillance technologies, specifically the Epione reporting tool, to track suspect products in real-time. The Secretariat will now develop the draft global strategy for 2028 to 2033, which is scheduled for submission to the board at its 160th session in January 2027 before final consideration by the 80th World Health Assembly. Image Credits: Felix Sassmannshausen, WHO/Christopher Black , Pexels/Towfiqu barbhuiya. Tedros Expresses Confidence That Pandemic Talks Will Meet ‘Absolute Deadline’ 05/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan WHO Diector-General Dr Tedros and IGWG co-chair Matthew Harpur (right) World Health Organization (WHO) Director General expressed confidence that member states would agree on the last outstanding part of the Pandemic Agreement by the “absolute deadline” of May at the body’s Executive Board meeting on Wednesday. “This year’s World Health Assembly [in May] must receive a text that member states can consider and act upon. There is no scope for delay because the next pandemic will not wait,” Tedros urged. But questions by Pakistan, part of the Group for Equity negotiating bloc in the negotiations, indicated a lack of agreement on several key issues relating to how pathogens should be shared. Member states only have two more weeks of formal negotiations before the deadline – with the next round starting on Monday. However, the talks are also affected by WHO budget cuts which have limited their access to translators. Countries are hammering out a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, deciding on how materials and sequence information from pathogens with pandemic potential can be shared fast and fairly – and how countries sharing this information can also benefit from any products that are developed as a result. The Group for Equity and Africa Region want draft contracts to be included as part of the deal to set out the terms for those who want access to pathogen information – for example, pharmaceutical companies in order to make vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic tests. The Pakistan delegate said that the two groups – representing 80% of the world’s population – had come up with a standard material transfer agreement based on other international agreements, and a draft contract for digital sequence information. “We have had only one informal discussion on the draft contracts,” said Pakistan, urging those in charge of the process to organise more consultation on the contracts. “In order to complete the exercise, to have full legal clarity and certainty we would like to have a pandemic agreement with draft contracts.” Three key areas for talks Matthew Harpur, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) overseeing the negotiations, outlined the three key areas for the talks. “Firstly, we have the scope and objectives and the use of terms,” said Harpur, who added that by last meeting, “it was really good to see some progress”. “Secondly, we have the implementation and the operation of the PABS system,” he added. This includes the issue of “equal footing” – namely, that rapid access to pathogens information and how the benefits deriving from this sharing are of equal importance. “How do we how do we swiftly share that information that keeps us all safer and but how do we also ensure equity,” said Harpur, adding that issues such as monetary contributions had to be agreed on to ensure equity. The third part is “governance and enforcement”. “You can have the best words on paper, but if they’re not enforceable, if they don’t work in practice, it is meaningless,” said Harpur. “So how do we ensure an effective governance system, with the advisory group, the role of the [Conference of the Parties] and, of course, the role of the Secretariat.” The next IGWG meeting runs from 9-14 February. Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts This site uses cookies to help give you the best experience on our website. Cookies enable us to collect information that helps us personalise your experience and improve the functionality and performance of our site. By continuing to read our website, we assume you agree to this, otherwise you can adjust your browser settings. Please read our cookie and Privacy Policy. Our Cookies and Privacy Policy Loading Comments... You must be logged in to post a comment.
As WHO Debates Global AI Regulation, States Clash Over ‘Data Sovereignty’ 05/02/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, warns that digital tools and AI may widen health gaps without proper governance and trust. A stark debate over who owns the data in the future of AI and digital health emerged at the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board on Wednesday. Low and middle-income countries warned that the rapid deployment of new technologies risks accelerating data extraction and increasing inequality, cautioning that – without strict AI governance, sustainable financing and equitable guardrails – the implementation of AI in health systems would compromise “data sovereignty”. The debate centred on a WHO report outlining the framework for a digital transformation strategy spanning 2028 to 2033. Highlighting the profound shifts driven by AI and genomics, the report notes that many member states remain paralysed by “fragmented systems with limited interoperability.” And it warns that without reliable, representative data, AI risks amplifying biases and inefficiencies. “Innovation alone is not enough,” stated Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “Without skills, governance and trust, digital tools widen gaps instead of closing them.” Kluge also warned that “the risk of a new digital divide is real”. Based on the deliberations, the Secretariat will continue its technical work on the strategy. To this end, the WHO has established a tripartite collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union and the World Intellectual Property Organization. The board also decided to move forward on consultations to strengthen the global health workforce code, while the fight against substandard medicines moves to a new operational phase under an approved work plan. Closing the rift in AI regulation The representative from Cameroon, speaking for the African Region, shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership at the WHO Executive Board session on Wednesday. Regarding AI and digital health, a regulatory rift is opening as high-income regions press forward. While the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have established guiding principles on AI, a formal global standard remains elusive. The European Union, represented by Bulgaria, argued that health data and information systems are the “essential foundation”, calling for the WHO to lead harmonisation efforts. These ought to focus on autonomy, safety, well-being of patients and health care professionals. Israel supported this, proposing “regulatory sandboxes” to test technologies safely while integrating economic considerations. However, the African Region and other LMICs shifted the focus from technical standards to ownership. Cameroon, speaking for the region, called for rigorous ethical governance. The prevailing fear is that international companies will harvest data from the Global South to train AI models or develop products that are then sold back for profit. Barbados reinforced this, rejecting the model of “donor-funded surveys”. The delegate argued that health data must be treated as a “national asset” under local control. Positioning the country as a “living laboratory” for digital innovation, Barbados demanded sustainable financing models to advance universal health coverage rather than short-term extraction. Rich nations urged to ‘pay up’ for imported health talent Zimbabwe’s representative calls for co-investment from rich nations to address the crisis of health worker migration. The board also confronted the escalating crisis of health worker migration, reviewing new data confirming that active recruitment from nations with fragile health systems is intensifying ‘brain drain’ to plug staffing gaps in the Global North. Zimbabwe, speaking for the African Region, issued a sharp rebuke of current practices. “Targeted recruitment continues to strain our fragile health systems,” the delegate warned. The region demanded that development banks and donor agencies move beyond rhetoric to “co-invest” in the education and retention of the workforce in source countries. Pakistan amplified this, arguing that while the principle of co-investment is recognised, there is currently a lack of “binding commitment to deliver it”. The United Kingdom, a major destination country, maintained that the Global Code of Practice remains “central to ethical international recruitment.” However, the UK acknowledged the need for clearer guidance on safeguards and supported a process to refine the Code’s application. To bridge this divide, the Secretariat, and member states agreed to launch informal consultations to draft a decision for the World Health Assembly in May. The talks will focus on specific additions to the Code, such as co-investment mechanisms and protections for care workers. Debate on ‘scourge’ of substandard medicines ongoing The WHO is intensifying surveillance of medical products following a deadly spike in contaminated products containing toxic chemicals like cough syrups. On a last item, the board confronted the lethal proliferation of substandard and falsified medical products, a crisis described by delegates as a critical threat to both public health and economic security. The WHO’s surveillance system has recorded over 10,000 suspect products since 2013, with the Secretariat highlighting a recent, deadly spike in contaminated medical products containing diethylene glycol, like cough syrups. Togo, speaking for the African Region, characterised the issue as a “scourge,” exacerbated by open borders and informal markets. The region called for “innovative financing” to support regulatory authorities in resource-poor settings, where the risk of infiltration into public supply chains remains high. Ukraine shifted the focus to modern distribution channels, warning of the specific threat posed by “unregulated online sales.” The delegate urged the WHO to help secure supply chains for high-risk excipients – inactive ingredients often implicated in contamination cases. The International Pharmaceutical Federation backed these concerns, emphasising that the workforce must be trained to detect fakes before they reach patients. “Protecting patients requires safeguarding the quality of medicines,” the Federation argued. To close the detection gap, the Board noted the urgent need to roll out market surveillance technologies, specifically the Epione reporting tool, to track suspect products in real-time. The Secretariat will now develop the draft global strategy for 2028 to 2033, which is scheduled for submission to the board at its 160th session in January 2027 before final consideration by the 80th World Health Assembly. Image Credits: Felix Sassmannshausen, WHO/Christopher Black , Pexels/Towfiqu barbhuiya. Tedros Expresses Confidence That Pandemic Talks Will Meet ‘Absolute Deadline’ 05/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan WHO Diector-General Dr Tedros and IGWG co-chair Matthew Harpur (right) World Health Organization (WHO) Director General expressed confidence that member states would agree on the last outstanding part of the Pandemic Agreement by the “absolute deadline” of May at the body’s Executive Board meeting on Wednesday. “This year’s World Health Assembly [in May] must receive a text that member states can consider and act upon. There is no scope for delay because the next pandemic will not wait,” Tedros urged. But questions by Pakistan, part of the Group for Equity negotiating bloc in the negotiations, indicated a lack of agreement on several key issues relating to how pathogens should be shared. Member states only have two more weeks of formal negotiations before the deadline – with the next round starting on Monday. However, the talks are also affected by WHO budget cuts which have limited their access to translators. Countries are hammering out a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, deciding on how materials and sequence information from pathogens with pandemic potential can be shared fast and fairly – and how countries sharing this information can also benefit from any products that are developed as a result. The Group for Equity and Africa Region want draft contracts to be included as part of the deal to set out the terms for those who want access to pathogen information – for example, pharmaceutical companies in order to make vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic tests. The Pakistan delegate said that the two groups – representing 80% of the world’s population – had come up with a standard material transfer agreement based on other international agreements, and a draft contract for digital sequence information. “We have had only one informal discussion on the draft contracts,” said Pakistan, urging those in charge of the process to organise more consultation on the contracts. “In order to complete the exercise, to have full legal clarity and certainty we would like to have a pandemic agreement with draft contracts.” Three key areas for talks Matthew Harpur, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) overseeing the negotiations, outlined the three key areas for the talks. “Firstly, we have the scope and objectives and the use of terms,” said Harpur, who added that by last meeting, “it was really good to see some progress”. “Secondly, we have the implementation and the operation of the PABS system,” he added. This includes the issue of “equal footing” – namely, that rapid access to pathogens information and how the benefits deriving from this sharing are of equal importance. “How do we how do we swiftly share that information that keeps us all safer and but how do we also ensure equity,” said Harpur, adding that issues such as monetary contributions had to be agreed on to ensure equity. The third part is “governance and enforcement”. “You can have the best words on paper, but if they’re not enforceable, if they don’t work in practice, it is meaningless,” said Harpur. “So how do we ensure an effective governance system, with the advisory group, the role of the [Conference of the Parties] and, of course, the role of the Secretariat.” The next IGWG meeting runs from 9-14 February. Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts This site uses cookies to help give you the best experience on our website. Cookies enable us to collect information that helps us personalise your experience and improve the functionality and performance of our site. By continuing to read our website, we assume you agree to this, otherwise you can adjust your browser settings. Please read our cookie and Privacy Policy. Our Cookies and Privacy Policy
Tedros Expresses Confidence That Pandemic Talks Will Meet ‘Absolute Deadline’ 05/02/2026 Kerry Cullinan WHO Diector-General Dr Tedros and IGWG co-chair Matthew Harpur (right) World Health Organization (WHO) Director General expressed confidence that member states would agree on the last outstanding part of the Pandemic Agreement by the “absolute deadline” of May at the body’s Executive Board meeting on Wednesday. “This year’s World Health Assembly [in May] must receive a text that member states can consider and act upon. There is no scope for delay because the next pandemic will not wait,” Tedros urged. But questions by Pakistan, part of the Group for Equity negotiating bloc in the negotiations, indicated a lack of agreement on several key issues relating to how pathogens should be shared. Member states only have two more weeks of formal negotiations before the deadline – with the next round starting on Monday. However, the talks are also affected by WHO budget cuts which have limited their access to translators. Countries are hammering out a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, deciding on how materials and sequence information from pathogens with pandemic potential can be shared fast and fairly – and how countries sharing this information can also benefit from any products that are developed as a result. The Group for Equity and Africa Region want draft contracts to be included as part of the deal to set out the terms for those who want access to pathogen information – for example, pharmaceutical companies in order to make vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic tests. The Pakistan delegate said that the two groups – representing 80% of the world’s population – had come up with a standard material transfer agreement based on other international agreements, and a draft contract for digital sequence information. “We have had only one informal discussion on the draft contracts,” said Pakistan, urging those in charge of the process to organise more consultation on the contracts. “In order to complete the exercise, to have full legal clarity and certainty we would like to have a pandemic agreement with draft contracts.” Three key areas for talks Matthew Harpur, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) overseeing the negotiations, outlined the three key areas for the talks. “Firstly, we have the scope and objectives and the use of terms,” said Harpur, who added that by last meeting, “it was really good to see some progress”. “Secondly, we have the implementation and the operation of the PABS system,” he added. This includes the issue of “equal footing” – namely, that rapid access to pathogens information and how the benefits deriving from this sharing are of equal importance. “How do we how do we swiftly share that information that keeps us all safer and but how do we also ensure equity,” said Harpur, adding that issues such as monetary contributions had to be agreed on to ensure equity. The third part is “governance and enforcement”. “You can have the best words on paper, but if they’re not enforceable, if they don’t work in practice, it is meaningless,” said Harpur. “So how do we ensure an effective governance system, with the advisory group, the role of the [Conference of the Parties] and, of course, the role of the Secretariat.” The next IGWG meeting runs from 9-14 February. Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts