Empowering the WHO

The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPPR) in its report has categorically blamed the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its failure in the ongoing global catastrophe. The panel is of the opinion that delayed response by WHO regarding Covid-19 has allowed the lethal virus to spread worldwide sooner. Holding the United Nations’ (UN) health agency responsible, the panel opined that the situation could have been saved if WHO had declared a world health emergency on time. The independent panel recommended giving more power to WHO, to allow the health body to react more quickly to crises and not wait for permission from any member nations to ascertain the real causes of diseases.

It is clear from IPPPR report that WHO was perplexed in their dealing with the situation arising due to the spread of Covid-19 virus. Its stand on wearing masks stands as a testimony to this fact. For a long period from the beginning of the pandemic outbreak, the world health body stated that it would not force general public to wear masks. Only in June, 2020 did the WHO change its stand and advised everyone to wear masks to prevent further spread of the disease. It will not be unfair to assume that if WHO took the stand the moment it was alerted of the pandemic, things could possibly have been very different. But its late response to the situation had virtually allowed the situation to go out of hand.

More often than not, WHO remains at the receiving end of backlash due to various restrictions imposed on it. As a result, despite repeated requests from WHO, China denied permission to a WHO team from visiting the country to trace the origins of Covid-19 virus. China only relented after a year and as expected a visit by WHO team turned out to be non conclusive as the team could not find any substantial evidence despite widespread allegations that the Covid-19 virus originated in Wuhan. The panel suggested that such restrictions be lifted at once so as to allow investigators to reach anywhere at the shortest time possible to track down new disease outbreaks.

Thus far Covid-19 has claimed over 33 lakh lives and has caused tremendous damage to the world's economy. Within a year and a half, the pandemic has completely changed the world and thus in light of the current scenario, the World Health Assembly, which is the decision making body of WHO, will be holding meetings from May 24. 194 member states of the world health body will discuss the report submitted by the Independent panel and be able to empower WHO to take decisive action during critical times. Hope the member states reach a consensus to this effect and attach more importance to greater collective interest in-order to tame the pandemic.