After US, Argentina also decides to withdraw from WHO

KABUL (Pajhwok): Argentina President Javier Milei has ordered the country’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), says a media report.

Milei ‘s decision comes after his ally US President Donald Trump began the process of pulling the United States out from WHO with an executive order on his first day back in office on Jan. 21, Associated Press reported.

Following Argentina’s decision to pull out from WHO, the move will further fracture cooperation in global health.

However, Argentina was expected to provide only about $8 million to WHO for the agency’s estimated $6.9 billion 2024-2025 budget.

Argentina’s decision is based on “profound differences in health management, especially during the (COVID-19) pandemic,” spokesperson Manuel Adorni told a news conference in Buenos Aires.

He said WHO guidelines at the time led to the largest shutdown “in the history of mankind.”

Argentina will not allow an international organization to intervene in its sovereignty “and much less in our health,” he added.

sa/ma