Washington (Web Desk): President Donald Trump on Friday announced that the United States (US) is cutting the relationship with World Health Organization (WHO) accusing the global health body of mishandling the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Speaking at the White House, President Trump said he is taking the action “because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms”.
He said China has “total control” over the WHO, claiming “Chinese officials ignored their reporting obligations” to the health body during the coronavirus pandemic, and “pressured” it to “mislead the world.”
The US is the largest source of financial support for the WHO and its exit is expected to significantly weaken the organization.
Meanwhile, thirty-seven countries along with the WHO appealed on Friday for common ownership of vaccines, medicines and diagnostic tools to tackle the global coronavirus pandemic, taking aim at patent laws they fear could become a barrier to sharing crucial supplies.
The move, originally proposed in March, aims to provide a one-stop shop for scientific knowledge, data and intellectual property amid a pandemic that has infected more than 5.8 million people and killed more than 360,000.
The global health body issued a “Solidarity Call to Action”, asking other stakeholders to join the voluntary push.
The novel coronavirus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year and has killed more than 3.64 people worldwide and affected over 5.9 million.
