New analysis has revealed how the work of WHO is influenced by the preferences of the donors who support them, finding that huge amounts of money are being handed over to fund research into diseases such as polio which has a minimal impact on global health.
The research primarily focusses on the Gates Foundation which, between 2000 and 2024, made 640 grants totaling $5.5 billion to WHO. This makes it the second-largest donor after the United States, which has announced its intention to withdraw from the organisation.
Of this amount, $3.2 billion went specifically to polio eradication efforts, despite the fact that in 2023, there were just 12 cases of polio worldwide, all in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Of more significance is the almost total absence of funding for non-communicable diseases, which account for 74% of global deaths and kill over 42 million people each year. Less than 1% of Gates Foundation grants to WHO addressed these conditions, despite their enormous impact on populations worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
This research comes just days after the latest State of Global Air report revealed that of the 7.9 million global deaths attributable to air pollution in 2023, 86% were due to non-communicable diseases such as chronic respiratory diseases, heart diseases, lung cancer, diabetes and dementia.
The analysis also highlights a fundamental tension in how WHO operates. While the organisation’s constitution embraces a broad, rights-based understanding of health encompassing physical, mental and social wellbeing, its dependence on voluntary contributions means donors effectively control spending priorities.
The Gates Foundation’s grants, like those from other major donors, are all designated for specific purposes rather than flexible funding that WHO can allocate according to its strategic priorities.
Researchers emphasise that while the Gates Foundation’s influence is significant, the underlying problem stems from wealthy member states refusing to increase their mandatory contributions to WHO over the past four decades. This funding crisis forces the organisation to rely on voluntary donations, creating what WHO calls pockets of poverty where some critical health issues receive insufficient resources while donor-favored areas are well funded.
The full analysis can be read here.
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