World Health Organization in talks with Washington on US return

The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently in discussions with Washington regarding the potential return of the United States to the organization, according to Report, which cites TASS.

Batyr Berdyklychev, head of the WHO office in Moscow, stated that the dialogue with the US is ongoing and described it as "open and constructive," rather than behind-the-scenes bargaining.

“We hope the United States will reconsider its stance,” Berdyklychev said. "This is not just about financial contributions but also about the country’s expertise and institutional capacity."

He emphasized that the US has historically been the largest single donor to WHO, covering nearly one-fifth of its overall budget. The American withdrawal, he warned, would severely impact WHO’s ability to implement global health programs.

"Vital initiatives such as vaccination campaigns, and efforts to combat tuberculosis, malaria, polio, and HIV/AIDS, are already under threat," he noted. "We regret the decision, as the most vulnerable populations stand to suffer the most from a halt in this support."

Despite these challenges, Berdyklychev affirmed that WHO will continue its operations, albeit with constrained resources.