World Health Organization or World Health Corporation?

Resisting Corporate Influence in WHO

The latest issue of Third World Resurgence (#298/299, June/July2015) delves into the influence of the private sector on the WHO in the context of the current reform of the institution and its long standing funding crisis. See detailed contents below.

WHO shackled: Donor control of the World Health Organisation

By David Legge

Since the 1990s, concern has grown that the integrity and independence of the World Health Organisation (WHO) may be compromised as a result of corporate influence. When in May, the World Health Assembly - the supreme decision-making body of WHO - met in Geneva, much of the debate centred on the funding of WHO and the rules regarding this UN agency's relationship with the private sector. David Legge analyses the debate and explains the issues involved.

WHO reform: opening the floodgates to the private sector?

By Judith Richter

It is in the name of 'reform', against a backdrop of a funding crisis, that a greater collaboration between WHO and big business is being justified. Judith Richter provides a historical overview of the process which began in 1992 with the drive for UN 'reforms', a euphemism for the neoliberal restructuring of the world body.

Reform and WHO: The continuing saga of FENSA

By KM Gopakumar

A year after WHO launched its 'reform' programme in 2011, the WHO secretariat began working on a comprehensive policy to regulate engagements between WHO and non-state actors or NSAs (academics, NGOs, philanthropies and private sector entities etc). The framework document that emerged has been dubbed FENSA (Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors). KM Gopakumar charts the continuing debate over this document.

No consensus at World Health Assembly on non-state actors engagement framework

By KM Gopakumar and Mirza Alas

Efforts to forge a consensus at the World Health Assembly in May on a document governing WHO's engagement with non-state actors (Framework for Engagement with Non-State Actors or FENSA) came to naught. KM Gopakumar and Mirza Alas report on the Assembly's deliberations on the issue.

CSOs voice concerns over corporate takeover of WHO

By Kanaga Raja

At the World Health Assembly in May, civil society organisations criticised the rich countries for refusing an increase in their assessed contributions to WHO and opposing any action by the agency which would be contrary to the interests of their corporations. Kanaga Raja reports.

Reforming and restoring WHO to good health

By German Velasquez

In this trenchant critique of its failings, German Velasquez says that the basic starting point of any reform of WHO should focus on how to regain its public and multilateral character.