View source for World Health Organization

{{short description|United Nations agency}}
{{Redirect|WHO}}
{{Use British English Oxford spelling|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox United Nations
|name = World Health Organization<br />{{native name|fr|Organisation mondiale de la santé}}
|image = Flag of WHO.svg
|caption = Flag of the World Health Organization
|type = Specialized agency of the United Nations
|acronyms = WHO<br />{{lang|fr|OMS}}
|headquarters = [[Geneva]], Switzerland
|head = [[Tedros Adhanom]], Director-General
|status = Active
|established = {{start date and age|df=y|1948|4|07}}
|website = {{URL|who.int}}
|parent = [[United Nations Economic and Social Council]] (ECOSOC)
|subsidiaries =
| module          = {{Infobox Government agency
|budget           = US$4.4&nbsp;billion (2016/17 FY)<ref name=Fin2017>{{cite web|title=Programme budget 2016–2017|url=http://who.int/about/finances-accountability/budget/PB201617_en.pdf|website=who.int|accessdate=29 May 2017|date=29 May 2017}}</ref>
}}
}}

The '''World Health Organization''' ('''WHO''') is a [[list of specialized agencies of the United Nations|specialized agency of the United Nations]] that is concerned with international [[public health]]. It was established on 7 April 1948, and is headquartered in [[Geneva]], Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the [[United Nations Development Group]]. Its predecessor, the Health Organisation, was an agency of the [[League of Nations]].

The constitution of the World Health Organization had been signed by 61 countries on 22 July 1946, with the first meeting of the [[World Health Assembly]] finishing on 22 July 1946. It incorporated the {{lang|fr|[[Office International d'Hygiène Publique]]|italic=no}} and the League of Nations Health Organization. Since its establishment, it has played a leading role in the [[eradication of infectious diseases|eradication]] of [[smallpox]]. Its current priorities include [[communicable disease]]s, in particular [[HIV/AIDS]], [[Ebola]], [[malaria]] and [[tuberculosis]]; the mitigation of the effects of [[non-communicable disease]]s such as sexual and [[reproductive health]], development, and aging; nutrition, [[food security]] and healthy eating; occupational health; substance abuse; and driving the development of reporting, publications, and networking.

The WHO is responsible for the [[World Health Report]], the worldwide [[World Health Survey]], and [[World Health Day]]. The current Director-General of the WHO is [[Tedros Adhanom]], who started his five-year term on 1 July 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/tedros-director-general/en/ |title=Dr Tedros takes office as WHO Director-General |date=1 July 2017 |publisher=World Health Organization }}</ref>

==History==

=== Origins ===
The [[International Sanitary Conferences]], originally held on 23 June 1851, were the first predecessors of the WHO. A series of 14 conferences that lasted from 1851 to 1938, the International Sanitary Conferences worked to combat many diseases, chief among them [[cholera]], [[yellow fever]], and the [[bubonic plague]]. The conferences were largely ineffective until the seventh, in 1892; when an International Sanitary Convention that dealt with cholera was passed. Five years later, a convention for the plague was signed.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/62873/1/14549_eng.pdf |title=The scientific background of the International Sanitary Conferences, 1851–1938 |last=Howard-Jones |first=Norman |publisher=World Health Organization |year=1974 }}</ref> In part as a result of the successes of the Conferences, the [[Pan-American Sanitary Bureau]], and the {{lang|fr|Office International d'Hygiène Publique|italic=no}} were soon founded in 1902 and 1907, respectively. When the [[League of Nations]] was formed in 1920, they established the Health Organization of the League of Nations. After [[World War II]], the United Nations absorbed all the other health organizations, to form the WHO.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=McCarthy |first=Michael |date=October 2002 |title=A brief history of the World Health Organization. |url=http://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS014067360211244X.pdf |journal=[[The Lancet]] |volume=360 |issue=9340 |pages=1111–12 |doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(02)11244-x|pmid=12387972 }}</ref>

===Establishment===
During the 1945 United Nations Conference on International Organization, [[Szeming Sze]], a delegate from China, conferred with Norwegian and Brazilian delegates on creating an international health organization under the auspices of the new United Nations. After failing to get a resolution passed on the subject, [[Alger Hiss]], the Secretary General of the conference, recommended using a declaration to establish such an organization. Sze and other delegates lobbied and a declaration passed calling for an international conference on health.<ref name="Pitt ULS">[http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=ascead;cc=ascead;q1=Szeming%20Sze;rgn=main;view=text;didno=US-PPiU-ua90f141 Sze Szeming Papers, 1945–2014, UA.90.F14.1], University Archives, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh.</ref> The use of the word "world", rather than "international", emphasized the truly global nature of what the organization was seeking to achieve.<ref name="bmj1948">{{cite journal |title=World Health Organization |journal=The British Medical Journal |volume=2 |number=4570 |date=7 August 1948|pages=302–303 |jstor=25364565 |doi=10.1136/bmj.2.4570.302|pmc=1614381 }}</ref> The constitution of the World Health Organization was signed by all 51 countries of the United Nations, and by 10 other countries, on 22 July 1946.<ref name=chronicle_1947>{{cite journal|title=The Move towards a New Health Organization: International Health Conference |journal=Chronicle of the World Health Organization |volume=1 |issue=1–2 |pages=6–11 |url=http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hist/chronicles/chronicle_1947.pdf |format=PDF |year=1947 |accessdate=18 July 2007 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=9 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809031008/http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hist/chronicles/chronicle_1947.pdf |df= }}</ref> It thus became the first specialized agency of the United Nations to which every member subscribed.<ref name="shimkin">{{cite journal|title=The World Health Organization |first=Michael B. |last=Shimkin|journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]] |volume=104 |number=2700 |date=27 September 1946 |pages=281–283 |jstor=1674843 |doi=10.1126/science.104.2700.281|pmid=17810349 |pmc=1614381 |citeseerx=10.1.1.1016.3166 }}</ref> Its constitution formally came into force on the first [[World Health Day]] on 7 April 1948, when it was ratified by the 26th member state.<ref name=chronicle_1947/> The first meeting of the [[World Health Assembly]] finished on 24 July 1948, having secured a budget of {{US$|5 million}} (then {{GBP|1250000}}) for the 1949 year. [[Andrija Stampar]] was the Assembly's first president, and [[G. Brock Chisholm]] was appointed Director-General of WHO, having served as Executive Secretary during the planning stages.<ref name="bmj1948"/> Its first priorities were to control the spread of [[malaria]], [[tuberculosis]] and [[sexually transmitted infection]]s, and to improve [[maternal health|maternal]] and [[child health]], nutrition and environmental hygiene.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Origins, history, and achievements of the World Health Organization  |journal=BMJ  |pmc=1985854 |pmid=4869199 |volume=2 |issue=5600  |year=1968 |author=Charles J |pages=293–6 |doi=10.1136/bmj.2.5600.293}}</ref> Its first legislative act was concerning the compilation of accurate statistics on the spread and morbidity of disease.<ref name="bmj1948"/> The logo of the World Health Organization features the [[Rod of Asclepius]] as a symbol for healing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.org.ph/ |title=World Health Organization Philippines |publisher=WHO |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref>

===Operational history===
[[File:Directors of Global Smallpox Eradication Program.jpg|thumb|Three former directors of the [[Smallpox#Eradication|Global Smallpox Eradication Programme]] read the news that smallpox had been globally eradicated, 1980]]
In 1947 the WHO established an [[Epidemiology|epidemiological]] information service via [[telex]], and by 1950 a mass [[tuberculosis]] inoculation drive using the [[BCG vaccine]] was under way. In 1955, the malaria eradication programme was launched, although it was later altered in objective. 1965 saw the first report on [[diabetes mellitus]] and the creation of the [[International Agency for Research on Cancer]].<ref name="at60">{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/who60/media/exhibition_brochure.pdf |title=WHO at 60 |format=PDF |publisher=WHO |accessdate=31 March 2012}}</ref>

In 1958, [[Viktor Zhdanov]], Deputy Minister of Health for the [[Soviet Union|USSR]], called on the [[World Health Assembly]] to undertake a global initiative to [[Eradication of infectious diseases|eradicate]] smallpox, resulting in Resolution WHA11.54.<ref name= Fenner2>{{cite book |last=Fenner |first=Frank |title=Smallpox and Its Eradication |series=History of International Public Health |volume=6 |publisher=World Health Organization |location=Geneva|year=1988 |chapter=Development of the Global Smallpox Eradication Programme |chapterurl=http://whqlibdoc.who.int/smallpox/9241561106_chp9.pdf|pages=366–418 |isbn=978-92-4-156110-5 }}</ref> At this point, 2 million people were dying from smallpox every year.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

In 1966, the WHO moved its headquarters from the Ariana wing at the [[Palace of Nations]] to a newly constructed HQ elsewhere in Geneva.<ref name="at60"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.who.int/archives/exhibits/galleries/building/en/|title=Construction of the main WHO building|year=2016|website=who.int|publisher=WHO|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611011659/http://www.who.int/archives/exhibits/galleries/building/en/|archive-date=2018-06-11|dead-url=no|access-date=11 June 2018}}</ref>

In 1967, the World Health Organization intensified the global smallpox eradication by contributing $2.4&nbsp;million annually to the effort and adopted a new [[disease surveillance]] method.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www1.szu.cz/svi/cejph/archiv/2010-1-10-full.pdf |first=Vladimír |last=Zikmund  |title=Karel Raška and Smallpox |format=PDF |journal=Central European Journal of Public Health |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=55–56 |date=March 2010 |pmid=20586232 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www1.szu.cz/svi/cejph/archiv/2010-1-11-full.pdf |last1=Holland |first=Walter W. |title=Karel Raška – The Development of Modern Epidemiology. The role of the IEA |journal=Central European Journal of Public Health |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=57–60 |date=March 2010 |pmid=20586233 }}</ref> The initial problem the WHO team faced was inadequate reporting of smallpox cases. WHO established a network of consultants who assisted countries in setting up surveillance and containment activities.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Orenstein |first1=Walter A. |last2=Plotkin |first2=Stanley A. |title=Vaccines |url= https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?highlight=smallpox&rid=vacc.section.45#47| publisher=W.B. Saunders Co|location=Philadelphia |year=1999 |pages= |isbn=978-0-7216-7443-8}}</ref> The WHO also helped contain the last European outbreak in [[1972 outbreak of smallpox in Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia in 1972]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Colette |last=Flight |date=17 February 2011 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/smallpox_03.shtml |title=Smallpox: Eradicating the Scourge |publisher=BBC History |accessdate=24 November 2008}}</ref> After over two decades of fighting [[smallpox]], the WHO declared in 1979 that the disease had been eradicated – the first disease in history to be eliminated by human effort.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.who.int/mediacentre/multimedia/podcasts/2010/smallpox_20100618/en/ |title=Anniversary of smallpox eradication |website= WHO Media Centre |date=18 June 2010 |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref> Also in 1967, the WHO launched the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases and the World Health Assembly voted to enact a resolution on Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation, with a focus on community-driven care.

In 1974, the [[Expanded Programme on Immunization]] and the control programme of [[onchocerciasis]] was started, an important partnership between the [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] (FAO), the [[United Nations Development Programme]] (UNDP), and the [[World Bank]].

In 1977, the first list of [[essential medicines]] was drawn up, and a year later the ambitious goal of "[[Health For All]]" was declared.

In 1986, the WHO began its global programme on [[HIV/AIDS]]. Two years later preventing discrimination against sufferers was attended to and in 1996 [[UNAIDS]] was formed.

In 1988, the [[Global Polio Eradication Initiative]] was established.<ref name="at60" />

In 1998, WHO's Director-General highlighted gains in child survival, reduced [[infant mortality]], increased life expectancy and reduced rates of "scourges" such as smallpox and [[polio]] on the fiftieth anniversary of WHO's founding. He, did, however, accept that more had to be done to assist maternal health and that progress in this area had been slow.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/1998/WHD_98.1-13.pdf |title=World Health Day: Safe Motherhood |date=7 April 1998 |publisher=WHO |format=PDF |page=1 |accessdate=31 March 2012}}</ref>

In 2000, the [[Stop TB Partnership]] was created along with the UN's formulation of the [[Millennium Development Goals]]. In 2001 the [[measles]] initiative was formed, and credited with reducing global deaths from the disease by 68% by 2007. In 2002, [[The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria]] was drawn up to improve the resources available.<ref name="at60"/> In 2006, the organization endorsed the world's first official HIV/AIDS Toolkit for Zimbabwe, which formed the basis for a global prevention, treatment and support plan to fight the [[AIDS pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |editor=Mu Xuequan |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-10/04/content_5167991.htm |title=Zimbabwe launches world's 1st AIDS training package |website=chinaview.cn |agency=Xinhua News Agency |date=4 October 2006 |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref>

===Overall focus===
The WHO's Constitution states that its objective "is the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/entity/governance/eb/who_constitution_en.pdf|publisher=World Health Organization|format=PDF|title=Constitution of the World Health Organization |accessdate=11 February 2008}}</ref>

The WHO fulfills this objective through its functions as defined in its Constitution: (a) To act as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work; (b) To establish and maintain effective collaboration with the United Nations, specialized agencies, governmental health administrations, professional groups and such other organizations as may be deemed appropriate; (c) To assist Governments, upon request, in strengthening health services; (d) To furnish appropriate technical assistance and, in emergencies, necessary aid upon the request or acceptance of Governments; (e) To provide or assist in providing, upon the request of the United Nations, health services and facilities to special groups, such as the peoples of trust territories; (f) To establish and maintain such administrative and technical services as may be required, including epidemiological and statistical services; (g) to stimulate and advance work to eradicate epidemic, endemic and other diseases; (h) To promote, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where necessary, the prevention of accidental injuries; (i) To promote, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where necessary, the improvement of nutrition, housing, sanitation, recreation, economic or working conditions and other aspects of environmental hygiene; (j) To promote co-operation among scientific and professional groups which contribute to the advancement of health; (k) To propose conventions, agreements and regulations, and make recommendations with respect to international health matters and to perform.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

{{As of |2012}}, the WHO has defined its role in public health as follows:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/about/role/en/index.html |title=The role of WHO in public health |publisher=WHO |accessdate=26 March 2012}}</ref>
* providing leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in partnerships where joint action is needed;
* shaping the research agenda and stimulating the generation, translation, and dissemination of valuable knowledge;<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Hoffman S.J. |author2=Røttingen J-A. | year = 2012 | title = Assessing Implementation Mechanisms for an International Agreement on Research and Development for Health Products | journal = Bulletin of the World Health Organization | volume = 90 | issue = 12| pages = 854–863 | doi = 10.2471/BLT.12.109827 | pmid=23226898 | pmc=3506410}}</ref>
* setting norms and standards and promoting and monitoring their implementation;
* articulating ethical and evidence-based policy options;
* providing technical support, catalyzing change, and building sustainable institutional capacity; and
* monitoring the health situation and assessing health trends.
* [[CRVS (Civil Registration and Vital Statistic)|CRVS (Civil Registration and Vital Statistics)]] to provide monitoring of vital events (birth, death, wedding, divorce).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.who.int/healthinfo/civil_registration/en/|title=Civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS)|website=who.int}}</ref>

===Communicable diseases===
The 2012–2013 WHO budget identified 5 areas among which funding was distributed.<ref name="20123budget">{{cite web |url=http://whqlibdoc.who.int/pb/2012-2013/PB_2012%E2%80%932013_eng.pdf |title=Programme Budget, 2012–2013|publisher=WHO |format=PDF |accessdate=26 March 2012}}</ref> Two of those five areas related to [[communicable diseases]]: the first, to reduce the "health, social and economic burden" of communicable diseases in general; the second to combat [[HIV/AIDS]], [[malaria]] and [[tuberculosis]] in particular.<ref name="20123budget"/>

As of 2015, the WHO has worked within the [[UNAIDS]] network and strived to involve sections of society other than health to help deal with the economic and social effects of [[HIV/AIDS]].<ref>{{cite journal |format=pdf |title=Global health sector strategy on HIV/AIDS 2011–2015 |publisher=WHO  |url=http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241501651_eng.pdf |year=2011 |page=5}}</ref> In line with UNAIDS, WHO has set itself the interim task between 2009 and 2015 of reducing the number of those aged 15–24 years who are infected by 50%; reducing new HIV infections in children by 90%; and reducing HIV-related deaths by 25%.<ref>{{cite journal |format=pdf |title=Global health sector strategy on HIV/AIDS 2011–2015 |url=http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241501651_eng.pdf |publisher=WHO |year=2011 |page=7}}</ref>

During the 1970s, WHO had dropped its commitment to a global malaria eradication campaign as too ambitious, it retained a strong commitment to malaria control. WHO's Global Malaria Programme works to keep track of malaria cases, and future problems in malaria control schemes. As of 2012, the WHO was to report as to whether [[RTS,S]]/AS01, were a viable [[malaria vaccine]]. For the time being, [[insecticide]]-treated [[mosquito net]]s and insecticide sprays are used to prevent the spread of malaria, as are [[antimalarial drugs]] – particularly to vulnerable people such as pregnant women and young children.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs094/en/index.html |title=Malaria Fact Sheet |website=WHO Media Centre |publisher=WHO |date=April 2012 |accessdate=24 May 2012}}</ref>

Between 1990 and 2010, WHO's help has contributed to a 40% decline in the number of deaths from [[tuberculosis]], and since 2005, over 46 million people have been treated and an estimated 7&nbsp;million lives saved through practices advocated by WHO. These include engaging national governments and their financing, early diagnosis, standardising treatment, monitoring of the spread and effect of tuberculosis and stabilising the drug supply. It has also recognized the vulnerability of victims of HIV/AIDS to tuberculosis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs104/en/index.html |title=Tuberculosis Fact Sheet |website=WHO work mediacenter|publisher=WHO |date=April 2012 |accessdate=24 May 2012}}</ref>

In 1988, WHO launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to eradicate [[polio]].{{citation needed|date=June 2018}} It has also been successful in helping to reduce cases by 99% since which partnered WHO with [[Rotary International]], the [[US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC), the [[United Nations Children's Fund]] (UNICEF), and smaller organizations. {{As of| 2011}}, it has been working to immunize young children and prevent the re-emergence of cases in countries declared "polio-free".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs114/en/ |title=Poliomyelitis Fact Sheet |website=WHO Media Centre |publisher=WHO |date=October 2011 |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref> In 2017, a study was conducted where why Polio Vaccines may not be enough to eradicate the Virus & conduct new technology. Polio is now on the verge of extinction, thanks to a Global Vaccination Drive. the World Health Organization (WHO) stated the eradication programme has saved millions from deadly disease. {{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

===Non-communicable diseases===
Another of the thirteen WHO priority areas is aimed at the prevention and reduction of "disease, disability and premature deaths from chronic [[noncommunicable disease]]s, [[mental disorder]]s, violence and [[injury prevention|injuries]], and [[visual impairment]]".<ref name="20123budget"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/en/ |title=WHO Violence and Injury Prevention |publisher=Who.int |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> The Division of Noncommunicable Diseases for Promoting Health through the Life-course Sexual and Reproductive Health has published the magazine, ''Entre Nous'', across Europe since 1983.<ref>{{cite web | title = ''Entre Nous'' | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170715203751/http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Life-stages/sexual-and-reproductive-health/publications/entre-nous/entre-nous | archive-date = 15 July 2017 | url = http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Life-stages/sexual-and-reproductive-health/publications/entre-nous/entre-nous | website = euro.who.int | publisher = [[WHO]]/Europe | oclc = 782375711 }}</ref>

===Environmental health===
The WHO estimates that 12.6&nbsp;million people died as a result of living or working in an unhealthy environment in 2012 –  this accounts for nearly 1 in 4 of total global deaths. Environmental risk factors, such as air, water and soil pollution, chemical exposures, climate change, and ultraviolet radiation, contribute to more than 100 diseases and injuries. This can result in a number of [[List of pollution-related diseases|pollution-related diseases]].<ref>{{cite web |title= An estimated 12.6&nbsp;million deaths each year are attributable to unhealthy environments |url= http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2016/deaths-attributable-to-unhealthy-environments/en/}}</ref>

* 2018 (30 October – 1 November) : [[1 WHO’s first global conference on air pollution and health]] (''Improving air quality, combatting climate change – saving lives'') ; organized in collaboration with UN Environment, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)<ref> [http://www.who.int/airpollution/events/conference/WHO_Conference_on_Air_Pollution_and_Health-Concept_Note-final.pdf ''1 WHO’s First Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health  Improving air quality,  combatting  climate change  – saving lives'']</ref>

===Life course and life style===
WHO works to "reduce [[morbidity]] and [[Death|mortality]] and improve health during key stages of life, including pregnancy, childbirth, the [[Infant|neonatal period]], [[childhood]] and adolescence, and improve [[Sexual health|sexual]] and [[reproductive health]] and promote active and healthy aging for all individuals".<ref name="20123budget"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/hrp/en/index.html |title=Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction |publisher=WHO |accessdate=9 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218011849/http://www.who.int/hrp/en/index.html |archive-date=18 February 2012 |dead-url=yes  }}</ref>

It also tries to prevent or reduce risk factors for "health conditions associated with use of tobacco, alcohol, [[drugs]] and other psychoactive substances, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity and [[unsafe sex]]".<ref name="20123budget"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/topics/tobacco/en/ |title=Tobacco |publisher=WHO |accessdate=26 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/en/ |title=Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health |publisher=WHO}}</ref>

The WHO works to improve nutrition, [[food safety]] and [[food security]] and to ensure this has a positive effect on [[public health]] and [[sustainable development]].<ref name="20123budget"/>

===Surgery and trauma care===

The WHO promotes road safety as a means to reduce traffic-related injuries.<ref>WHO. [http://www.who.int/roadsafety/decade_of_action/en/ Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011–2020]</ref>

The WHO has also worked on global initiatives in surgery, including emergency and essential surgical care,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/surgery/globalinitiative/en/ |title=Global Initiative for Emergency and Essential Surgical Care |publisher=WHO |date=11 August 2011 |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> trauma care,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/emergencycare/trauma/essential-care/en/ |title=Essential trauma care project |publisher=WHO |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> and safe surgery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/patientsafety/safesurgery/en/ |title=Safe Surgery Saves Lives |publisher=WHO |date=17 June 2011 |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> The [[WHO Surgical Safety Checklist]] is in current use worldwide in the effort to improve patient safety.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/patientsafety/safesurgery/en/ |title=Safe Surgery Saves Lives |publisher=WHO |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref>

===Emergency work===
The World Health Organization's primary objective in natural and man-made emergencies is to coordinate with member states and other stakeholders to "reduce avoidable loss of life and the burden of disease and disability."<ref name="20123budget"/>

On 5 May 2014, WHO announced that the spread of [[Poliomyelitis|polio]] was a world health emergency – outbreaks of the disease in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East were considered "extraordinary".<ref name="AP-20140505">{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff Writer--> |title=UN: Spread of polio now an world health emergency |url=http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140505/eu-med-polio-emergency-6e6900dc37.html |date=5 May 2014 |location=London |agency=[[AP News]] |publisher=Mindspark Interactkookve Network, Inc. |accessdate=5 May 2014 }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20140505">{{cite news |last=Gladstone |first=Rick |title=Polio Spreading at Alarming Rates, World Health Organization Declares |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/06/health/world-health-organization-polio-health-emergency.html |date=5 May 2014 |work=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=5 May 2014 }}</ref>

On 8 August 2014, WHO declared that the spread of [[Ebola]] was a public health emergency; an outbreak which was believed to have started in Guinea had spread to other nearby countries such as Liberia and Sierra Leone. The situation in West Africa was considered very serious.<ref>{{cite press release |first1=Kate |last1=Kelland |first2=Felix |last2=Onuah |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/08/us-health-ebola-africa-idUSKBN0G81Q820140808 |title=WHO declares Ebola an international health emergency |location=London/Lagos |agency=[[Reuters]]  |date=8 August 2014 }}</ref>

===Health policy===
WHO addresses government [[health policy]] with two aims: firstly, "to address the underlying social and economic determinants of health through policies and programmes that enhance health equity and integrate pro-poor, gender-responsive, and human rights-based approaches" and secondly "to promote a healthier environment, intensify primary prevention and influence public policies in all sectors so as to address the root causes of environmental threats to health".<ref name="20123budget"/>

The organization develops and promotes the use of evidence-based tools, norms and standards to support member states to inform [[health policy]] options. It oversees the implementation of the [[International Health Regulations]], and publishes a series of [[medical classification]]s; of these, three are over-reaching "reference classifications": the [[International Statistical Classification of Diseases]] (ICD), the [[International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health]] (ICF) and the [[International Classification of Health Interventions]] (ICHI).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/classifications/en/FamilyDocument2007.pdf |title=Family of International Classifications: definition, scope and purpose |publisher=WHO |format=PDF |year=2007 |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref> Other international policy frameworks produced by WHO include the [[International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes]] (adopted in 1981),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/infantfeeding/9241541601/en/ |title=International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes |publisher=WHO |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref> [[Framework Convention on Tobacco Control]] (adopted in 2003)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/fctc/about/en/index.html |title=About the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control |publisher=WHO |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref> and the [[Health Human Resources#Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel|Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel]] (adopted in 2010).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/hrh/migration/code/WHO_global_code_of_practice_EN.pdf |title=WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel  |publisher=WHO |year=2010 |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref>

In terms of health services, WHO looks to improve "governance, financing, staffing and management" and the availability and quality of evidence and research to guide policy. It also strives to "ensure improved access, quality and use of medical products and technologies".<ref name="20123budget"/> WHO – working with donor agencies and national governments – can improve their use of and their reporting about their use of research evidence.<ref>Hoffman, S.J., Lavis, J.N. & Bennett, S., 2009. The Use of Research Evidence in Two International Organizations' Recommendations about Health Systems. Healthcare Policy, 5(1), pp.66–86.</ref>

===Governance and support===
The remaining two of WHO's thirteen identified policy areas relate to the role of WHO itself:<ref name="20123budget"/>
* "to provide leadership, strengthen governance and foster partnership and collaboration with countries, the United Nations system, and other stakeholders in order to fulfill the mandate of WHO in advancing the global health agenda"; and
* "to develop and sustain WHO as a flexible, learning organization, enabling it to carry out its mandate more efficiently and effectively".

====Partnerships====
The WHO along with the [[World Bank]] constitute the core team responsible for administering the [[International Health Partnership]] (IHP+). The IHP+ is a group of partner governments, development agencies, civil society and others committed to improving the health of citizens in [[developing country|developing countries]]. Partners work together to put international principles for [[aid effectiveness]] and development co-operation into practice in the health sector.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.internationalhealthpartnership.net/en/ |title=International Health Partnership |publisher=IHP+ |accessdate=19 September 2012}}</ref>

The organization relies on contributions from renowned scientists and professionals to inform its work, such as the [[WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/biologicals/expert_committee/en/ |title=WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization |publisher=WHO |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref> the [[WHO Expert Committee on Leprosy]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.who.int/bookorders/anglais/detart1.jsp?codlan=1&codcol=10&codcch=874 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231145418/http://apps.who.int/bookorders/anglais/detart1.jsp?codlan=1&codcol=10&codcch=874|archivedate=31 December 2016|title=WHO Expert Committee on Leprosy: Seventh Report |website=WHO Press Office |publisher=WHO |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref> and the [[Interprofessional education#WHO Study Group on Interprofessional Education & Collaborative Practice|WHO Study Group on Interprofessional Education & Collaborative Practice]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/hrh/professionals/coordination/en/index.html |title=WHO Study Group on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice |publisher=27 March 2012}}</ref>

WHO runs the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, targeted at improving [[health policy]] and [[health system|systems]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/alliance-hpsr/en/index.html |title=Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research |publisher=WHO |accessdate=26 March 2012}}</ref>

WHO also aims to improve access to health research and literature in developing countries such as through the [[HINARI]] network.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/hinari/en/ |title=HINARI Access to Research in Health Programme |publisher=Who.int |date=13 October 2011 |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref>

WHO collaborates with the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNITAID, and the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/246178/WHO-HIV-2016.05-eng.pdf?sequence=1|title=|website=|dead-url=}}</ref> to spearhead and fund the development of HIV programs. 

WHO created the Civil Society Reference Group on HIV<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/246178/WHO-HIV-2016.05-eng.pdf?sequence=1|title=|website=|dead-url=}}</ref>, which brings together other networks that are involved in policy making and the dissemination of guidelines.

WHO, a sector of the United Nations, partners with UNAIDS<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/246178/WHO-HIV-2016.05-eng.pdf?sequence=1|title=|website=|dead-url=}}</ref> to contribute to the development of HIV responses in different areas of the world.

WHO facilitates technical partnerships through the Technical Advisory Committee on HIV<ref>{{Cite web|url=Technical Advisory Committee on HIV|title=|website=|dead-url=}}</ref>, which they created to develop WHO guidelines and policies.

====Public health education and action====
Each year, the organization marks [[World Health Day]] and other observances focusing on a specific [[health promotion]] topic. World Health Day falls on 7 April each year, timed to match the anniversary of WHO's founding. Recent themes have been [[Vector (epidemiology)|vector-borne diseases]] (2014), healthy ageing (2012) and [[drug resistance]] (2011).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/world-health-day/en/ |title=World Health Day – 7 April |publisher=WHO |accessdate=31 March 2012}}</ref>

The other official global public health campaigns marked by WHO are [[World Tuberculosis Day]], [[World Immunization Week]], [[World Malaria Day]], [[World No Tobacco Day]], [[World Blood Donor Day]], [[World Hepatitis Day]], and [[World AIDS Day]].

As part of the United Nations, the World Health Organization supports work towards the [[Millennium Development Goals]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/about/en/index.html |title=Millennium Development Goals |publisher=WHO |accessdate=31 March 2012}}</ref> Of the eight Millennium Development Goals, three – reducing child mortality by two-thirds, to reduce maternal deaths by three-quarters, and to halt and begin to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS – relate directly to WHO's scope; the other five inter-relate and affect world health.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/MDG-NHPS_brochure_2010.pdf |title=Accelerating progress towards the health-related Millennium Development Goals |year=2010 |format=PDF |page=2 |publisher=WHO |accessdate=31 March 2012}}</ref>

===Data handling and publications===
The World Health Organization works to provide the needed health and well-being evidence through a variety of data collection platforms, including the World Health Survey covering almost 400,000 respondents from 70 countries,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/healthinfo/survey/en/ |title=WHO World Health Survey |publisher=WHO |date=20 December 2010 |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> and the ''[[Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health|Study on Global Aging and Adult Health]]'' (SAGE) covering over 50,000 persons over 50 years old in 23 countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/sage/en/index.html |title=WHO Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) |publisher=WHO |date=10 March 2011 |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> The Country Health Intelligence Portal (CHIP), has also been developed to provide an access point to information about the health services that are available in different countries.<ref>{{cite web|title=Country Health Policy Process|url=http://www.healthintelligenceportal.org/|accessdate=4 June 2012|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121222652/http://www.healthintelligenceportal.org/|archivedate=21 January 2012}}</ref> The information gathered in this portal is used by the countries to set priorities for future strategies or plans, implement, monitor, and evaluate it.

The WHO has published various tools for measuring and monitoring the capacity of national [[health system]]s<ref>{{cite web |title=Monitoring the building blocks of health systems: a handbook of indicators and their measurement strategies |publisher=WHO |year=2010 |url=http://www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/monitoring/en/index.htm |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref> and [[Health Human Resources|health workforces]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Handbook on monitoring and evaluation of human resources for health |publisher=WHO |year=2009 |url=http://www.who.int/hrh/resources/handbook/en/index.html |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref> The Global Health Observatory (GHO) has been the WHO's main portal which provides access to data and analyses for key health themes by monitoring health situations around the globe.<ref>{{cite web|title=Global Health Observatory|url=http://www.who.int/gho/en/index.html|accessdate=4 June 2012}}</ref>

The ''WHO Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems'' (WHO-AIMS), the ''WHO Quality of Life Instrument'' (WHOQOL), and the ''Service Availability and Readiness Assessment'' (SARA) provide guidance for data collection.<ref>See respectively:*{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/WHO-AIMS/en/index.html |title=Mental Health: WHO-AIMS |publisher=WHO |accessdate=27 March 2012}} *{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/76.pdf  |title=WHOQOL-BREF: Introduction, Administration, Scoring and Generic Version of the Assessment |format=PDF |year=1996 |accessdate=27 March 2012}} *{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/sara_introduction/en/ |title=Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) |publisher=WHO |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref> Collaborative efforts between WHO and other agencies, such as through the [[Health Metrics Network]], also aim to provide sufficient high-quality information to assist governmental decision making.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/healthmetrics/about/whatishmn/en/index.html |title=What is HMN? |website=Health Metrics Network |publisher=WHO |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref> WHO promotes the development of capacities in member states to use and produce research that addresses their national needs, including through the [[Evidence-Informed Policy Network]] (EVIPNet).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/rpc/evipnet/en/ |title=Evidence-Informed Policy Network |publisher=WHO |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref> The [[Pan American Health Organization]] (PAHO/AMRO) became the first region to develop and pass a policy on research for health approved in September 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1414&Itemid=931 |title=Policy on Research for Health |publisher=Pan American Health Organization |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref>

On 10 December 2013, a new WHO database, known as [[MiNDbank]], went online. The database was launched on [[Human Rights Day]], and is part of WHO's QualityRights initiative, which aims to end human rights violations against people with mental health conditions. The new database presents a great deal of information about mental health, substance abuse, disability, human rights, and the different policies, strategies, laws, and service standards being implemented in different countries.<ref name=MiNDbank>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2013/mindbank-20131210/en/ |title=Mental health information at your fingertips – WHO launches the MiNDbank |publisher=Who.int |date=10 December 2013 |accessdate=29 March 2014}}</ref> It also contains important international documents and information. The database allows visitors to access the health information of WHO member states and other partners. Users can review policies, laws, and strategies and search for the best practices and success stories in the field of mental health.<ref name="MiNDbank"/>

The WHO regularly publishes a ''[[World Health Report]]'', its leading publication, including an expert assessment of a specific [[global health]] topic.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=WHO |url=http://www.who.int/whr/en/index.html |title=The World Health Report |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref> Other publications of WHO include the ''[[Bulletin of the World Health Organization]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/bulletin/en/ |title=Bulletin of the World Health Organization |publisher=WHO |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref> the ''[[Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal]]'' (overseen by EMRO),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emro.who.int/emhj.htm |title=Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal |publisher=WHO |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref> the ''[[Human Resources for Health]]'' (published in collaboration with [[BioMed Central]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.human-resources-health.com/ |title=Human Resources for Health |publisher=BioMed Central |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref> and the ''[[Pan American Journal of Public Health]]'' (overseen by PAHO/AMRO).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://new.paho.org/journal/ |title=Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública/Pan American Journal of Public Health |publisher=Pan American Health Organization |accessdate=27 March 2012}}</ref>

In 2016, the World Health Organization drafted a global health sector strategy on HIV. In the draft, the World Health Organization outlines its commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic by the year 2030<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.who.int/hiv/strategy2016-2021/ghss-hiv/en/|title=Global health sector strategy on HIV, 2016–2021|website=World Health Organization|access-date=19 September 2018}}</ref> with interim targets for the year 2020. In order to make achievements towards these targets, the draft lists actions that countries and the WHO can take, such as a commitment to universal health coverage, medical accessibility, prevention and eradication of disease, and efforts to educate the public. Some notable points made in the draft include addressing gender inequity where females are nearly twice as likely as men to get infected with HIV and tailoring resources to mobilized regions where the health system may be compromised due to natural disasters, etc. Among the points made, it seems clear that although the prevalence of HIV transmission is declining, there is still a need for resources, health education, and global efforts to end this epidemic. 

==Structure==
The World Health Organization is a member of the [[United Nations Development Group]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.undg.org/index.cfm?P=13 |title=UNDG Members |publisher=Undg.org |accessdate=9 February 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511144047/http://www.undg.org/index.cfm?P=13 |archivedate=11 May 2011 |df= }}</ref>

===Membership===
[[File:World Health Organization membership status map.png|thumb|right|Countries by World Health Organization membership status]]
{{As of|2016}}, the WHO has 194 member states: all of them Member States of the United Nations except for the [[Cook Islands]] and [[Niue]].<ref name="countries">{{cite web |publisher=WHO |url=http://www.who.int/countries/en/ |title=Countries |accessdate=8 September 2015}}</ref> (A state becomes a full member of WHO by ratifying the treaty known as the Constitution of the World Health Organization.) {{As of|2013}}, it also had two associate members, Puerto Rico and [[Tokelau]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Appendix 1, Members of the World Health Organization (at 31&nbsp;May 2009)|url=http://apps.who.int/gb/bd/PDF/bd47/EN/members-en.pdf|publisher=World Health Organization|accessdate=18 November 2010}}</ref> Several other countries have been granted [[observer status]]. [[State of Palestine|Palestine]] is an observer as a "national liberation movement" recognized by the [[League of Arab States]] under United Nations Resolution 3118. The [[Holy See]] also attends as an observer, as does the [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta|Order of Malta]].<ref name="observerWHO">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xou_nD9jJF0C |title=World Health Organization |first1=Gian Luca |last1=Burci |first2=Claude-Henri  |last2=Vignes |publisher= Kluwer Law International |year=2004 |isbn=978-90-411-2273-5 |ref=harv}}</ref> In 2010, Taiwan was invited under the name of "Republic of China".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xitem=103148&ctnode=427&mp=9 |title=Taiwan Today, Taiwan delegation to participate in WHA |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref>

WHO Member States appoint delegations to the [[World Health Assembly]], WHO's supreme decision-making body. All UN Member States are eligible for WHO membership, and, according to the WHO website, "other countries may be admitted as members when their application has been approved by a simple majority vote of the World Health Assembly".<ref name="countries"/> Liechtenstein is currently the only UN member not in the WHO membership.The World Health Assembly is attended by delegations from all Member States, and determines the policies of the Organization.

The Executive Board is composed of members technically qualified in health, and gives effect to the decisions and policies of the Health Assembly.
In addition, the UN observer organizations [[International Committee of the Red Cross]] and [[International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies]] have entered into "official relations" with WHO and are invited as observers. In the [[World Health Assembly]] they are seated alongside the other NGOs.<ref name="observerWHO"/>

===World Health Assembly and Executive Board===
[[File:World Health Organisation building south face 2.jpg|thumb|WHO Headquarters in Geneva]]
The [[World Health Assembly]] (WHA) is the legislative and supreme body of WHO. Based in Geneva, it typically meets yearly in May. It appoints the Director-General every five years and votes on matters of policy and finance of WHO, including the proposed budget. It also reviews reports of the Executive Board and decides whether there are areas of work requiring further examination. The Assembly elects 34 members, technically qualified in the field of health, to the Executive Board for three-year terms. The main functions of the Board are to carry out the decisions and policies of the Assembly, to advise it and to facilitate its work.<ref name="governance">{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/governance/en/index.html |title=Governance |publisher=WHO |accessdate=5 February 2012}}</ref> The current chairman of the executive board is Dr. [[Assad Hafeez]].

===Regional offices===
[[File:World Health Organisation regional offices.svg|thumb|Map of the WHO's Regional offices and their respective operating regions.
{{legend|#1a80e6|Africa; HQ: [[Brazzaville]], Republic of Congo}}
{{legend|#7ae6ce|Western Pacific; HQ: [[Manila]], Philippines}}
{{legend|#f2c50d|Eastern [[Mediterranean]]; HQ: [[Cairo]], Egypt}}
{{legend|#15ea15|South East Asia; HQ: New Delhi, India}}
{{legend|#c018e1|Europe; HQ: [[Copenhagen]], Denmark}}
{{legend|#f20d0d|Americas; HQ: Washington D.C., USA}}
]]

The regional divisions of WHO were created between 1949 and 1952, and are based on article 44 of the WHO's constitution, which allowed the WHO to "establish a [single] regional organization to meet the special needs of [each defined] area". Many decisions are made at regional level, including important discussions over WHO's budget, and in deciding the members of the next assembly, which are designated by the regions.<ref name="burci53">{{harvnb|Burci|Vignes|2004|pages=53–57}}.</ref>

Each region has a Regional Committee, which generally meets once a year, normally in the autumn. Representatives attend from each member or associative member in each region, including those states that are not fully recognized. For example, [[State of Palestine|Palestine]] attends meetings of the [[Eastern Mediterranean Regional office of World Health Organization|Eastern Mediterranean Regional office]]. Each region also has a regional office.<ref name="burci53"/> Each Regional Office is headed by a Regional Director, who is elected by the Regional Committee. The Board must approve such appointments, although as of 2004, it had never over-ruled the preference of a regional committee. The exact role of the board in the process has been a subject of debate, but the practical effect has always been small.<ref name="burci53"/> Since 1999, Regional Directors serve for a once-renewable five-year term, and typically take their position on 1 February.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/gb/archive/pdf_files/WHA52/ew2.pdf|title=A year of change: Reports of the Executive Board on its 102nd and 103rd sessions|website=|publisher=WHO|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011220426/http://apps.who.int/gb/archive/pdf_files/WHA52/ew2.pdf|archive-date=11 October 2017|dead-url=no|accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref>

Each Regional Committee of the WHO consists of all the Health Department heads, in all the governments of the countries that constitute the Region. Aside from electing the Regional Director, the Regional Committee is also in charge of setting the guidelines for the implementation, within the region, of the health and other policies adopted by the [[World Health Assembly]]. The Regional Committee also serves as a progress review board for the actions of WHO within the Region.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

The Regional Director is effectively the head of WHO for his or her Region. The RD manages and/or supervises a staff of health and other experts at the regional offices and in specialized centres. The RD is also the direct supervising authority—concomitantly with the WHO Director-General—of all the heads of WHO country offices, known as WHO Representatives, within the Region.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Regional Offices of WHO
|-
!width=13%|Region
!width=17%|Headquarters
!Notes
!Website
|-
|Africa
|[[Brazzaville]], Republic of Congo
|AFRO includes most of Africa, with the exception of Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Tunisia, Libya, Somalia and Morocco (all fall under EMRO).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.who.int/about/regions/afro/en/index.html |title=Regional Office for Africa |publisher=WHO |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref> The Regional Director is Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, a Botswanan national. (Tenure: -Present).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.afro.who.int/regional-director/biography|title=AFRO Regional Director Biography {{!}} WHO|website=www.afro.who.int|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611060217/http://www.afro.who.int/regional-director/biography|archive-date=11 June 2018|dead-url=no|access-date=11 June 2018}}</ref>
|[http://www.afro.who.int AFRO]
|-
|Europe
|[[Copenhagen]], Denmark.
|EURO includes all of Europe (except Liechtenstein) Israel, and all of the former [[Soviet Union|USSR]].<ref name="euro">{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/about/regions/euro/en/index.html|title=Regional Office for Europe|publisher=WHO|accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref> The Regional Director is Dr. Zsuzsanna Jakab, a Hungarian national (Tenure: 2010 – present).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.euro.who.int/en/about-us/regional-director/biography|title=EURO Regional Director Biography {{!}} WHO|date=11 June 2018|website=www.euro.who.int|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611053534/http://www.euro.who.int/en/about-us/regional-director/biography|archive-date=11 June 2018|dead-url=no|access-date=11 June 2018}}</ref>
|[http://www.euro.who.int EURO]
|-
|South-East Asia
|New Delhi, India
|[[Democratic People's Republic of Korea|North Korea]] is served by SEARO.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.who.int/about/regions/searo/en/index.html |title=Regional Office for South-East Asia |publisher=WHO |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref> The Regional Director is Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, an Indian national (Tenure: 2014 – present).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.searo.who.int/regional_director/en/|title=SEARO Regional Director Biography {{!}} WHO|website=www.searo.who.int|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611061702/http://www.searo.who.int/regional_director/en/|archive-date=11 June 2018|dead-url=no|access-date=11 June 2018}}</ref>
|[http://www.searo.who.int SEARO]
|-
|Eastern Mediterranean
|[[Cairo]], Egypt
|The [[Eastern Mediterranean Regional office of World Health Organization|Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office]] serves the countries of Africa that are not included in AFRO, as well as all countries in the Middle East except for Israel. Pakistan is served by EMRO.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.who.int/about/regions/emro/en/index.html |title=Regional Office for Eastern Mediterranean |publisher=WHO |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref> The Regional Director is Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, an Omani national (Tenure: 2018 – present).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.emro.who.int/about-who/regional-director/index.html|title=EMRO Regional Director Biography {{!}} WHO|website=www.emro.who.int|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611062729/http://www.emro.who.int/about-who/regional-director/index.html|archive-date=11 June 2018|dead-url=no|access-date=11 June 2018}}</ref>
|[http://www.emro.who.int EMRO]
|-
|Western Pacific
|[[Manila]], Philippines.
|WPRO covers all the Asian countries not served by SEARO and EMRO, and all the countries in Oceania. South Korea is served by WPRO.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.who.int/about/regions/wpro/en/index.html |title=Regional Office for the Western Pacific |publisher=WHO |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref> The Regional Director is Dr. Shin Young-soo, a South Korean national (Tenure: 2009 – present).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wpro.who.int/regional_director/en/|title=WPRO Regional Director Biography|website=wpro.who.int|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611065242/http://www.wpro.who.int/regional_director/en/|archive-date=11 June 2018|dead-url=no|access-date=11 June 2018}}</ref>
|[http://www.wpro.who.int WPRO]
|-
|The Americas
|Washington D.C., USA.
| Also known as the [[Pan American Health Organization]] (PAHO), and covers the Americas.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.who.int/about/regions/amro/en/index.html |title=Regional Office for the Americas |publisher=WHO |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref> The WHO Regional Director is Dr. [[Carissa F. Etienne]], a Dominican national (Tenure: 2013 – present).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dg/regional_directors/etienne/en/|title=AMRO Reigional Director Biography {{!}} WHO|website=World Health Organization|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611081644/http://www.who.int/dg/regional_directors/etienne/en/|archive-date=11 June 2018|dead-url=yes|access-date=11 June 2018}}</ref>
|[http://www.paho.org AMRO]
|}

===Director-General===
{|class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:10px; width:30%;"
|+Directors-General of the WHO<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/dg/former/en/|title=Former Directors-General|website=who.int|publisher=WHO|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611023900/http://www.who.int/dg/former/en/|archive-date=11 June 2018|dead-url=no|accessdate=5 February 2012}}</ref>
|-
!Name and Nationality
!Years of tenure
|-
|{{flagicon|Ethiopia}} [[Tedros Adhanom]]||2017 – present
|-
|{{flagicon|Hong Kong}} [[Margaret Chan]] ||2007–2017
|-
|{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Anders Nordström]]* ||2006–2007
|-
|{{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Lee Jong-wook]] ||2003–2006
|-
|{{flagicon|Norway}} [[Gro Harlem Brundtland]] ||1998–2003
|-
|{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Hiroshi Nakajima]] ||1988–1998
|-
|{{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Halfdan T. Mahler]] ||1973–1988
|-
|{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Marcolino Gomes Candau]] ||1953–1973
|-
|{{flagicon|Canada}} [[Brock Chisholm]] ||1948–1953
|-
|colspan=2|<small>*Appointed acting Director-General following the death of Lee Jong-wook while in office</small>
|}
The head of the organization is the Director-General, elected by the [[World Health Assembly]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/governance/en/|title=WHO Governance|publisher=WHO}}</ref> The term lasts for 5 years, and Director-Generals are typically appointed in May, when the Assembly meets. The current Director-General is Dr. [[Tedros Adhanom]] Ghebreyesus, who was appointed on 1 July 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/director-general-elect/en/|title=World Health Assembly elects Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as new WHO Director-General|publisher=WHO}}</ref>

=== Employees ===
The WHO employs 8,500 people in 147 countries.<ref>{{cite web|title=Employment: who we are |url= http://www.who.int/employment/about_who/en/ |publisher=WHO |accessdate=5 February 2012}}</ref> In support of the principle of a tobacco-free work environment, the WHO does not recruit cigarette smokers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Employment: who we need|url=http://www.who.int/employment/who_we_need/en/|publisher=WHO |accessdate=5 February 2012}}</ref> The organization has previously instigated the [[Framework Convention on Tobacco Control]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/fctc/en/index.html |title=Framework Convention on Tobacco Control |publisher=WHO |accessdate=5 February 2012}}</ref>

=== Goodwill Ambassadors ===
The WHO operates "[[World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador|Goodwill Ambassadors]]"; members of the arts, sports, or other fields of public life aimed at drawing attention to WHO's initiatives and projects. There are currently five Goodwill Ambassadors ([[Jet Li]], [[Nancy Brinker]], [[Peng Liyuan]], [[Yohei Sasakawa]] and the [[Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra]]) and a further ambassador associated with a partnership project ([[Craig David]]).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.who.int/goodwill_ambassadors/en/ |title=Goodwill Ambassador |publisher=WHO |accessdate=5 February 2012}}</ref>

===Country and liaison offices===
The World Health Organization operates 150 country offices in six different regions.<ref name="peopleandoffices">{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/about/structure/en/index.html |title=WHO its people and offices |publisher=WHO |date=29 March 2012 |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> It also operates several liaison offices, including those with the [[European Union]], United Nations and a single office covering the [[World Bank]] and [[International Monetary Fund]]. It also operates the [[International Agency for Research on Cancer]] in [[Lyon]], France, and the [[WHO Centre for Health Development]] in [[Kobe]], Japan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/about/who_offices/en/index.html |title=WHO liaison and other offices |publisher=WHO |accessdate=29 March 2012}}</ref> Additional offices include those in [[Pristina]]; the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]]; the US-Mexico Border Field Office in [[El Paso, Texas|El Paso]]; the Office of the Caribbean Program Coordination in Barbados; and the Northern Micronesia office.<ref name="detailedinformation">{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/countryfocus/country_offices/details/en/index.html |title=Detailed information of WHO offices in countries, territories and areas |publisher=WHO |accessdate=29 March 2012}}</ref> There will generally be one WHO country office in the capital, occasionally accompanied by satellite-offices in the provinces or sub-regions of the country in question.

The country office is headed by a WHO Representative (WR). {{As of|2010}}, the only WHO Representative outside Europe to be a national of that country was for the [[Libyan Arab Jamahiriya]] ("Libya"); all other staff were international. WHO Representatives in the Region termed the Americas are referred to as PAHO/WHO Representatives. In Europe, WHO Representatives also serve as Head of Country Office, and are nationals with the exception of Serbia; there are also Heads of Country Office in Albania, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.<ref name="detailedinformation"/> The WR is member of the [[United Nations System|UN system]] country team which is coordinated by the UN System [[Resident Coordinator]].

The country office consists of the WR, and several health and other experts, both foreign and local, as well as the necessary support staff.<ref name="peopleandoffices" /> The main functions of WHO country offices include being the primary adviser of that country's government in matters of health and pharmaceutical policies.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.euro.who.int/en/where-we-work/member-states/hungary/who-country-office |title = WHO Country Office (Hungary) |publisher=WHO EURO |accessdate=31 March 2012}}</ref>

=== Financing and partnerships ===
The WHO is financed by contributions from member states and outside donors. {{As of|2012}}, the largest annual assessed contributions from member states came from the United States ($110&nbsp;million), Japan ($58&nbsp;million), Germany ($37&nbsp;million), United Kingdom ($31&nbsp;million) and France ($31&nbsp;million).<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.who.int/about/resources_planning/2012_2013_AC_summary.pdf |title = Assessed Contributions payable by Member States and Associate Members – 2012–2013 |publisher=WHO |format = PDF |accessdate=26 March 2012}}</ref> The combined 2012–2013 budget has proposed a total expenditure of $3,959&nbsp;million, of which $944&nbsp;million (24%) will come from assessed contributions. This represented a significant fall in outlay compared to the previous 2009–2010 budget, adjusting to take account of previous underspends. Assessed contributions were kept the same. Voluntary contributions will account for $3,015&nbsp;million (76%), of which $800&nbsp;million is regarded as highly or moderately flexible funding, with the remainder tied to particular programmes or objectives.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://whqlibdoc.who.int/pb/2012-2013/PB_2012%E2%80%932013_eng.pdf |title=Programme Budget, 2012–2013|publisher=WHO |format=PDF |accessdate=26 March 2012 |pages=10, 15–16}}</ref>

In recent years, the WHO's work has involved increasing collaboration with external bodies.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.who.int/civilsociety/documents/en/RevreportE.pdf |title=WHO's interactions with Civil Society and Nongovernmental Organizations |website=WHO/CSI/2002/WP6 |publisher=WHO |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104615/http://www.who.int/civilsociety/documents/en/RevreportE.pdf|archivedate=4 March 2016|year=2002 |accessdate=31 March 2012 |page=2}}</ref> {{As of|2002}}, a total of 473 non-governmental organizations (NGO) had some form of partnership with WHO. There were 189 partnerships with international NGOs in formal "official relations" – the rest being considered informal in character.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.who.int/civilsociety/documents/en/RevreportE.pdf |title=WHO's interactions with Civil Society and Nongovernmental Organizations |website=WHO/CSI/2002/WP6 |publisher=WHO |year=2002 |accessdate=31 March 2012 |page=10 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104615/http://www.who.int/civilsociety/documents/en/RevreportE.pdf |archivedate=4 March 2016  }}</ref> Partners include the [[Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.gatesfoundation.org/livingproofproject/Pages/gavi.aspx |title=Living Proof Project: Partner Profile |publisher=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations |accessdate=31 March 2012}}</ref> and the [[Rockefeller Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/what-we-do/current-work/transforming-health-systems/grants-grantees/world-health-oganizations-alliance |title=World Health Organization's Alliance for Health Systems and Policy Research |publisher=Rockefeller Foundation |accessdate=31 March 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710062352/https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/what-we-do/current-work/transforming-health-systems/grants-grantees/world-health-oganizations-alliance|archivedate=10 July 2012}}</ref>

==Controversies==

=== IAEA – Agreement WHA 12–40 ===
[[File:Alexei Yablokov, Rosa Goncharova, Vassili Nesterenko.jpg|thumb|right|[[Alexey Yablokov]] (left) and [[Vassili Nesterenko]] (farthest right) protesting in front of the World Health Organization headquarters in [[Geneva]], Switzerland in 2008.]]
[[File:Devant OMS 5.jpg|thumb|right|Demonstration on [[Chernobyl disaster]] day near WHO in [[Geneva]]]]
In 1959, the WHO signed Agreement WHA 12–40 with the [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] (IAEA). A selective reading of this document (clause 3) can result in the understanding that the IAEA is able to prevent the WHO from conducting research or work on some areas, as seen hereafter. The agreement states here that the WHO recognizes the IAEA as having responsibility for peaceful nuclear energy without prejudice to the roles of the WHO of promoting health. However, the following paragraph adds that 

"whenever either organization proposes to initiate a programme or activity on a subject in which the other organization has or may have a substantial interest, the first party shall consult the other with a view to adjusting the matter by mutual agreement".<ref>{{cite web |last=World Health Organization|title=Agreements with Other Intergovernmental Organizations |url = http://apps.who.int/gb/bd/PDF/bd47/EN/agreements-with-other-inter-en.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref> 

The nature of this statement has led some pressure groups and activists (including [[Women in Europe for a Common Future]]) to claim that the WHO is restricted in its ability to investigate the [[Acute radiation syndrome|effects on human health of radiation]] caused by the use of [[nuclear power]] and the continuing effects of [[Lists of nuclear disasters and radioactive incidents|nuclear disasters]] in [[Chernobyl disaster|Chernobyl]] and [[Fukushima nuclear disaster|Fukushima]]. They believe WHO must regain what they see as "independence".<ref>{{cite web|last=Independence for WHO|title=Appeal by Health Professionals for Independence of the World Health Organization|url=http://www.ippnw-europe.org/commonFiles/pdfs/Atomenergie/appeal_healthprofessionals.pdf|accessdate=19 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Women in Europe for a Common Future|title=Open letter on the WHO/IAEA Agreement of 1959|url=http://www.wecf.eu/download/2010/04/letterIAEA-WHO.pdf|accessdate=19 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.activistmagazine.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=703 |title=World Health Organization Accomodates <nowiki>[sic]</nowiki> Atomic Agency |date=3 June 2007 |work=Activist Magazine |accessdate=27 March 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928232353/http://www.activistmagazine.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=703 |archivedate=28 September 2007  }}</ref> However as pointed out by Foreman<ref>M.R.StJ. Foreman, Cogent Chemistry, Reactor accident chemistry an update, 2018, 
10.1080/23312009.2018.1450944, https://www.cogentoa.com/article/10.1080/23312009.2018.1450944</ref> in clause 2 it states.

“2. In particular, and in accordance with the Constitution of the World Health Organization and the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency and its agreement with the United Nations together with the exchange of letters related thereto, and taking into account the respective co-ordinating responsibilities of both organizations, it is recognized by the World Health Organization that the International Atomic Energy Agency has the primary responsibility for encouraging, assisting and co- ordinating research and development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses throughout the world without prejudice to the right of the World Health Organization to concern itself with promoting, developing, assisting and co-ordinating international health work, including research, in all its aspects.”

Clearly suggesting that the WHO is free to do as it sees fit on nuclear, radiation and other matters which relate to health.

===Roman Catholic Church and AIDS===
{{Main|Roman Catholic Church and AIDS}}
In 2003, the WHO denounced the [[Roman Curia]]'s health department's opposition to the use of [[condom]]s, saying: "These incorrect statements about condoms and HIV are dangerous when we are facing a global pandemic which has already killed more than 20&nbsp;million people, and currently affects at least 42&nbsp;million."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/09/aids |title=Vatican: condoms don't stop Aids |work=The Guardian |date=9 October 2003}}</ref> {{As of|2009}}, the [[Catholic Church]] remains opposed to increasing the use of contraception to combat HIV/AIDS.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/17/pope-africa-condoms-aids |title=Pope claims condoms could make African Aids crisis worse |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=17 March 2009 |accessdate=31 March 2012}}</ref> At the time, the World Health Assembly President, Guyana's Health Minister [[Leslie Ramsammy]], has condemned [[Pope Benedict XVI|Pope Benedict's]] opposition to contraception, saying he was trying to "create confusion" and "impede" proven strategies in the battle against the disease.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hsk4RI5cPLSsvXTY9ZEyWSMrVElg |title=World Health Assembly: Pope Benedict "wrong" |publisher=Google News|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=21 March 2009 |accessdate=31 March 2012}}</ref>

=== Intermittent preventive therapy ===
The aggressive support of the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]] for [[intermittent preventive therapy]] of [[malaria]] triggered a memo from the former WHO malaria chief Akira Kochi.<ref>{{cite web|last=McNeil |first=Donald G. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/16/science/16malaria.html |title=Gates Foundation's Influence Criticized |website=The New York Times |date=16 February 2008 |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref>

=== Diet and sugar intake ===
Some of the research undertaken or supported by WHO to determine how people's lifestyles and environments are influencing whether they live in better or worse health can be controversial, as illustrated by a 2003 joint WHO/FAO report on nutrition and the prevention of chronic [[non-communicable disease]],<ref>Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Consultation. ''Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases''. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2003 (WHO Technical Report Series 916).</ref> which recommended that [[free sugars]] should form no more than 10% of a [[healthy diet]]. The report led to lobbying by the [[sugar industry]] against the recommendation, to which the WHO/FAO responded by including in the report this statement: "The Consultation recognized that a population goal for free sugars of less than 10% of total energy is controversial". It also stood by its recommendation based upon its own analysis of scientific studies.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Jim |last=Mann |url=http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/81/8/editorial2.pdf |format=pdf |title=Sugar revisited – again |journal=Bulletin of the World Health Organization |year=2003 |volume=81 |number=8}}</ref> In 2014, WHO reduced recommended free sugars levels by half and said that free sugars should make up no more than 5% of a healthy diet.<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC News: WHO: Daily sugar intake 'should be halved'|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-26449497}}</ref>

===2009 swine flu pandemic===
{{Main|2009 flu pandemic}}
In 2007, the WHO organized work on pandemic [[influenza vaccine]] development through [[clinical trial]]s in collaboration with many experts and health officials.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.who.int/immunization/diseases/influenza/clinical_evaluation_tables/en/|title=Tables on clinical evaluation of influenza vaccines|website=World Health Organization|access-date=13 December 2017}}</ref> A pandemic involving the [[Pandemic H1N1/09 virus|H1N1 influenza virus]] was declared by the then Director-General [[Margaret Chan]] in April 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2009/06/who-declares-pandemic-novel-h1n1-virus|title=WHO declares pandemic of novel H1N1 virus|work=CIDRAP|access-date=13 December 2017}}</ref> Margret Chan declared in 2010 that the H1N1 has moved into the post-pandemic period.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/|title=Pandemic (H1N1) 2009|website=World Health Organization|access-date=13 December 2017}}</ref>

By the post-pandemic period critics claimed the WHO had exaggerated the danger, spreading "fear and confusion" rather than "immediate information".<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36421914/ ''WHO admits errors in handling flu pandemic: Agency accused of overplaying danger of the virus as it swept the globe.''] Posted by msnbc.com</ref> Industry experts countered that the 2009 pandemic had led to "unprecedented collaboration between global health authorities, scientists and manufacturers, resulting in the most comprehensive pandemic response ever undertaken, with a number of vaccines approved for use three months after the pandemic declaration. This response was only possible because of the extensive preparations undertaken during the last decade".<ref>{{cite journal | author = Abelina A | year = 2011 | title = Lessons from pandemic influenza A(H1N1) The research-based vaccine industry's perspective | url = http://www.evm-vaccines.org/IMG/pdf/Lessons_from_pandemic_influenza.pdf | format = PDF | journal = Vaccine | volume = 29 | issue =  6| pages = 1135–1138 | doi = 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.11.042 | display-authors = etal | pmid = 21115061 | deadurl = yes | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20111009120413/http://www.evm-vaccines.org/IMG/pdf/Lessons_from_pandemic_influenza.pdf | archivedate = 9 October 2011 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

===2013–2016 Ebola outbreak and reform efforts===
Following the [[2014 Ebola outbreak]] in West Africa, the organization was heavily criticized for its bureaucracy, insufficient financing, regional structure, and staffing profile.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hoffman|first1=SJ|last2=Røttingen|first2=JA|title=Split WHO in two: strengthening political decision-making and securing independent scientific advice|journal=Public Health Journal|date=February 2014|volume=128|issue=2|pages=188–194|doi=10.1016/j.puhe.2013.08.021|pmid=24434035|url=http://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/S0033-3506(13)00291-6/pdf|accessdate=8 July 2015}}</ref>

An internal WHO report on the Ebola response pointed to underfunding and the lack of "core capacity" in health systems in developing countries as the primary weaknesses of the existing system.  At the annual World Health Assembly in 2015, Director-General Margaret Chan announced a $100&nbsp;million Contingency Fund for rapid response to future emergencies,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA69/A69_21-en.pdf|title=Report of the Review Committee on the Role of the International Health Regulations (2005) in the Ebola Outbreak and Response|date=13 May 2016|accessdate=27 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/05/21/408289115/who-calls-for-100-million-emergency-fund-doctor-swat-team|title=WHO Calls For $100 Million Emergency Fund, Doctor 'SWAT Team'}}</ref> of which it had received $26.9&nbsp;million by April 2016 (for 2017 disbursement).  WHO has budgeted an additional $494&nbsp;million for its Health Emergencies Programme in 2016–17, for which it had received $140&nbsp;million by April 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA69/A69_30-en.pdf|title=Reform of WHO's work in health emergency management / WHO Health Emergencies Programme|date=5 May 2016|accessdate=27 May 2016}}</ref>

The program was aimed at rebuilding WHO capacity for direct action, which critics said had been lost due to budget cuts in the previous decade that had left the organization in an advisory role dependent on member states for on-the-ground activities.  In comparison, billions of dollars have been spent by developed countries on the 2013–2016 Ebola epidemic and 2015–16 Zika epidemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/05/25/479228380/who-aims-to-reform-itself-but-health-experts-arent-yet-impressed|title=WHO Aims To Reform Itself But Health Experts Aren't Yet Impressed}}</ref>

===FCTC implementation database===
The WHO has a Framework Convention on Tobacco implementation database which is one of the only mechanisms to help enforce compliance with the FCTC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.who.int/fctc/reporting/database |title=Archived copy |accessdate=13 August 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220023429/http://apps.who.int/fctc/reporting/database/ |archivedate=20 February 2011  }}</ref> However, there have been reports of numerous discrepancies between it and national implementation reports on which it was built. As researchers Hoffman and Rizvi report "As of July 4, 2012, 361 (32·7%) of 1104 countries' responses were misreported: 33 (3·0%) were clear errors (eg, database indicated “yes” when report indicated “no”), 270 (24·5%) were missing despite countries having submitted responses, and 58 (5·3%) were, in our opinion, misinterpreted by WHO staff".<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Hoffman S.J. |author2=Rizvi Z. | year = 2012 | title = WHO's Undermining Tobacco Control | journal = The Lancet | volume = 380 | issue = 9843| pages = 727–728 | doi = 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61402-0 | pmid=22920746}}</ref>

=== IARC controversies ===
{{Further|International Agency for Research on Cancer}}
The World Health Organization sub-department, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), has been criticized for the way it analyses the tendency of certain substances and activities to cause cancer and for having a politically motivated bias when it selects studies for its analysis. Ed Yong, a British science journalist, has criticized the agency and its "confusing" category system for misleading the public.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/10/why-is-the-world-health-organization-so-bad-at-communicating-cancer-risk/412468/|title=Beefing With the World Health Organization's Cancer Warnings|last=Yong|first=Ed|work=The Atlantic|access-date=29 April 2017}}</ref> Marcel Kuntz, a French director of research at the&nbsp;[[Centre national de la recherche scientifique|French National Centre for Scientific Research]], criticized the agency for its classification of potentially carcinogenic substances. He claimed that this classification did not take into account the extent of exposure: for example, red meat is qualified as probably carcinogenic, but the quantity of consumed red meat at which it could become dangerous is not specified.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.slate.fr/story/126602/pourquoi-fausses-sciences-gouvernent-monde|title=Pourquoi les fausses sciences gouvernent le monde (et pourquoi il faut mettre un terme à ce règne)|work=Slate|access-date=29 April 2017|language=fr-FR}}</ref>

Controversies have erupted multiple times when the IARC has classified many things as Class 2a (probable carcinogens), including cell phone signals, [[glyphosate]], drinking hot beverages, and working as a barber.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-cancer-iarc-idUSKCN1261WS|title=Exclusive: U.S. lawmakers to investigate funding of WHO cancer agency|last=Kelland|first=Kate|date=6 October 2016|agency=Reuters|location=London, U.K.|access-date=28 November 2016}}</ref>

===Block of Taiwanese participation===
Political pressure from China has led to Taiwan being barred from membership of the WHO and other UN-affiliated organizations, and in both 2017 and 2018 the WHO refused to allow Taiwanese delegates to attend the [[World Health Assembly|WHO annual assembly]].<ref>{{cite web|title=China warns Taiwan of continued lockout from WHO assembly|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/china-warns-taiwan-of-continued-lockout-from-who-assembly/2017/05/21/0a486d66-3e58-11e7-b29f-f40ffced2ddb_story.html|website=The Washington Post|accessdate=26 May 2017|date=21 May 2017}}</ref> On multiple occasions Taiwanese journalists have been denied access to report on the assembly.<ref>{{cite web|title=WHO Bows to China Pressure, Contravenes Human Rights in Refusing Taiwan Media|url=https://international.thenewslens.com/article/95982|website=international.thenewslens.com|accessdate=22 May 2018|date=18 May 2018}}</ref>

In May 2018, 172 members of the [[United States House of Representatives]] wrote to the Director General of the World Health Organization to argue for Taiwan's inclusion as an observer at the WHA.<ref>{{cite web|title=172 Members Push for Taiwan's Participation at World Health Assembly|url=https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/press-release/172-members-push-for-taiwans-participation-at-world-health-assembly/|website=foreignaffairs.house.gov|accessdate=22 May 2018|date=16 May 2018}}</ref>

===Travel expenses===
According to [[Associated Press|The Associated Press]], the WHO routinely spends about $200&nbsp;million a year on travel expenses, more than it spends to tackle mental health problems, [[HIV/AIDS]], [[Tuberculosis]] and [[Malaria]] combined. In 2016, [[Margaret Chan]], Director-General of WHO from November 2006 to June 2017,<ref>{{cite web|title=World Health Assembly elects Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as new WHO Director-General|url=http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/director-general-elect/en/|publisher=World Health Organization|accessdate=25 May 2017|location=Geneva|date=23 May 2017}}</ref> stayed in a $1000 per night hotel room while visiting West Africa.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/1cf4791dc5c14b9299e0f532c75f63b2/AP-Exclusive:-Health-agency-spends-more-on-travel-than-AIDS| title=Health agency spends more on travel than AIDS| first=Maria| last=Cheng| date=22 May 2017| accessdate=27 June 2017| agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

=== Robert Mugabe's role as a goodwill ambassador ===
On 21 October 2017, the Director General [[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus]] appointed former Zimbabwean president [[Robert Mugabe]] as a [[World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador|WHO Goodwill Ambassador]] to help promote the fight against non-communicable diseases. The appointment address praised Mugabe for his commitment to public health in Zimbabwe.

The appointment attracted widespread condemnation and criticism in WHO member states and international organizations due to Robert Mugabe's poor record on human rights and presiding over a decline in Zimbabwe's public health.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41702662|title=Robert Mugabe's WHO appointment condemned as 'an insult'|date=21 October 2017|work=''BBC News''|access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://theglobeandmail.com/news/world/shock-as-zimbabwes-mugabe-named-who-goodwill-ambassador/article36681266/ | title=WHO chief 'rethinking' appointment of Zimbabwe's Mugabe as 'goodwill ambassador' after widespread condemnation | work=The Globe and Mail | date=21 October 2017 | agency=Associated Press | accessdate=21 October 2017}}</ref> Due to the outcry, the following day the appointment was revoked.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41713919 | title=WHO cancels Robert Mugabe goodwill ambassador role |work=''BBC News''| date=22 October 2017 |  accessdate=22 October 2017}}</ref>

== World headquarters ==
The seat of the organization is in [[Geneva]], Switzerland. It was designed by Swiss architect Jean Tschumi and inaugurated in 1966.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.who.int/about/structure/modernizing-who-headquarters.pdf|title=MODERNIZING THE WHO HEADQUARTERS IN GENEVA|website=who.int|format=PDF}}</ref> In 2017, the organization launched an international competition to redesign and extend its headquarters.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/home/design-contest-opens-for-world-health-organisation-headquarters/8664906.article|title=Design contest opens for World Health Organisation headquarters|work=Architects Journal|access-date=13 December 2017}}</ref>

===Early views===
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Stamps of Germany (DDR) 1966, MiNr 1178.jpg|alt2=|On a 1966 [[Deutsche Post of the GDR|stamp of the German Democratic Republic]]
File:Stairwell_in_World_Health_Organization_headquarters,_Geneva,_1969.jpg|alt3=|[[Stairwell]], 1969
File:Patio_of_World_Health_Organization_headquarters_building,_1969.jpg|alt4=|Internal [[courtyard]], 1969
File:Reflecting_pool_and_women_walking_at_World_Health_Organization,_Geneva,_1969.jpg|alt5=|[[Reflecting pool]], 1969
File:Women sunning selves at Geneva headquarters of World Health Organization, 1969.jpg|alt6=|Exterior, 1969
</gallery>

===Views 2013===
<gallery mode="packed">
File:WHO HQ main building, Geneva from Southwest.JPG |WHO Headquarters from Southwest
File:WHO HQ main building, Geneva from South.JPG |WHO Headquarters from South
File:WHO HQ main building, Geneva, from East.JPG |WHO Headquarters from East
File:WHO HQ main building, Geneva, from North.JPG|WHO Headquarters from North
File:WHO HQ main building, Geneva, from West.JPG |WHO Headquarters from West
File:WHO HQ main entrance, Geneva.JPG            |WHO Headquarters main entrance
File:The entrance hall WHO HQ, Geneva.JPG        |WHO Headquarters entrance hall
File:World Health Organization Executive Board Room.JPG |WHO Headquarters main conference room
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Global health]]
* [[Global Mental Health]]
* [[Healthy city]] / [[Alliance for Healthy Cities]], an international alliance
* [[Health For All]]
* [[Health promotion]]
* [[Health Sciences Online]], virtual learning resources
* [[High 5s Project]], a patient safety collaboration
* [[International Health Partnership]]
* [[International Labour Organization]]
* [[List of most polluted cities in the world by particulate matter concentration]]
* [[Open Learning for Development]], virtual learning resources
* [[Public health]]
* [[Sustainable Development]]
* [[The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health]]
* [[Timeline of global health]]
* [[Tropical disease]]
* [[United Nations Interagency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of NCDs]]
* [[WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control]]
* [[WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality]]
* [[WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme]]
}}

== Notes and references ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|World Health Organization}}
{{Wikiquote|World Health Organization}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{cite web |url= http://www.who.int/employment/staff_regulations_rules/EN_staff_regulations_and_staff_rules.pdf |format= pdf |publisher= WHO |title=  Staff regulations and staff rules |date= February 2016 }}

{{ECOSOC}}
{{Occupational safety and health}}
{{United Nations}}
{{Public health}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|United Nations|Geneva|Medicine|Health and fitness}}

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[[Category:World Health Organization| ]]
[[Category:Global health]]
[[Category:International medical and health organizations]]
[[Category:United Nations organizations based in Geneva]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1948]]
[[Category:United Nations Development Group]]
[[Category:United Nations Economic and Social Council]]
[[Category:United Nations specialized agencies]]