Global South Health Order and Economics Post US Exit from WHO

Abstract

The announcement of the United States’ exit from the World Health Organization (WHO) marks a watershed moment in global health governance. While the WHO has long been criticized for bureaucratic inefficiencies, politicization, and uneven responsiveness, its role as the only universal health body remains indispensable. Pandemics do not respect borders, and health crises are inherently global. The withdrawal of the world’s largest economy from the WHO further weakens the institution, creating both risks and opportunities. For the Global South, this moment may catalyze a reordering of health leadership. For India, however, it is a double-edged sword: an opening to assert influence, but also a threat as China consolidates its dominance within the WHO’s structures.