{"id":2120833,"date":"2023-12-10T03:09:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-10T08:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-gop-seeks-reforms-of-who-amid-covid-19-failure\/"},"modified":"2023-12-10T03:19:29","modified_gmt":"2023-12-10T08:19:29","slug":"house-gop-seeks-reforms-of-who-amid-covid-19-failure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-gop-seeks-reforms-of-who-amid-covid-19-failure\/","title":{"rendered":"House Republicans want to reform WHO due to its COVID-19 failure"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhouse-gop-seeks-reforms-of-who-amid-covid-19-failure%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2120833&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Congressional Investigation Calls\u200d for Reforms to WHO Amid \u2062COVID-19 Origins Probe<\/h2>\n<p>The congressional investigation into the\u2064 origins of the COVID-19 \u2063pandemic has \u200csparked a push \u200bfor reforms \u200cwithin the World\u200c Health Organization (WHO)\u2064 regarding the\u2064 strengthening of \u200bsafety standards and protocols for biological research. Members of\u2063 the House are now urging changes to be made.<\/p>\n<h3>Hearing on WHO Reforms<\/h3>\n<p>The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic has scheduled\u2062 a hearing on \u200bWednesday to discuss\u2063 WHO reforms. Originally \u200bplanned for late October but postponed, the subcommittee \u2062intends to hear from officials representing the \u2064State \u2063Department, Department of Health and Human\u200c Services, and USAID.<\/p>\n<h3>Questioning the Return on Investment<\/h3>\n<p>Given that the United States is one \u200cof the largest financial contributors \u200dto the \u2062WHO, providing approximately $700 million in \u20632021 (65%\u200d above the annual membership\u2063 dues), Republicans on the\u2064 subcommittee are raising concerns about the organization&#8217;s effectiveness in handling the\u2063 COVID-19 crisis. They particularly question the influence exerted\u2064 by \u200dthe Chinese Communist Party \u200con the WHO.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cInstead of prioritizing\u2062 honesty, transparency, \u200cand\u2064 the health of citizens worldwide, the World Health Organization became subject \u200bto overwhelming undue influence from the Chinese Communist Party and placed its\u200d political interests ahead of its international duties,&#8221; wrote Subcommittee Chairman \u200bBrad Wenstrup\u200b (R-OH) \u200dahead \u2063of the\u200c postponed\u2063 Oct.\u200d hearing. &#8220;Should Americans rely on the \u2064WHO when disaster strikes in the future? At\u200c this point in time, is it possible for \u2064the WHO to be productively reformed?&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Wenstrup \u200daims to ensure that the WHO cannot be manipulated by any one nation, be it the U.S. or China. \u200dHe expressed his \u2064desire for the \u2062organization \u200bto\u200d be more independent and free from \u2064political influence.<\/p>\n<p>Josh Michaud, a global \u200dhealth expert \u2064at the healthcare policy think tank KFF, explains that Congress has \u2064limited involvement in engaging with WHO policies, \u200bas that\u200b responsibility falls\u2063 on the White House and \u200cexecutive \u2063public health \u200cagencies.<\/p>\n<h3>Previous Threats\u200c to Withdraw Funding<\/h3>\n<p>In \u2062May 2020, then-President Donald Trump threatened to withdraw U.S. funding and \u2064membership \u2062from the\u2064 WHO, citing the organization&#8217;s failure \u2063to\u2062 adequately \u2063prepare the world\u200d for COVID-19. At that \u200ctime, the U.S. had contributed $400 \u2062million to \u200dthe WHO, accounting for 15% of its \u200doperating budget. However, President Joe Biden quickly \u200creversed\u200b this\u200b decision \u2063upon \u200btaking office.<\/p>\n<p>While a president \u2064can unilaterally \u200dwithdraw the U.S. from the organization, \u2062implementing \u200dinternal reforms\u2062 within the WHO proves to\u2063 be\u2062 more challenging.<\/p>\n<h3>Challenges in Influencing WHO Policy<\/h3>\n<p>As a recurring member of the WHO&#8217;s executive board, the U.S. does hold significant influence compared to smaller countries in \u2063shaping WHO policy. However, according to Michaud, this influence\u200d is not enough to completely sway the \u200corganization.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Any policy changes are approved at the World Health Assembly, which is \u2062the annual meeting\u200b of all of the different member states\u200d of the WHO, \u2062and\u2062 the \u200dUS\u200c is just one country among 194 [members], \u2064so the influence only goes so \u2063far,&#8221; said Michaud.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>Strengthening Biosafety \u200dStandards\u200b and Research Compliance<\/h3>\n<p>During previous hearings on \u200cbiosafety standards for pathogen research, the Select Subcommittee members suggested \u2064the need for stronger enforcement of \u2062existing \u200dpolicies. Some also proposed establishing unilateral agreements with \u2063countries conducting U.S.-funded \u2063research to enhance\u2063 laboratory \u2062safety and\u200d limit certain types of experimentation.<\/p>\n<p>Michaud warns \u2063that while oversight \u2062of \u2064large multilateral organizations\u2063 like the WHO is challenging, creating unilateral agreements between individual countries,\u2063 such\u200d as the\u2063 U.S. and \u200dChina, on biosafety or other topics would present its own set of difficulties without the benefits of a\u2062 global forum\u2063 on public health.<\/p>\n<h3>Exploring Alternative Approaches<\/h3>\n<p>The \u2063U.S. already has several global public health programs under its\u2063 control, \u200dincluding\u2064 USAID and the PEPFAR HIV\/AIDS prevention program. However, developing\u2062 an equivalent \u2062program for \u200bbiosafety and\u200b viral research would\u2062 require significant time and investment, \u2064especially within the constraints of Congress&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-republican-eyes-appropriations-process-to-defund-trump-prosecutions\/\" title=\"House Republican seeks to defund Trump prosecutions through appropriations process.\">annual appropriations process<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;In\u2064 the WHO case, they have a role to play\u2064 [as a] sort \u200bof coordinating\u2063 mechanism &#8230; and serves\u200d as a meeting point \u2064for countries to discuss health policy issues \u200bof international importance, and \u200dto make recommendations\u200d based upon the knowledge of\u200b experts from across the world,&#8221; said Michaud. &#8220;There&#8217;s a legitimacy to the global\u2062 efforts say of who that bilateral program \u2063may not\u200b have.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>For more information, read the full article from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\">The Washington Examiner<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What\u200d measures could be taken to strengthen safety\u2063 standards and protocols for biological research within the \u200cWHO<\/h2>\n<p><span>  E><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a highly complex \u200dand political process given that WHO is\u200c a membership organization of 194 countries,&#8221; he \u2063said. &#8220;One country or even a few countries cannot \u2064dictate the agenda or the policies of WHO.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Michaud also noted that the WHO operates \u2062\u200b\u200bthrough a \u200cconsensus-based \u200cdecision-making process, which\u200b means that any major reforms or\u200b changes \u2062to the organization would require the\u2063 support and agreement\u2064 of a majority\u200d of its member countries. This can make it challenging for individual countries, like the U.S., to unilaterally impose reforms on the WHO.<\/p>\n<h3>Potential Reforms \u200cto Strengthen WHO<\/h3>\n<p>While the upcoming congressional hearing\u2064 will shed light on the specific reforms being proposed, there are several potential areas\u2063 where the WHO could be strengthened to better <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-in-leaked-audio-former-nih-director-new-biden-science-adviser-laughs-over-threatening-unemployment-to-force-vaccines-blames-trump-for-covid-19-deaths\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE: In Leaked Audio Former NIH Director\/New Biden Science Adviser Laughs Over Threatening Unemployment To Force Vaccines, Blames Trump For COVID-19 Deaths\">handle future pandemics<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>1.\u2009\u200dImproved\u2009\u2009\u2002Transparency:\u2009\u2009\u2002\u2002\u200dOne of\u2009\u2009\u2002\u200f\u2002the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/michigan-town-fights-back-against-china-based-companys-plan-to-build-massive-ev-factory-on-us-soil\/\" title=\"Michigan town opposes Chinese company's plan to construct huge EV factory in the US.\">main concerns raised<\/a> by lawmakers is the\u200c lack of transparency in the WHO&#8217;s relationship with the Chinese government during \u2062the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.\u200d\u202fEnhancing transparency measures would ensure that information sharing and collaborations are conducted in a\u2063 more open \u2064and accountable manner.\u200d\u202f<\/p>\n<p>2.\u2006\u2009Better\u2009\u2009\u2009\u2006Independence:\u200d\u202f\u2008To\u2009\u2009\u2002\u200f\u2009avoid \u200cundue political influence, there \u200bis\u2063 a need for the WHO to \u2063be more independent in its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/one-year-later-how-the-death-of-george-floyd-changed-5-american-institutions\/\" title=\"One Year Later: How The Death Of George Floyd Changed 5 American Institutions\u00a0\">decision-making processes<\/a>.\u200b Measures could include stricter guidelines for \u200bensuring impartiality and preventing conflicts\u200b of interest among its staff and experts.\u200d\u202f<\/p>\n<p>3.\u2006\u2009Strengthened Safety Standards:\u202fThe \u200dCOVID-19 pandemic\u200c has highlighted the importance of rigorous safety standards and protocols for biological research. The WHO \u2064could <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/megyn-kelly-goes-on-parenting-rant-amid-letter-to-america-tiktok-trend\/\" title=\"Megyn Kelly goes on parenting rant amid 'Letter to America' TikTok trend\">establish stricter guidelines<\/a> and oversight mechanisms to ensure that laboratories around the world adhere to high safety standards to prevent accidental releases of dangerous pathogens.\u200d\u202f<\/p>\n<p>4.\u2006\u2009Enhanced International Cooperation:\u200d\u202f\u2009Global pandemics\u200c require international coordination and cooperation. The WHO could work \u2063towards strengthening partnerships and \u200ccollaborations among member \u200ccountries to facilitate the sharing of data, resources, and expertise during \u2064health emergencies.\u200d\u202f\u2008<\/p>\n<h3>The \u200bRoad Ahead<\/h3>\n<p>The congressional investigation into the origins \u2063of COVID-19 has brought to the forefront the need for\u200b reforms within the WHO. While the U.S. holds significant \u2062financial\u2064 influence over the organization, the process of implementing internal reforms\u2064 can be complex and\u2062 requires the consensus of member countries. However,\u2062 there \u200care potential areas where \u2063the\u200b WHO can be strengthened to enhance its transparency, independence,\u2062 safety \u200cstandards, and international cooperation.<\/p>\n<p>The upcoming congressional hearing will serve \u200bas an important platform for discussions on \u200dthese reforms and the future of the WHO. As the\u2064 world continues to grapple with the ongoing pandemic \u2063and prepare for future health crises, it is \u2062crucial to ensure that the WHO remains a reliable and effective\u2062 global health organization.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The COVID-19 origins probe prompted House members to demand World Health Organization reforms for stronger safety standards in biological research. The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic will hold a hearing on Wednesday to discuss these reforms<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2120834,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2120833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2120833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2120833"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2120833\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2120834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2120833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2120833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2120833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}