UPSC Mains 2020 · GS II · Q9 · 10 marks · 150 words

Critically examine the role of WHO in providing global health security during the Covid-19 pandemic.

हिन्दी में

कोविड-19 महामारी के दौरान वैश्विक स्वास्थ्य सुरक्षा प्रदान करने में विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन (डब्लू.एच.ओ.) की भूमिका का समालोचनात्मक परीक्षण कीजिए।

Global InstitutionsHealth

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “'Starved of funds, shackled by geopolitics, WHO is facing a crisis of capacity and credibility.' Discuss the statement in the light of USA's withdrawal and its accusation of the health body of being 'biased towards China and mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic'.”

Ujjwal PriyankAIR 10 · CSE 2025 · 100 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a recent event

Recently, USA under President Donald Trump decided to quit WHO. Thus, leaving the organisation deprived of funds.

Body · points and prose

Diagram
* Criticism of WHO by USA * 1. Failure to contain the spread of covid 19 pandemic. * 2. Mismanagement of funds: USA was one of the Largest fund provider to WHO * 3. Favouring China during pandemic: USA under Trump accuses China of being responsible for covid * 4. WHO's inability to bring consensus on pandemic agreement.

Impact on WHO

  1. Loss of fund will lead to reduction in effectiveness in welfare programme in Africa and Latin America.

  2. Erosion of public trust → This can be due to widespread criticism.

  3. Issues with administration and infrastructure.

  4. Threat of losing global cooperation to solve epidemics.

  5. Credibility loss due to reduced expenditure on research on vaccines etc.

Close · a way forward

The WHO as an organisation has been impactful through "One-Health" approach, but now need to diversify and reform in global polycrisis.

3 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2020, General Studies Paper II, Q9. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.