The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting health, keeping the world safe, and serving the vulnerable. With 194 member states, the WHO is an essential global forum for health-related matters. But which countries are part of this influential organization? In this article, we will explore the membership of WHO and provide insights into the countries that are included. So, let’s dive in to discover the diverse landscape of nations that make up the WHO family.

Overview of WHO Membership

History of WHO

• Creation of WHO in 1948

The World Health Organization (WHO) was established in 1948 as a specialized agency of the United Nations. Its primary objective was to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. The organization was formed in the aftermath of World War II, with the aim of preventing future global health crises by fostering international cooperation and coordination on health matters.

• Purpose of WHO: to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable

From its inception, the WHO has been committed to improving global health outcomes and ensuring that all people have access to the care they need. Its work encompasses a wide range of activities, including the development of health policies and guidelines, the provision of technical assistance and training, and the coordination of emergency response efforts during health crises.

• WHO became a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1948

The WHO’s status as a specialized agency of the United Nations enables it to collaborate closely with other UN organizations and member states to advance its goals and objectives. This collaboration is essential to the WHO’s ability to respond effectively to global health challenges and to ensure that its work is aligned with the broader objectives of the UN.

Structure of WHO

• WHO has 194 Member States, which are sovereign states and other entities such as territories and special administrative regions that have associate membership status.
• The Member States are represented on the Executive Board, which is responsible for the general management of the organization. The Executive Board is composed of 34 members elected for three-year terms.
• WHO also has 8 regions, each with a Regional Committee that advises on regional health matters. The regions are:
  • Region 1: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
  • Region 2: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
  • Region 3: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
  • Region 4: Belarus, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
  • Region 5: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
  • Region 6: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin (French part), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
  • Region 7: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
  • Region 8: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

Countries Included in WHO Membership

WHO Regional Offices

Africa

The World Health Organization (WHO) has six regional offices, with the Africa office being one of them. The Africa office is responsible for providing technical support and assistance to the 47 member states in the region. The office works to improve the health of the population by strengthening health systems, promoting health policies, and responding to health emergencies.

Americas

The Americas office is responsible for providing technical support and assistance to the 26 member states in the region, including the United States, Canada, and Brazil. The office works to improve the health of the population by strengthening health systems, promoting health policies, and responding to health emergencies.

Eastern Mediterranean

The Eastern Mediterranean office is responsible for providing technical support and assistance to the 21 member states in the region, including countries such as Egypt, Iraq, and Yemen. The office works to improve the health of the population by strengthening health systems, promoting health policies, and responding to health emergencies.

Europe

The Europe office is responsible for providing technical support and assistance to the 53 member states in the region, including countries such as France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The office works to improve the health of the population by strengthening health systems, promoting health policies, and responding to health emergencies.

South-East Asia

The South-East Asia office is responsible for providing technical support and assistance to the 11 member states in the region, including countries such as India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The office works to improve the health of the population by strengthening health systems, promoting health policies, and responding to health emergencies.

Western Pacific

The Western Pacific office is responsible for providing technical support and assistance to the 37 member states in the region, including countries such as China, Japan, and Korea. The office works to improve the health of the population by strengthening health systems, promoting health policies, and responding to health emergencies.

Full Members

As per the WHO constitution, all 194 Member States of WHO are considered Full Members. Full Members have equal representation in the decision-making bodies of WHO. This means that each Member State has one vote in the World Health Assembly, WHO’s governing body.

It is important to note that WHO’s Full Members include countries from all regions of the world, including Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Western Pacific. This ensures that the organization has a global reach and can address health issues on a global scale.

Moreover, WHO’s Full Members include both developed and developing countries. This allows for a diverse range of perspectives and experiences to be represented in the decision-making processes of the organization.

It is also worth noting that WHO’s Full Members are not limited to sovereign states. Other entities, such as territories and dependencies, can also be Full Members of WHO if they meet certain criteria. This helps to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their location or political status, have access to the health services and information provided by WHO.

Associate Members

Associate Members are non-state entities that have applied for WHO membership but have not yet been granted full membership. These entities include international organizations, such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, that work in the field of health and have a significant role in providing healthcare services to people around the world.

While Associate Members do not have voting rights, they can participate in the work of WHO and contribute to the development of policies and programs aimed at improving global health. This participation is particularly important for countries or regions that are unable to achieve full membership due to their status as non-state entities.

As of 2021, there are 10 Associate Members of WHO. These include:

• The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
• The International Committee of the Red Cross
• The World Health Organization Collaborating Centres
• The Pan American Health Organization
• The European Regional Office of the World Health Organization
• The South-East Asia Regional Office of the World Health Organization
• The Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of the World Health Organization
• The Western Pacific Regional Office of the World Health Organization
• The African Regional Office of the World Health Organization
• The Americas Regional Office of the World Health Organization

These Associate Members play a vital role in the work of WHO, contributing their expertise and resources to the organization’s efforts to improve global health. Their participation helps to ensure that the organization’s policies and programs are informed by a wide range of perspectives and experiences, and that they are tailored to the needs of different countries and regions.

Observer States

Observer States are countries that are not members of WHO but are interested in WHO’s work and participate in its meetings. These countries do not have voting rights but can contribute to discussions and share information. As of 2021, there are 11 Observer States of WHO.

Inclusion of Observer States in WHO is based on their interest in collaborating with WHO on global health issues. Observer States are allowed to attend WHO meetings, including the World Health Assembly, and can participate in discussions and debates. They can also receive information from WHO and contribute to WHO’s work through technical and scientific collaboration.

Observer States are an important part of WHO’s outreach and engagement efforts. They provide a platform for countries to engage with WHO and collaborate on global health issues. They also help to increase the diversity of perspectives and experiences in WHO’s work.

Some of the benefits of being an Observer State include access to WHO’s technical and scientific expertise, opportunities to collaborate with other countries on global health issues, and participation in the development of global health policies and initiatives.

In conclusion, Observer States play an important role in WHO’s work on global health issues. They provide a platform for countries to engage with WHO and contribute to its work, and help to increase the diversity of perspectives and experiences in WHO’s work.

Specialized Agencies

• WHO collaborates with several specialized agencies, such as the International Maritime Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health
• These agencies are not members of WHO but work closely with WHO on health-related issues

In addition to member countries, WHO also collaborates with several specialized agencies that are not members but work closely with WHO on health-related issues. Two notable examples of these specialized agencies are the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

The International Maritime Organization (IMO)

The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing marine pollution. While the IMO is not a member of WHO, it collaborates closely with WHO on issues related to the health of seafarers, including mental health, physical health, and occupational safety and health.

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)

The OIE is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for improving animal health worldwide. While the OIE is not a member of WHO, it collaborates closely with WHO on issues related to zoonotic diseases, animal welfare, and the use of animals in research. The OIE also provides technical assistance to WHO in the development of guidelines and standards for the control of animal diseases that have the potential to impact human health.

Overall, the collaboration between WHO and these specialized agencies allows for a more comprehensive approach to addressing health-related issues that impact both humans and animals. By working together, these organizations can share knowledge, resources, and expertise to develop more effective strategies for promoting health and preventing disease.

Challenges and Criticisms of WHO Membership

Funding and Resource Distribution

The funding and resource distribution within WHO has been a subject of criticism by some Member States. The allocation of resources is based on the assessment of a country’s national health profile and its ability to pay. Some countries argue that they are underfunded compared to others.

Some Member States have raised concerns about the allocation of resources within WHO. The organization assesses each country’s national health profile and its ability to pay in order to determine the allocation of resources. However, some countries argue that they are underfunded compared to others.

The distribution of resources within WHO is based on a complex formula that takes into account a variety of factors, including a country’s population, economic indicators, and health needs. The organization also considers a country’s ability to pay, which can lead to some countries receiving more funding than others.

Critics argue that the current funding and resource distribution system within WHO is unfair and inequitable. They argue that some countries are underfunded and that the distribution of resources should be based on a country’s health needs rather than its ability to pay. Additionally, some countries argue that they are contributing more to the organization than they are receiving in return.

Overall, the funding and resource distribution within WHO is a complex issue that has been the subject of criticism by some Member States. While the organization strives to allocate resources fairly and equitably, critics argue that more needs to be done to ensure that all countries are adequately funded and supported.

Decision-Making and Transparency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been criticized for its decision-making process being opaque and undemocratic. Some Member States argue that decisions are made behind closed doors and not always in the best interest of public health. This lack of transparency has led to mistrust and skepticism among some Member States, especially those that are not part of the WHO’s decision-making bodies.

One of the main concerns is that the WHO’s Executive Board, which is responsible for setting the organization’s agenda and making important decisions, is dominated by a few powerful countries. This has led to accusations that the WHO is not truly representative of all its Member States and that the interests of the powerful countries are prioritized over those of smaller, less powerful countries.

Furthermore, the WHO’s decision-making process is often influenced by donor countries, which provide significant funding to the organization. This has led to concerns that the WHO’s priorities are not always aligned with the needs of all its Member States, but rather with the interests of its donors.

However, the WHO has taken steps to increase transparency and involve Member States more in decision-making processes. For example, the organization has established the Global Vaccine Alliance, which brings together Member States, civil society organizations, and the private sector to promote vaccine access and coverage worldwide. Additionally, the WHO has established a transparency and accountability framework, which includes measures to increase transparency in decision-making and budgeting processes.

Despite these efforts, there is still a long way to go in terms of increasing transparency and accountability within the WHO. Member States must continue to push for greater involvement in decision-making processes and ensure that the organization’s priorities are aligned with the needs of all its Member States. Only then can the WHO truly live up to its mission of promoting health, keeping the world safe, and serving the vulnerable.

Future of WHO Membership

Reforms and Improvements

WHO has undergone significant reforms in recent years to improve its efficiency and effectiveness in addressing global health challenges. Some of the key reforms implemented by the organization include:

• Changes to the way the organization is managed: WHO has implemented a new governance structure that includes a stronger role for regional offices and greater involvement of member states in decision-making processes. This has helped to streamline decision-making and ensure that the organization is better equipped to respond to health emergencies.
• Reforms to the way the organization is funded: WHO has also implemented reforms to its funding model, including the introduction of assessed contributions from member states. This has helped to ensure that the organization is better funded and can continue to carry out its vital work in promoting health and well-being around the world.
• Greater focus on innovation and research: WHO has also placed a greater emphasis on innovation and research in recent years, with a focus on developing new technologies and approaches to addressing health challenges. This includes support for the development of new vaccines and treatments, as well as efforts to improve access to healthcare in underserved communities.

Overall, these reforms have helped to position WHO as a more effective and efficient organization, better equipped to face the health challenges of the future. Member states are continuing to work together to ensure that the organization remains well-positioned to meet the needs of the global community, now and in the years to come.

Global Health Security

• The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical importance of global health security and the pivotal role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in coordinating international responses to such crises.
• In light of the pandemic’s devastating impact on public health and economies worldwide, Member States have come to recognize the urgent need for increased collaboration and resources to prevent future pandemics.
• As such, WHO’s membership is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring that the world is better prepared for future health crises by strengthening global health security and promoting greater international cooperation.

Strengthening Global Health Security

• One of the key priorities for WHO’s membership in the future will be to strengthen global health security by enhancing preparedness and response capacities at the national and international levels.
• This will involve investing in epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response, as well as improving surveillance and alert systems to detect and respond to outbreaks of infectious diseases more effectively.
• Another critical area of focus will be on strengthening health systems and ensuring that countries have the necessary infrastructure, personnel, and resources to respond to health crises.

Promoting Greater International Cooperation

• To achieve this, WHO’s membership must work together to promote greater international cooperation and coordination in the face of health crises.
• This will require increased collaboration among Member States, as well as partnerships with other international organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector.
• Such partnerships will be essential in sharing knowledge, expertise, and resources to support countries in need and ensure that the world is better prepared to respond to future health crises.

Ensuring Accountability and Transparency

• Finally, it is essential that WHO’s membership works to ensure accountability and transparency in its operations and decision-making processes.
• This will involve strengthening the organization’s governance structures, as well as ensuring that its policies and programs are guided by the best available evidence and informed by the needs and perspectives of affected communities.
• By doing so, WHO’s membership can build trust and confidence among its stakeholders and enhance its ability to fulfill its mandate to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable.

FAQs

1. What is WHO?

WHO (World Health Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting health, keeping the world safe, and serving the vulnerable. It was established on April 7, 1948, and its headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland.

2. What is the membership structure of WHO?

WHO has 194 member states, which include almost every country in the world. These member states are represented in the World Health Assembly, WHO’s supreme governing body. The assembly meets annually and makes decisions on policy issues, such as setting goals and approving budgets.

3. How can a country become a member of WHO?

Countries can become members of WHO by submitting an application to the organization. The application must be supported by a letter from the head of government, confirming that the country accepts the principles of the WHO Constitution and is willing to comply with its obligations. Once the application is submitted, it is reviewed by the WHO Secretariat, and if it meets the requirements, it is presented to the World Health Assembly for approval.

4. What are the benefits of being a member of WHO?

Being a member of WHO provides countries with access to a range of resources and benefits, including technical assistance, training, and funding for health programs. Member states also have a voice in shaping the global health agenda and setting priorities for WHO’s work. In addition, WHO provides a platform for countries to collaborate on health issues and address shared challenges.

5. Is there a membership fee for WHO?

Yes, member states are required to pay membership fees to WHO. The fees are based on a country’s gross national income (GNI) and are used to fund WHO’s programs and activities. The fees are assessed annually and are due on January 1 of each year.

6. Can non-state entities become members of WHO?

No, only sovereign states can become members of WHO. However, non-state entities, such as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations, can work with WHO as partners or collaborators on specific health initiatives. These partnerships are typically based on agreements between the organizations and are aimed at achieving shared health goals.