Despite WHO exit plan, US still in Americas health agency

By Jennifer Rigby

LONDON (Reuters) - The United States has not moved to quit the Americas branch of the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), despite its wider pullback from global health.

President Donald Trump started the 12-month withdrawal process for the U.S. to leave the WHO on his first day in office in January, and has since also overseen a dismantling of U.S. foreign aid that has hit health programs worldwide.

PAHO, which was established decades before the WHO, is both the specialised health agency for the Americas and also serves as the regional office for the Americas for the WHO.

“WHO received a notice from the U.S. government informing of its intent to withdraw from WHO. PAHO has not received such a notice,” a PAHO spokesperson said on email.

The Trump administration has been considering a plan for reform at the WHO in order to remain a member state long-term, which includes withdrawing from the Geneva-based agency while negotiating, but staying in PAHO.

The plan, first reported by Reuters, also included pushing for an American at the head of the WHO.

Since President Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from WHO, he has appeared open to negotiation about rejoining the agency.

The U.S. also sent a delegation to the WHO's annual executive board meeting earlier this month, at which the WHO's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reiterated that he too was open to talks with the agency’s biggest government funder.

(Reporting by Jennifer Rigby; Editing by Alex Richardson)