BERLIN — The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated another round of reforms at the World Health Organization. While the topic did not make it fully onto the agenda of the recent World Health Assembly, France and Germany — which have emerged as unexpected leaders of the effort — made it clear they intend to keep the pressure on.
The two countries — particularly Germany — are increasingly stepping into leadership roles on global health, and their proposal for reforming WHO, released earlier this year, offered an early preview into how they might steer the field. It also clearly influenced the European Union proposal for strengthening WHO that was released just before the start of WHA.
But at a time when some global health observers are looking for sweeping reforms, the proposal has met with some disappointment.