The U.S. federal government has withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO) due to stated concerns about its handling of COVID-19. In response to this federal action, California has become the first U.S. state to join the WHO's Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network (GOARN).
Dr. Erica Pan, director of the California Department of Public Health, reported that other states, including Illinois, are also preparing to join the network. Governor Gavin Newsom of California criticized the federal government's withdrawal, stating it would negatively impact residents.
Governor Gavin Newsom of California criticized the federal government's withdrawal, stating it would negatively impact residents.
GOARN's Role and California's Participation
GOARN, established in 2000, comprises over 350 groups dedicated to detecting and responding to infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies. While full WHO membership is reserved for national governments, GOARN allows participation from various entities, including state governments, non-profits, multinational organizations, and academic centers.
As a member, California will participate in weekly calls, receive regular outbreak updates, and gain access to the WHO Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources platform. This platform continuously scans global sources for health events, providing critical information.
Dr. Pan indicated that this participation enhances the state's awareness of global health threats, potentially enabling earlier anticipation and response, especially in light of perceived reductions in federal health guidance.
Dr. Pan indicated that this participation enhances the state's awareness of global health threats, potentially enabling earlier anticipation and response, especially in light of perceived reductions in federal health guidance.
Federal Stance and Expert Perspectives
In contrast to states joining WHO networks, the U.S. federal government intends not to participate in regular WHO-led or managed events, opting instead for direct health and aid agreements with individual countries. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services clarified that the U.S. is "charting its own course on global health engagement" and that "States do not set U.S. foreign policy."
"States do not set U.S. foreign policy."
Dr. Gavin Yamey, a professor of global health and public policy at Duke University, described the states' initiative as a strategic response to the federal government's shift in public health protection responsibilities.
However, some voices, like Brett Schaefer, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, have suggested that the U.S. should continue participating in certain informational WHO forums, such as the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources platform. This is due to the difficulty and inefficiency of replicating such systems independently. Schaefer also noted that California's decision is "interesting but unclear at this point," questioning if it might be a public relations initiative, as WHO has not issued clarification on California's status.
The U.S. should continue participating in certain informational WHO forums, such as the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources platform, due to the difficulty and inefficiency of replicating such systems independently.
Potential Implications
A potential consequence of states individually joining WHO networks is the creation of a data divide, where some state leaders might have access to more current outbreak information than others. California aims to address this by partnering with states that do not join GOARN, leveraging its resources as the largest state health department to provide leadership and support.