The health organisation is to lose almost a quarter of its workforce in 2026, reducing its ability to help countries facing disease outbreaks
The loss of more than 2,000 jobs at the World Health Organization (WHO) “will leave the world less healthy and less safe”, experts have warned.
The global health body said it expected to lose 2,371 posts – nearly a quarter of its workforce – by June 2026 as it deals with budget cuts after the US withdrawal from the organisation in January. At that point the WHO had 9,401 staff members.
Analysts and campaigners said the cuts, made under financial pressure, would probably leave the WHO less able to help countries facing disease outbreaks.
Pete Baker, the deputy director of global health policy and a policy fellow at the Center for Global Development, said: “WHO staffing cuts are a regrettable but inevitable outcome of US withdrawal and lower-than-hoped-for contributions by other countries. The loss of expertise will leave the world less healthy and less safe.
