Great Britain to be the largest donor to the World Health Organization

(Patria) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is preparing to formalize the decision to increase the donation to the World Health Organization by 30%, which will make Great Britain its largest donor after the announced withdrawal of the USA next year.

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Johnson will call for the resolution of 'ugly conflicts' that hinder the international fight against the coronavirus pandemic. 

He will also announce a donation of £340 million to the WHO for a period of four years, and propose that the organization be given greater powers regarding oversight of individual countries' pandemic management.

His proposals are based on a shared vision that Great Britain shares with the Bill Gates Foundation on how future pandemics could be better controlled, including 'zoonotic laboratories' that have the capacity to identify potentially dangerous pathogens in animals before they are transmitted to humans.

In addition to increasing funds for the WHO and the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine, Johnson will also propose the development of a pandemic early warning system, new global protocols for health crises, as well as the removal of trade barriers.

The WHO has meanwhile launched an internal investigation into pandemic management, which also includes China's role in (timely) informing the WHO that the virus may have 'escaped' from a laboratory.