Alarm as WHO accepts increasing amount of dark money from corporate donors

The World Health Organization (WHO) Foundation has been accepting a growing amount of corporate donations, including a significant portion from anonymous donors, according to a new report. Experts and campaigners are expressing concern that this trend could lead to conflicts of interest and undue influence from big businesses on the organization's policies. Over the three-year period since the foundation's inception in 2020, it has received around $83 million in corporate funding. Notably, the identities of donors for approximately 60% of this sum have been concealed. This opacity raises questions about the potential impact of these financial contributions on the WHO's decision-making and agenda. The report highlights the need for increased transparency and scrutiny around the WHO Foundation's funding sources and their potential impact on the organization's independence and integrity. Maintaining the WHO's role as a trusted, impartial global health authority is crucial, and this issue warrants further examination.