Can a deal be done to keep the US in the WHO?

Can a deal be done to keep the US in the WHO?

Author: The BMJ January 24, 2025 Duration: 29:31
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to withdraw the US out of the WHO. This would cut funding for the UN’s medical agency by one-fifth. Will they really exit, or can a deal be made? Lawrence Gostin hopes so, and as a professor of law at Georgetown, and director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Center on National and Global Health Law, he is working with senior US and WHO officials to try and understand what reforms could be made to WHO what would allow a such a deal to be be struck. Gostin also believes that the president cannot withdraw from the WHO with an executive order, but instead requires congressional approval - and is exploring the options for legal challenge to the move.   00:00 Intro 01:01 US history with the WHO 03:31 Executive order 06:35 WHO’s relationship with China 11:14 Funding 12:47 Benefits to US from the WHO 18:05 H5N1 threat 19:43 World benefits from US involvement 21:57 A deal to be made? 24:55 Legal action? 26:37 Administration responses   Read Professor Larry Gostin’s co-written opinion piece on the dangers of a US withdrawal from the WHO here: https://www.bmj.com/content/388/bmj.r116

Produced by The BMJ, this weekly audio series delves into the pivotal research and urgent clinical debates shaping modern medicine. Each episode moves beyond the published page, bringing together the authors, critics, and practitioners directly involved to dissect a new study or a pressing health question. The conversation is rigorous and nuanced, designed for those who appreciate the complexity behind headlines. You’ll hear unscripted discussion about methodology, implications for practice, and the occasional healthy disagreement that drives science forward. This isn't just a summary of the latest findings; it's a critical appraisal in real time, offering listeners a front-row seat to the evolving discourse that defines evidence-based care. The Medicine and Science from The BMJ podcast serves as an essential audio companion for clinicians, academics, and anyone keen to understand the ‘why’ and ‘how’ behind medical news. It transforms the latest evidence from the journal into an accessible, thought-provoking dialogue, ensuring that busy professionals can stay deeply informed. Tune in for a direct, intelligent, and often surprising take on the science that matters most.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

Medicine and Science from The BMJ
Podcast Episodes
Climate, “car spreading”, and conflict [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:12
It’s the BMJ’s annual climate issue - and in this episode, we’ll be hearing about more ways in which climate mitigation is good for health. Firstly, climate change is fuelling conflict, and exacerbating the impact it has…
Doctors against the far right [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:11
Far right rallies have been held across the UK, culminating in a large parade in London where Elon Musk spoke. At the same time, politicians from across the political spectrum are following the talking points of far righ…
Doctors still have questions about the UK's assisted dying bill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:05
In today’s episode: Assisted Dying moves closer to becoming UK law. The proposed legislation to allow people to end their own lives has moved through a second debate in the House of Lords. What do MPs and doctors think o…
Starvation in Gaza is a multi-generational disaster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:45
In today’s episode: Rethinking how we measure the harm caused by the arms industry The life long, and multigenerational, impact of starvation in Gaza What is the appropriate focus on prevention in general practice? The B…
CRISPR, stemcell banking,  and a football world cup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:16
CRISPR technology has revolutionised biological research, and for the first time it’s out of the lab and into the NHS, as NICE has approved its use as cost effective. Kenneth Charles, senior lecturer in haematology at th…
The pitfalls of home test kits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:58
If you’ve been in a high street pharmacy or supermarket recently, chances are you’ll have seen home test kits for all sorts of indications; blood sugar level, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid function, and even some forms o…
The Future for Physician Associates? | Prof. Gillian Leng [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:53
Professor Gillian Leng, President of the Royal Society of Medicine was asked to carry out an independent review into the role of physician and anaesthetic associates. She sits down with Kamran Abbasi, editor in chief of…
NHS 10 year plan dissected [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:26
This week we’re focusing on the NHS. On the 3rd of July the UK’s Prime Minister, Kier Starmer finally announced the NHS’ 10 year plan. His Labour government laid out a vision for where the healthcare service should head…