- The World Health Organization (WHO) uses more money each year to pay for the travel of its 7,000 members than to address some serious threats to public health, as can be seen in an internal report obtained by the news agency Associated Press (AP).
According to information released by the PA, the WHO spends approximately US$ 200 million (US$ 178 million) annually on travel. Last year, for example, $190 million was allocated to combat AIDS and hepatitis (71 million), malaria (61) and tuberculosis (59).
The AP notes that some WHO members have complained internally that not all WHO members adequately comply with the rules for travel expenses. The agency has obtained the video of the WHO in-house seminar in 2015, in which Nick Jeffreys, the WHO’s Chief Financial Officer, says “we can’t always be sure if employees always book the cheapest ticket, or even if the trip has been necessary.”
“Travel is necessary,” the WHO tells the AP, “but we have to show that we manage it properly.” The World Health Organization says last year they spent 14% on travel compared to the previous year – a year when they made more trips than usual due to the Ebola epidemic in Africa.
However, the analysis carried out at the internal level indicates that staff do not comply with the rules for travel expenses. The news broadcast by the AP begins with an example of a trip to Guinea last month by the organization’s CEO, Margaret Chan. The head of the WHO to Africa was eaten to celebrate the discovery of the first Ebola vaccine. He spent the night in a luxury hotel, a room priced at 900 euros per night.