The World Health Organization (WHO) has published its first investment case, setting out the transformative impacts on global health and sustainable development that a fully-financed WHO could deliver over the next five years.

The investment case describes how WHO, working together with its Member States and partners, will help to save up to 30 million lives, add up to 100 million years of healthy living to the world’s population and add up to 4 per cent of economic growth in low and middle-income countries by 2023.

Achieving these results would require an investment of $14.1 billion from 2019 to 2023, representing a 14 per cent increase in WHO’s base budget over the previous five-year period. These investments would help achieve the “triple billion” targets of WHO’s General Programme of Work: 1 billion more people benefitting from universal health coverage; 1 billion more people better protected from health emergencies; and 1 billion more people enjoying better health and well-being, a WHO report on Thursday said.

“This is the first time we have estimated the results we could achieve and the impact we could deliver with the right resources,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Our investment case isn’t only about investing in an institution, it’s about investing in people, and in the healthier, safer, fairer world we all want.”

The investment case shows how a stronger, more efficient, and results-oriented WHO will serve and guide governments and partners in their efforts to improve the health of their populations. It highlights new mechanisms to measure success, ensuring a strict model of accountability, and sets ambitious targets for savings and efficiencies.

“WHO is the only international organization that enjoys universal political legitimacy on global health matters,” Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, says in the investment case. The document highlights the vital work WHO does in providing up-to-date, evidence-based health guidance to support countries in improving the health of their population.
“As it embarks on its eighth decade, the World Health Organization is as essential and central as ever,” said Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda. “It has a unique role in developing new norms and standards, and sharing life-saving tools and technologies.”