The Finnish government has decided to restore its funding for the World Health Organization WHO to the 2015 level, which was 5.5 million euros.
The government announced its decision on Wednesday afternoon, a day after the US President Donald Trump told a news conference of his intentions to halt funding for WHO based on his claims that the organization made a series of devastating mistakes in the battle against the coronavirus.
In the Finnish government’s point of view: “The WHO is leading the global effort to prepare for and respond to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Finland is the vice-chair of the Executive Board of the WHO and, according to the government, “supports a strong WHO.”
Last year, Finland’s basic contribution to the WHO was 1.9 million euros and it provided 0.75 million euros in program support. In addition, Finland made other membership-based contributions to WHO bodies totaling 0.9 million euros. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for Finland’s contributions.
This year, the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has also granted one million euros in funding to the WHO’s COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan.
According to the government, “global problems can best be solved by working together.” “Finland therefore advocates consistently on behalf of a more effective and stronger multilateral order. This is also a key objective of the Government Program,” the government concludes in a statement.
