Argentina has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), a move announced by the government Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The decision, first signaled a year ago, does not sever ties with international health efforts, as the nation will continue its participation in the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), aligning with the United States.
The withdrawal raises questions about the country’s approach to global health policy and coordination, particularly after provincial health ministers had requested a debate on the matter before the Federal Health Council (Cofesa).
National Health Minister Mario Lugones previously defended the official stance, stating, “Leaving the WHO does not imply leaving PAHO, which is pre-existing and depends on the Organization of American States (OEA).” He made the comments last year as the country began formal presentations to the WHO in Geneva regarding its intent to withdraw.
Argentina initially adhered to the WHO constitution in 1948, incurring obligations related to public health. The withdrawal process was expected to take time – at least a year, as this news outlet anticipated in February 2025.
In 2024, the country budgeted $1,248,740,889 in dues and contributions to the WHO and $406,489,472 to PAHO. As of January 30, 2025, just before the withdrawal announcement, Argentina’s debt to PAHO totaled US$10,176,812, stemming from three unpaid installments dating back to 2023, according to information from the organization’s local office.
“The exit from the WHO does not compromise any national health program,” officials from the National Ministry of Health asserted. In fact, collaboration with PAHO through its local office has reportedly increased under the current administration.
However, some experts question the extent to which PAHO can fully replace the WHO’s role. Former national officials, as explained to La Nación, point to the potential loss of coordinating actions with regions beyond Latin America, the U.S., and Canada, which comprise PAHO. The country likewise received technical assistance through the regional office, often funded by WHO member state contributions.
Funding for the National Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network and the delivery of some supplies to the National Administration of Laboratories and Health Institutes (ANLIS Malbrán) were previously supported through the WHO.
Health officials maintain that international cooperation will not be disrupted and that “Argentina does not receive direct funding from the WHO,” with technical cooperation projects managed through PAHO.
Argentina maintains an active relationship with PAHO, receiving technical advice and training, such as in the case of dengue fever, training resources for epidemiological surveillance and data management, and the procurement of vaccines and high-cost medications for the national immunization calendar. These purchases are made through a Revolving Fund and a Strategic Fund, where PAHO negotiates with pharmaceutical companies for bulk discounts for member countries.
“Leaving the WHO means being outside of global health policies, regulatory frameworks, and the International Health Regulations, coordinated pandemic preparedness, and innovations; it also means having minimal influence on the global health agenda,” said Adolfo Rubinstein, a former National Minister of Health and current director of the Center for Implementation and Innovation in Health Policies (Ciips) at the Institute for Clinical and Health Effectiveness (IECS). In May 2019, during his tenure, Argentina was certified by the WHO as one of 36 countries to have eliminated malaria and was also part of the WHO’s Executive Board.
Beyond concerns about managing emerging infectious diseases, as highlighted by the international experience with COVID-19, other global challenges require technical debate beyond the regional level, such as health workforce issues and migration.
The process of leaving the WHO, according to commitments made, is not expected to be as simple or quick as suggested by government officials. Legal experts and potentially Congress may necessitate to review the decision.
According to most sources and the National Ministry of Health, Argentina can leave the WHO while remaining a member of PAHO, as PAHO predates the WHO and represents it in the region through agreements between the two organizations.
One provincial minister who spoke with LA NACION after the announcement, and expressed disagreement with the decision, also believed it was a politically motivated move that ultimately preserves much of the technical assistance and procurement of supplies and medications received through PAHO.
