Israel "cannot withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) before we offer an alternative,” Deputy Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Health, Dr Sefi Mendelovich, said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Lev Conference on Health and Innovation at the Jerusalem College of Technology, Dr Mendelovich explained that “The discussion is professional - weighing advantages and disadvantages - not political. At this stage, given our responsibility to protect public health, and despite both the professional and ethical criticism, we simply have no other alternatives.”
Criticizing the WHO
Talking to senior leaders in medicine and public health, leading academic researchers, and industry experts, he emphasized the importance of safeguarding the interests of Israel’s citizens.
He described “very significant criticism of the WHO” from both a values-based perspective, regarding statements they have made about Israel, and a professional perspective, regarding their performance during COVID-19.
Speaking to the WHO’s Executive Board on February 2, Israeli representatives argued that the WHO had become “too politicized” and was no longer impartial.
WHO still necessary
However, he stressed the necessity of the WHO, explaining that “it’s important to understand that the WHO operates in areas where we have no alternatives. One example is epidemiological information from neighboring countries such as Syria and Lebanon, which is critically important to us. The fact that cholera was detected in the Yarmouk region in 2022 was possible because information was provided through the WHO.”
Dr Mendelovich clarified that the health system's preparedness was important during a sensitive period, when there are heightened concerns about a potential strike on Iran and its possible ramifications.
“We are in a very sensitive period,” he said. “Nothing has changed in the public guidelines, but we are working closely with the military, and the health system is at peak readiness.”
“We have great confidence in the organizations - both in hospitals and in the community,” he said. “It’s clear to us that whatever comes will always include unexpected elements, but the more prepared we are, the better we will be able to adapt to a new reality.”