The World Health Organization Conducts Its First Ever Virtual Meeting, Due To Coronavirus

During the 'COVID-19' coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) held its first ever virtual meeting.

At the virtual 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA), the organization said that it is starting an independent review of the global coronavirus response as it received backing and a hefty pledge of funds from China, in the spotlight as the origin of the pandemic.

Chinese Health Minister Ma Xiaowei said that Beijing had been timely and open in announcing the outbreak and sharing the virus's full gene sequence, and urged countries to "oppose rumors, stigmatization and discrimination".

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged $2 billion for two years to help WHO deal with the pandemic, especially when it concerns developing countries.

That amount is almost equal to WHO's entire annual program budget for 2019, and more than enough to compensate the $400 million a year U.S. President Donald Trump has chosen to freeze.

This meeting was considered historic.

Days earlier, WHO's Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus even said that the event would be "one of the most important (World Health Assemblies) since we were founded in 1948."

Instead of meeting for ten days in a huge conference hall at the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, the officials were logging in on Monday for a two-day online WHA, with topics largely devoted to the coronavirus pandemic.

At the event, government health officials and experts from 194 member states were joining the virtual abbreviated version of the annual event. The streamlined agenda included a VIP speakers and votes for key WHO posts, like executive board members.

“This is an unprecedented WHA,” said Suerie Moon, co-director of the Global Health Centre at the Geneva Graduate Institute.

Many health policy experts have praised WHO's Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for handling the outbreak. But it was since Donald Trump administration blasted WHO for being slow to reach and for being "China-centric". U.S. officials announced a suspension of funding to the international health body.

Swiss President Simonetta Sommaruga who opened the virtual assembly, pledged her country's "full support and cooperation" to the WHO's leader.

"Director-General as you go through this crisis be assured that you have the Switzerland's full support and cooperation," said the Swiss President, while urging member states to "act together" in the crisis.

The officials were meant to discuss things like fair access to vaccines and treatments, and discussing about an independent evaluation on WHO's response to the pandemic.

Another noteworthy topic in the WHA, was Taiwan.

The island, with the strong support of the US, stepped up its lobbying to be allowed to take part as an observer at the WHA, saying that to lock it out was to only create a gap in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. This raised objections from China, which considers Taiwan as one of its provinces.

Thirteen member states that included Belize, Guatemala, the Marshall Islands and Honduras, have written to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus asking for Taiwan's participation to be added to the agenda. But still, Taiwan did not get invited to the virtual meeting due to Chinese pressure.

Taiwan was only invited to attend the WHA for a number of years, but only as an observer, and that stopped in 2016, since Tsai Ing-wen became Taiwan's President and refused to recognize the concept that Taiwan is part of "one China".

“WHO is in the public eye as it has never been before, but it is also under fire like perhaps never before… It’s clear that this is a moment to think beyond business and politics as usual and for the WHA it will be a test to see if that’s at all possible," added Suerie Moon

Despite some tensions, the countries hope to adopt a resolution by consensus urging a joint response to the pandemic.