Argentina’s formal withdrawal from the World Health Organization, solidified during U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s visit, marks a significant shift in global health alliances.
At a Glance
- Argentina has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), following President Javier Milei’s February announcement
- The Argentine government criticized the WHO for prioritizing “political interests” over science during the COVID-19 pandemic
- U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Buenos Aires to discuss bilateral cooperation and urged other nations to consider similar exits
- Argentina announced a structural overhaul of its national health agencies to boost transparency and efficiency
- The move mirrors a similar step by former U.S. President Donald Trump during his administration
Breaking with the Global Health Consensus
Argentina has formally exited the World Health Organization, finalizing a pledge made by President Javier Milei earlier this year. The decision was announced in tandem with a visit by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who met with Argentine Health Minister Mario Lugones in Buenos Aires. The two officials emphasized their shared vision for more transparent, nationally controlled public health policy and voiced skepticism of WHO guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement released during the visit, Argentina’s government said the WHO had failed to act independently during the global health crisis, instead promoting lockdown measures and pharmaceutical protocols driven more by political interests than sound science. “The WHO’s prescriptions do not work because they are not based on science but on political interests and bureaucratic structures that refuse to review their own mistakes,” the government asserted, according to The Business Standard.
Watch a report: Argentina confirms WHO withdrawal during U.S. visit.
Restructuring National Health Systems
Alongside its WHO withdrawal, Argentina is launching a structural reform of its national health institutions. According to Health Minister Lugones, this will involve a full review of the country’s public health architecture, aimed at reducing regulatory overlap, modernizing outdated frameworks, and increasing accountability. The goal, he said, is to improve efficiency and ensure that health decisions are guided by domestic priorities and scientific rigor.
The Argentine reform plan also seeks to reevaluate the approval process for high-cost drugs and vaccines. The move reflects concern that past international health recommendations were influenced by pharmaceutical lobbying and lacked transparency.
“We are developing a new framework to make decisions that protect our population and reflect our values,” Lugones told local media, as reported by Insider Paper.
This overhaul may serve as a blueprint for other nations considering a decoupling from global health authorities. With inflation still biting and public trust in international institutions wavering, domestic control over health spending and pandemic preparedness has become a renewed political priority in countries like Argentina and the U.S.
Argentina’s Public Health Failures
However, Milei’s sweeping austerity measures have triggered a cascade of crises across Argentina’s public health system. Under his so-called “chainsaw” economic plan, hospitals have faced deep budget cuts, prompting severe shortages of basic supplies and staff protests nationwide. The elimination of the National Cancer Institute and significant reductions to the HIV/AIDS program have left vulnerable populations at greater risk, while medical professionals warn of a collapse in care quality. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets in protest, arguing that Milei’s fiscal discipline is undermining the health infrastructure needed to serve Argentina’s most at-risk citizens, as reported by The Guardian and Buenos Aires Times.
The consequences of Argentina’s 2024 dengue outbreak have been severe, with over 333,000 cases and 238 deaths. The government’s inadequate response and refusal to include the dengue vaccine in mandatory immunizations drew widespread criticism. Additionally, proposed rollbacks to reproductive health and sexual education have faced backlash from women’s rights groups, who argue that Milei’s agenda prioritizes ideology over public health. These issues raise serious concerns about the administration’s commitment to health equity and its capacity to manage health policy independently of international guidance.
