Huge staff cuts at WHO will leave world ‘less healthy and safe’, experts warn

Health organisation is to lose almost a quarter of its workforce in 2026, reducing its ability to help countries facing disease outbreaks

The loss of more than 2,000 jobs at the World Health Organization (WHO) “will leave the world less healthy and less safe”, experts have warned.

The global health body said it expected to lose 2,371 posts – nearly a quarter of its workforce – by June 2026 as it deals with budget cuts after the US withdrawal from the organisation in January. At that point the WHO had 9,401 staff members.