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APPLEBAUM: Keep the Disease Fighters Focused  

Though it does occupy itself most of the time with concerns such as preparedness for flu pandemics, some of its other priorities reflect its members' political agendas. For example, a large chunk of money is devoted every year to tackling the "social and economic factors that determine people's opportunities for health," such as poverty, education and climate change -- all worthy issues that would nevertheless seem well beyond the scope of an organization that should primarily be concerned with infectious diseases.

It gets worse: Like their U.N. colleagues, WHO bureaucrats spend much unnecessary time writing papers on legally dubious notions such as the "Right to Health"; others are scheming to create an international bureaucracy that would regulate all drug research and development; still others get sidetracked by issues such as obesity and automotive safety. The WHO's 2008-13 strategic plan speaks of promoting "programmes that enhance health equity and integrate pro-poor, gender-responsive, and human rights-based approaches," whatever that means. The organization is not exempt from other aspects of U.N. politics, either: Taiwan's repeated attempts to join the WHO are always vetoed by China, for example, and U.N. officials (speaking of human-rights-based approaches) routinely refuse Taiwanese journalists permission to cover WHO events. When the next epidemic starts in Taipei, we'll be sorry. . . .

Now, just as we might really be on the brink of an emergency, it is worth reminding ourselves that if we want the WHO to be there when we need it, the organization must be constantly monitored and fully funded. U.N. member governments should make absolutely sure it stays focused: After all, only the WHO is equipped to carry out the international monitoring of the spread of a new infectious disease. Let's cross our fingers and hope that this time, it hasn't been distracted by something else.

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