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Part VI

WHO'S MATERIAL RESOURCES

While collaborative effort is a remarkable aspect of the operation of the World Health Organization, the programs must also be supported by money and manpower.

In this section, the growth, distribution, and current status of WHO's budgets and staffing are briefly outlined.

As modest as the present level of WHO's financial resources will be shown to be, fortunately they compare favorably with the feeble resources previously available to international health. For example, the health budget of the League of Nations never exceeded $400,000, of which only $200,000 was contributed by governments. During the interwar period, it is estimated that the total annual contribution to international health work never reached $300,000, including contributions to the International Office of Public Health in Paris and the Pan American Sanitary Bureau. Of that sum, the United States, which was not a member of the League, contributed only $6,000 to the world program and $60,000 to the hemispheric one each year.

1. Total finances

A. WHO'S TOTAL RESOURCES

WHO currently finances its operations (1959 budget) from three sources, divided roughly as follows (for precise details, see tables 6-A, 6-B, and charts 6-A and 6-B).

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The total funds available to WHO have grown to the current level of $26 million from about $13 million in 1953. However, the resources have less than doubled in real terms because of the worldwide inflationary trend over these years.

In connection with collaboration among international agencies, it is worth noting that UNICEF and WHO jointly support many projects. WHO provides health personnel for these projects, subject to availability of funds. In earlier years, UNICEF reimbursed WHO for some international health staff for which WHO did not have funds. This reimbursement amounted to approximately $500,000 per year from 1952 through 1955. Thereafter, however, the reimbursements declined, and in 1958 and 1959 no reimbursement is regarded as

necessary.

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TABLE 6-A.-Distribution of contributions to the 1959 regular budget of WHO

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TABLE 6-B.-Obligations incurred 1952 to 1957 and estimated costs for 1958 and 1959 under the regular budget, the malaria eradication special account, the expanded program of technical assistance, and UNICEF reimbursements

'Amount expected to be reimbursed from the expanded program of technical assistance toward the costs of administrative and operational services previously paid directly from

expanded program of technical assistance funds.

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Technical personnel for jointly assisted UNICEF/WHO projects (included under Other Extra-budgetary Funds) for which UNICEF has allocated funds.

CHART 6-B

REVISED ESTIMATES UNDER REGULAR BUDGET FOR 1957 COMPARED WITH APPROVED
1958 AND 1959 ESTIMATES

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With respect to the regular budget, the expenses of WHO are, under article 56 of its constitution, apportioned among the members in accordance with a scale fixed by the Health Assembly. The scale is, by decision of the World Health Assembly, based on the scale of assessments of the United Nations, taking into account the difference in membership.

Eighty-eight countries contribute to the regular budget of WHO. The amounts of the contributions vary widely because of wide variations in economic capacity. One of the most remarkable aspects of the regular budget is the willingness of countries with meager resources to help with the common effort.

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