The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is grappling with a salary gap of more than $500 million for the next two-year budget cycle, according to its Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus.
Speaking on Monday, at the high-level opening of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Ghebreyesus said the organisation is taking measures to curtail spending in key areas, including travel, procurement, recruitment, and early retirement.
He noted that this is necessary to protect the organisation’s financial health.
“We are facing a salary gap for the next biennium of more than $500 million,” he said.
“The Secretariat has taken a range of measures to curtail costs in travel, procurement, recruitment, early retirement and more. These measures have helped to narrow the gap, but still, there is no alternative but to reduce the size of our workforce.”
The World Health Assembly is WHO’s highest decision-making body and is attended by delegates from all member states. This year’s assembly is themed “One World for Health.”
