729 



clue to a substantially improved health picture for the world. A greater 

 U.S. influence, however, would satisfy the demands of American 

 policymakers that such influence exists. The Congress can also be 

 expected to find merit in the equal representation of donor and 

 recipient countries on the UNDP Governing Council as well as 

 improA-ed coordination of international health work through that 

 Council. 



For comparative purposes it is useful to show the relative amounts 



which the United States contributes to international health (WHO) 



through involuntary assessment and the amount which it spends on 



certain related activities. The U.S. assessed contribution to WHO for 



1971 represents approximately: 



— One dollar for every 800 dollars which the Federal Government 



appropriates in one way or another to its own total health budget ; 



— One dollar for every 2000 dollars which United States citizens 



spend for health care ; 

 —Less than one half of one percent of the total outflow of funds 

 for overall technical assistance to the lesser developed countries; 

 — About 15 percent of the total assessed contributions of the U.S. 



to all international organizations; and 

 — Abont 20 percent of the total U.S. assessed contributions to the 

 UN and its Specialized Agencies. 



III. U.S. Agencies Supportixg International Health Programs 



There are 20 U.S. Government units w^hich in one way or another 

 are involved in international health and related programs. The latest 

 estimate for the amount of funds provided annually by the U.S. 

 Government in support of this omnibus category is "$175 million, 

 exclusive of the Food for Peace Program, foreign currencies generated 

 by repayment of loans and the sale of agricultural surpluses under 

 Public Law 480, and the funds made available through the 

 internaitional lending agencies." "^ 



Apparently, overseas scientific activities, including biomedical 

 research, peaked around 1965 and together with AID health activities 

 have been gradually declining since then. 



The major U.S. Government departments or agencies which support 

 programs of research, technical assistance, or economic aid in health 

 and related subjects overseas, are the Department of State, the Depart- 

 ment of Health, Education, and Welfare, and the Department of 

 Defense. 



International Health Acticities of the Department of State 



The two principal organizations in the Department of State that 

 have to do Avith international health matters are the Bureau of Inter- 

 national Organization Affairs and the Agency for International 

 Development (AID). 



The Bureau of International Organization Affairs administei"S the 

 U.S. contributions to international and Inter- American organizations 

 and to certain special programs. These activities, especially as they 

 relate to WHO and PAHO, are discussed in Section IV. 



'38 "International Cooperation in Health and Sanitation Programs." Draft prepared by 

 the U.S. Department of Health. Education, and Welfare, and the Agency for International 

 Development (November 8, 1965), page 18.5. 



