724 



two things are necessary. The first essential is an analysis by 

 each country — at whatever stage of health evolution it may 

 be — of the most vital health problems which may be attacked 

 with maximum results at minimum cost. The second essential 

 is the development of cooperative prog-rams of technical as- 

 sistance, in whicli the more fortunate areas may cooperate with 

 those of less advanced development for the common goal of a 

 healthful, prosperous, and peaceful world.^^^ 



Xevertheless, disagreement has persisted. On the one hand, ancl 

 speaking for a number of countries, Dr. Evang told the third World 

 Health Assembly : 



If half, or one-third, or even one-tenth of the present scien- 

 tific knowledge of medicine had been spelt out in terms of 

 public health administrations, hospitals, sick insurance 

 schemes, doctors, nurses and auxiliary personnel, in a proper 

 production and distribution of drugs and insecticides, medical 

 literature and equipment, the picture of the Avhole world 

 would have been very different indeed from that which meets 

 the eve today * * =^\ 



"The vast majority of the peoples of the world still live in 

 bondage to disease and misery. Science knows the means to 

 rapid improvement, and we know how to administer the 

 proper health measures. We are not dreamers, but practical 

 men. Nevertheless, a majority of the member countries them- 

 selves voted a budget for WHO which is disastrously inade- 

 quate. Wliy has this situation arisen and why do we uphold it ? 

 I am not offering an explanation, because I know of none 

 which would satisfy you and me.^^*^ 



Representatives of other nations at the same Assembly dissented 

 and expressed other concerns : . 



* * * Ivest the Organization attempt to cover too much ground 

 superficially, and pointed out that it was essential to limit 

 its activities to work that could only be done through inter- 

 national machinery or particularly lent itself to international 

 action. That international funds should be spent sparingly, 

 and primarily to help countries face problems for which their 

 own resources are inadequate, has been repeatedly emphasized 

 by representatives of all governments and is one of the funda- 

 mental principles on which international w^ork rests.^-^ 



SOME ASPECTS OF U.S. SUPPORT OF THE WHO BUDGET 



As the activities of WHO began to appear rewarding, and as the 

 number of member nations increased, the Organization received more 

 requests for aid and assistance. The Director-General's budgets re- 

 flected this growing need for funds and the World Health Assembly 

 with few exceptions voted approval of the increased budgets each 

 year. The budgetary approvals often resulted from the large vote 



"9 C. E. A. Winslow. "The cost of sickness and the i)riep of health.'' WHO Monograph 

 Series, No. 7 (Geneva. 1951), pages 9-10. 

 12" Third World Health Assemhly, 1950. 

 121 WHO Chronicle, (July 1960). 



