As trust in the World Health Organization (WHO) wanes across the globe, India finds itself at a crossroads regarding its future role in global health frameworks. With key members like the United States and Russia withdrawing, countries are re-evaluating their affiliations. Critics argue that WHO is no longer the impartial body it once was, increasingly influenced by powerful donors like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies. This raises questions about the adequacy of global health policies, particularly for nations like India, which has diverse health challenges that require local solutions.
India’s history of charting its own course in health policy—such as during the HIV/AIDS crisis, polio eradication, and the COVID-19 pandemic—has been marked by innovative, people-centric approaches. Despite global pressure, India has advocated for affordable generics, led the call for vaccine equity, and developed CoWIN, its own digital vaccination platform.
Tobacco control exemplifies this disconnect. While WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) drives global policy, it often ignores India’s unique health needs, such as its large population of smokeless tobacco users. The country faces a mismatch between policies shaped by external influences and the on-ground realities that demand context-specific, flexible strategies. The market dynamics like other northeastern states, require a nuanced approach that balances public health goals with local practices, highlighting the need for greater flexibility in global health policies.
