India is revisiting its role within global health frameworks as concerns rise over the World Health Organization’s (WHO) increasing influence from powerful donors like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies. With countries such as the United States, Argentina, and Russia distancing themselves from the WHO, India is now at a pivotal moment. Critics argue that the WHO is no longer a neutral health body but is increasingly shaped by external interests that may not align with the realities of countries like India, which faces complex and diverse public health challenges.
India’s approach to public health has always been centered around homegrown solutions, as seen during the HIV/AIDS crisis, the polio eradication campaign, and its leadership in the development of the CoWIN platform during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, global health frameworks often fail to address India’s unique needs, particularly in tobacco control, where the WHO’s policies are seen as disconnected from local health realities.
Local stakeholders are calling for more adaptive, context-sensitive approaches to public health, particularly in areas like tobacco control, where solutions tailored to the region’s specific challenges are seen as crucial for long-term success.
