The Group of Seven leaders called for reform at the World Health Organization for a lack of transparency in response to the coronavirus crisis.
The group of the world’s major industrialized countries is composed of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
US president Donald Trump chaired a videoconference with G7 leaders in which they discussed a coordinated response to the crisis, as well as contributions provided to the WHO which amounts to more than $1 billion.
“G7 leaders agreed to remain committed to taking every necessary measure to ensure a strong and coordinated global response to this health crisis and the associated humanitarian and economic calamity and to launch a strong and sustainable recovery”, the statement reads.
Just days earlier, Trump halted funding to the WHO, accusing it of failing to share information with the world on time.
“Had the WHO done its job to get medical experts into China to objectively assess the situation on the ground and to call out China’s lack of transparency, the outbreak could have been contained at its source with very little death”, Trump said Tuesday.
The US also said it will redirect $400 million it would have paid the WHO this year to other international aid groups.
