Argentina, HHS announce plans to create WHO alternative after leaving organization

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Argentine counterpart on Tuesday announced the United States and Argentina are creating an “alternative international health system” to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The announcement comes as both countries prepare to leave the global health alliance, and after the WHO adopted the first ever pandemic treaty, which says its aim is to help the world better respond to future health crises.

President Donald Trump on his first day in office signed an executive order that began the year-long process of withdrawing from the WHO, in part, over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Kennedy and Argentine Minister of Health Mario Lugones blasted the organization in a joint statement, claiming it failed to keep the trust of the global public, and accused it of failing to be transparent on critical information that left "devastating global consequences." 

“The absence of meaningful reforms, disproportionate financial demands, and the increasing politicization of the organization have ultimately led the United States and Argentina to withdraw from the WHO," the pair said. “Withdrawal marks the beginning of a new path—toward building a modern global health cooperation model grounded in scientific integrity, transparency, sovereignty, and accountability.

"Our shared commitment is to cost-effective, evidence-based public health interventions that prioritize prevention, especially in children, by addressing root causes such as environmental toxins, nutritional deficiencies and food safety standards," they said. 

The health leaders said the two countries plan to use "gold-standard science" to urgently address real health threats, and encouraged other countries to join the new alliance.

"Under President Donald J. Trump, the United States is restoring a sovereign, results-driven approach—putting people above politics," the pair said. "Argentina, likewise, supports public health systems rooted in autonomy, transparency, innovation, and scientific rigor. We can no longer support a system that fails to protect our people or deliver on its mandate. 

"The United States and Argentina invite all nations committed to scientific integrity, transparency, and the defense of human dignity to join us in shaping a new era of global health cooperation," they added.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.