Germany, Spain express political, financial support for WHO

Health ministers from Spain and Germany Thursday voiced support for the World Health Organization (WHO) as the two officials joined a press briefing with WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Geneva.

"Germany remains, a strong supporter and a friend, sometimes a critical friend but a strong friend of the WHO," Germany's Health Minister Jens Spahn said. 

"The still ongoing pandemic shows that an interconnected world needs global level crisis management. We need a strong, efficient, transparent and accountable WHO today more than ever."

Spahn also announced Germany would contribute a record half billion euros in funding this year, as well as medical equipment and supplies for countries where it is urgently needed.

"Isolated national answers to international problems are doomed to fail. Germany will do its part to give the WHO the political, financial and technical backing that is needed," Spahn said. 

Speaking at the briefing, French Health Minister Olivier Veran also said France will also support WHO's efforts in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and would give 90 million euros to a WHO research center in Lyon as well as an additional contribution of 50 million euros.

"I truly believe the world needs, more than ever, a multilateral organization," Veran said. "I believe the world cannot get rid of partners. We need a global answer (to COVID-19) and only the WHO can provide that answer."

Tedros expressed gratitude to the backings, adding: "We're getting today all the support we need, political and financial."

(With input from Reuters)