WHO

Reducing Health System Corruption

The Committee: The World Health Organization was established in 1948, designed to lead international efforts to combat diseases and improve healthcare systems. They currently have 8000+ medical specialists worldwide and 194 member states. They operate under five core values that are clearly reflected in their work. The WHO has played a huge role in containing many diseases including smallpox, ebola, and COVID-19. However, corruption is a pressing issue in global healthcare that the WHO is combating through international programs and legislation. For example, the WHO is reported to have spent $11.72 million on BCG consultants during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic instead of providing and paying for medical assistance. In this committee, delegates will engage in discussions about international corruption and how to address it.

The Topic: Patient exploitation is the most common form of healthcare corruption. Patient exploitation is the unethical treatment of individuals, especially vulnerable populations, for illicit purposes. It can come in many forms, the most common bribery, whether it’s overcharging for services, selling patient information, or, the most common, bribing. Although many legislation were passed in countries across the world, many people in the healthcare sector find some way to either bypass the consequences or simply ignore them. The intense risks exploitation leads to makes it crucial that delegates address this issue. Supply theft and resource mismanagement in global healthcare systems harms patient care, with an estimated $765 billion in medical supplies lost to negligence and theft. This results in critical shortages and inefficiencies that jeopardize access, particularly in developing countries, where patients face longer wait times and inadequate treatment. To combat these issues, strong governance and accountability are essential. Despite some progress through increased security, ongoing corruption still threatens healthcare quality, making it vital to address these challenges to ensure optimal care. Falsification of medical research is a lesser known form of corruption, yet still important. It erodes credibility of global medical institutions. Many steal other’s work in order to push their own career and reputation. Some may even get money out of the theft. This undermines trust in global institutions and also harms patients. False data may lead to ineffective and harmful treatments. Because it’s lesser known, falsification is often underlooked and unaddressed.