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| - Last Updated on September 13, 2024 by Dr Priyamvada
Quick Take
A social media video claims that the WHO is taking over the Indian government. We did the fact check to term this claim as False.
The Claim
There have been circulating claims that the WHO is taking control over the Indian government through a new agreement, as seen in this Instagram video. These claims are often shared by groups like the Awaken India Movement, raising concerns about national sovereignty. It further alleges that there will be no fundamental and constitutional rights, and every nation will have to follow whatever the WHO mandates.
Fact Check
What is the Awaken India Movement?
The Awaken India Movement became known during the COVID-19 pandemic for opposing key public health measures. As seen in their demands, they reject lockdowns, masks, social distancing, testing, and vaccines. They also spread false information about 5G technology and GMO foods and stand against global efforts like the “Great Reset.” Here is a screenshot of the same:
Although they claim to fight for personal freedoms, their ideas are harmful. Encouraging people to refuse vaccines, testing, and other important measures during a pandemic puts everyone at risk. These claims create fear and spread misinformation, making it harder to protect public health.
It’s important to remember that health measures, though inconvenient at times, are crucial for saving lives, especially in emergencies like COVID-19. The Awaken India Movement spreads fear and diverts attention from real solutions by promoting these reckless demands. It further puts public safety in danger.
What is the WHO Pandemic Treaty?
The WHO Pandemic Treaty refers to an agreement proposed to improve global responses to pandemics. Officially called the “International Treaty on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response,” its goal is to ensure countries work together more efficiently in future health crises. It was first proposed after the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how unprepared the world was for such a large-scale event.
The Treaty aims to make sure that information is shared more quickly, vaccines and medicines are distributed more fairly, and countries cooperate to prevent pandemics from spreading. The objectives of the Pandemic Treaty nowhere say that the WHO is going to take over governments globally. However, the Treaty does not give WHO any power over national governments or their decision-making processes.
How does the WHO work?
The WHO is a global health organisation that supports countries in improving public health. While it provides guidelines and advice during health emergencies, it has no legal authority over any country, including India. Each nation decides independently whether to follow the WHO’s recommendations. The WHO collaborates closely with governments and partners, offering guidance but never controlling any country’s health policies. India, like all other nations, retains full control over its health affairs.
The proposed Pandemic Treaty seeks to enhance global cooperation to protect everyone, from young people to healthcare workers. If adopted, it would promote transparency and collaboration among nations in responding to pandemic threats, while also holding governments accountable for their actions. Crucially, the Treaty would not grant the WHO or any international organisation control over a country’s public health policies. Every nation, including India, would retain full authority over its health decisions, based on its own laws and policies.
Can the WHO take over government decisions in India?
No, the WHO cannot take over government decisions in India or any other country. Like all the WHO member nations, India too, will remain fully sovereign. The WHO provides only health-related advice and guidelines. But, it does not have the power to enforce these recommendations. Decisions about health policies, laws, and actions are made by the Indian government alone.
The claims that the WHO Pandemic Treaty will allow the WHO to override national laws or control governments are false. The Treaty is about improving international cooperation in health crises, not about taking control of national governments. Here is a screenshot of the WHO Pandemic Agreement stating the same (paragraph 2):
We checked with Dr Vinita Jha, Director of Research and Academics at Max Healthcare, New Delhi, for her expert views on this claim. In talking to us, she explains in detail, “The WHO pandemic treaty is essentially a global framework designed to help countries work together more effectively during pandemics. It focuses on things like sharing crucial data quickly, ensuring vaccines and treatments are available where they’re needed, and improving overall preparedness for handling global health emergencies.”
Dr Jha further states, “That said, the idea that this treaty gives the WHO control over a country’s public health decisions is a misunderstanding. Every country, including India, retains full control over its health policies. The WHO can provide advice, support, and coordination, but it doesn’t have the power to enforce its recommendations.”
She very clearly denies that the WHO is taking over the Indian Government, saying, “India’s government, like others around the world, makes its own decisions based on its unique context and needs. The WHO’s role is to support—not to dictate—what countries should do. Ultimately, the power to shape public health policy remains with the national government.”
Why are these claims circulating?
The fear that the WHO could take control of governments likely comes from misunderstandings about the Pandemic Treaty. In times of health crises, misinformation spreads quickly, and groups like the Awaken India Movement can add to these fears. For instance, the recent emergence of the Mpox health emergency has fuelled a lot of conspiracy theories, like connecting the Mpox outbreak to the upcoming US elections, suggesting that the public health measures are basically to control populations and election results instead of disease control. Similarly, this was the case with the COVID-19 pandemic too. They may see the Treaty as a threat to national sovereignty, but the facts do not support this view.
There is no clause or part of the WHO Pandemic Treaty that grants the organisation control over any country’s government or its policies. The Indian government, like any other, retains full authority over its decisions, and WHO’s role remains advisory.
THIP Media Take
The claim that the WHO is taking over the Indian government is false. The WHO Pandemic Treaty aims to help countries manage global health emergencies through cooperation, not control. India will remain a fully sovereign nation, and the WHO has no legal authority over its decisions.
It’s important to seek correct information and avoid misinformation that spreads fear and unnecessary panic. The WHO supports countries during crises but does not dictate their actions. Understanding the true role of the WHO helps us see the need for global cooperation while also ensuring countries like India keep full control over their own policies.
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