President Donald Trump’s decision to exit the World Health Organization means the U.N. agency is losing its biggest funder.

WHO’s constitution, drafted in New York, doesn’t have a clear exit method for member states. A joint resolution by Congress in 1948 outlined that the U.S. can withdraw with one year's notice. This is contingent, however, on ensuring that its financial obligations to WHO “shall be met in full for the organization’s current fiscal year.”

In this April 15, 2020 file photo, the logo and building of the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

If the U.S. withdraws funding and support from WHO, critical programs that support the survival of women and children will be at risk.

As the WHO’s largest donor, the US departure raises critical concerns about funding, global health initiatives, and pandemic preparedness. Experts warn that this move could weaken international health collaboration,

US President Donald Trump says he may consider rejoining the World Health Organization if the country's share of contributions were lowered.

A number of leaders are skipping this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

One of the world's biggest global health funders will ask the private sector for a steep increase in donations as concern of a shortfall in government contributions grows following a US decision to exit the World Health Organization.

Switzerland's government said on Wednesday it planned to ban international adoptions due to concerns about abuses in the practice.

President Trump’s decision to pull out of the international health agency could deprive the United States of crucial scientific data and lessen the country’s influence in setting a global health agenda.

The US withdrawal from the WHO will have a severe impact on HIV, polio and many other health programmes on the African continent.

"Unfairly onerous payments" are cited in the executive order as a reason for WHO withdrawal. Countries’ dues are a percentage of their gross domestic product, meaning that as the world’s richest nation, the United States has generally paid more than other countries.