Jonah Patel
The Constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO) is a treaty that forms the basis of the WHO's formation and functioning. It was signed by 61 countries on 22 July 1946 and came into force on 7 April 1948, when it was ratified by the 26th member state. The WHO's constitution outlines its role in promoting health as a fundamental right for all, regardless of race, religion, or social condition, and emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in achieving this goal. The WHO's structure, including its regional divisions and country offices, is also established in its constitution, with each region having a regional director who acts as the head of the organization for their respective region.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | 22 July 1946 |
| Signed by | 51 countries of the United Nations and 10 other countries |
| Date of coming into force | 7 April 1948 |
| Number of ratifications required to come into force | 26 |
| Number of ratifications when it came into force | 26 |
| Number of member states as of January 2025 | 194 |
| Number of associate members as of January 2025 | 2 |
| Date WHO formally began its work | 1 September 1948 |
| First WHO director-general | G. Brock Chisholm |
| First WHO assembly president | Andrija Štampar |
| First priorities | Control the spread of malaria, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted infections; improve maternal and child health, nutrition, and environmental hygiene |
| First legislative act | Compilation of accurate statistics on the spread and morbidity of disease |
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What You'll Learn
The constitution's history and adoption
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a member of the United Nations Development Group. As of January 2025, the WHO has 194 member states, all of which are members of the United Nations except for Liechtenstein, plus the Cook Islands and Niue. A state becomes a full member of the WHO by ratifying the treaty known as the Constitution of the World Health Organization.
The idea for an international health organization was first proposed in April 1945 during the Conference to set up the United Nations (UN) in San Francisco. Representatives from Brazil and China proposed the idea, and a conference to frame its constitution was convened. The Technical Preparatory Committee met in Paris from 18 March to 5 April 1946 and drew up proposals for the Constitution, which were presented to the International Health Conference in New York City from 19 June to 22 July 1946. On the basis of these proposals, the Conference drafted and adopted the Constitution of the World Health Organization, which was signed on 22 July 1946 by representatives of 51 UN members and 10 other nations.
The Constitution of the WHO officially came into force on the first World Health Day on 7 April 1948, when it was ratified by the 26th member state. The WHO formally began its work on 1 September 1948. The first Health Assembly opened in Geneva on 24 June 1948 with delegations from 53 of the 55 member states. The first meeting of the World Health Assembly secured a budget of US$5 million for the 1949 year. G. Brock Chisholm was appointed director-general of the WHO, and Andrija Štampar was the assembly's first president.
The WHO's first priorities were to control the spread of malaria, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted infections, and to improve maternal and child health, nutrition, and environmental hygiene. Its first legislative act concerned the compilation of accurate statistics on the spread and morbidity of disease.
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The WHO's founding principles
The WHO's constitution was first discussed in 1945 during the United Nations Conference on International Organization. It was signed on 22 July 1946 by 51 countries of the United Nations and 10 other countries, and it officially came into force on 7 April 1948—the first World Health Day—when it was ratified by the 26th member state. As of January 2025, the WHO has 194 member states. A state becomes a full member by ratifying the treaty, and several other countries have been granted observer status.
> "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition."
It also emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in achieving health for all, recognizing that the health of all peoples is essential for peace and security. Furthermore, it highlights the role of governments in providing adequate health and social measures to ensure the well-being of their citizens.
Article 44 of the WHO's constitution allows the organization to "establish a [single] regional organization to meet the special needs of [each defined] area." This has resulted in the creation of regional divisions and committees that work alongside the WHO's country offices to advise governments on health and pharmaceutical policies.
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The WHO's role and responsibilities
The World Health Organization's (WHO) constitution came into force on April 7, 1948, on the first World Health Day. The WHO's role and responsibilities are outlined in its constitution, which was signed by 61 states on July 22, 1946, and ratified by 26 member states in 1948.
The WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations with 194 member states as of January 2025. All UN member states except Liechtenstein are included, as well as the Cook Islands and Niue. A state becomes a full member by ratifying the treaty, and the budget is paid by its members. Several countries, such as Palestine and the Holy See, have observer status.
The WHO's main functions include being the primary adviser to governments on health and pharmaceutical policies. It also works to extend medical, psychological, and related knowledge to all people, emphasizing that health is a fundamental right that includes physical, mental, and social well-being. The organization's early priorities included controlling the spread of infectious diseases like malaria and tuberculosis, and improving maternal and child health.
The WHO has regional divisions with country offices, each headed by a Regional Director who is the direct supervising authority of WHO Representatives within the region. Regional committees consist of all Health Department heads in the region's governments and are responsible for electing the regional director, setting guidelines for policy implementation, and reviewing the progress of WHO actions within the region.
The WHO plays a critical role in global health, and its work over the decades has contributed to building a healthier future for people worldwide.
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Regional organisation and committees
The World Health Organization (WHO) is governed by its constitution, which outlines its functions, structure, and principles. One of the key aspects of WHO's organization is its regional structure, which allows for a global reach and the
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The WHO's member states
The World Health Organization's constitution came into force on the first World Health Day, 7 April 1948, and was ratified by the 26th member state. As of January 2025, the WHO has 194 member states, comprising all member states of the United Nations except Liechtenstein, as well as the Cook Islands and Niue. A state becomes a full member of the WHO by ratifying the treaty known as the Constitution of the World Health Organization.
The regional committee is in charge of setting the guidelines for the implementation, within the region, of the health and other policies adopted by the World Health Assembly. It also serves as a progress review board for the actions of WHO within the Region. The regional director is effectively the head of WHO for their region and manages and/or supervises a staff of health and other experts at the regional offices and in specialised centres.
The WHO's first meeting of the World Health Assembly finished on 24 July 1948, having secured a budget of US$5 million for the 1949 year. Its first priorities were to control the spread of malaria, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections, and to improve maternal and child health, nutrition and environmental hygiene.
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Frequently asked questions
The constitution of the WHO is a treaty that outlines the organization's functions and principles. It was adopted by the International Health Conference held in New York from June 19 to July 22, 1946, and entered into force on April 7, 1948.
The constitution emphasizes that health is a fundamental human right, stating that "the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition." It also highlights the importance of international cooperation in improving global health and the responsibility of governments in providing adequate health and social measures for their citizens.
The WHO's constitution provides the legal basis for the organization's existence and operations. It establishes the WHO as a specialized agency of the United Nations, with the power to establish regional organizations to meet the specific needs of different areas. The constitution also outlines the roles and responsibilities of the various governing bodies within the WHO, including the World Health Assembly, regional committees, and country offices.
