What’s wrong with the WHO?

The World Health Organization has 8,000 employees, a budget of close to $4bn dollars, considerable influence and ambitious goals. Expanding access to medical care. Managing global health emergencies. Addressing the root causes of disease. Even combatting misinformation online. To the latter, one is tempted to respond, “Physician, heal thyself.” That’s because, when it comes to one of the most important public health questions of our time — how best to reduce the death and disease caused by smoking tobacco — the WHO is not merely failing to curb misinformation. It is misleading governments, health care workers and the public.