A regional tobacco harm reduction advocacy group expressed concern over corruption allegations against the World Health Organization (WHO), citing the United States’ past withdrawal of support.
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) said it had “deep concerns” about recent events involving the global health body.
The group questioned the effectiveness of the WHO’s global public health policies, pointing to accusations of corruption and mismanagement in the Asia-Pacific region.
“It’s time to hold the WHO to its mandate and core mission of protecting global health based on science, not ideology; that is inclusive of all stakeholders, without judgment or prejudice,” said Nancy Loucas, CAPHRA executive coordinator.
The group alleged that Bloomberg Philanthropies exerts inappropriate influence on domestic policymaking in the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
CAPHRA said that in the Philippines, a 2021 House of Representatives hearing revealed that the local Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received grants from foreign private organizations funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies to draft regulations for cigarette alternatives.
It said that in Bangladesh, there was scrutiny surrounding the election of Saima Wazed as World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for South East Asia (SEARO) in November 2023.
Wazed, the daughter of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, faced allegations of improper influence by her mother. A Bangladeshi newspaper quoted the director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) saying corruption was suspected in Wazed’s appointment.
Pakistan’s government suspended the activities of Tobacco-Free Kids and Vital Strategies, two Bloomberg Philanthropies-funded non-governmental organizations (NGOs), citing violations. The Interior Ministry also requested the State Bank of Pakistan freeze their bank accounts.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Health faced allegations of incorporating the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) agenda into a draft regulation on plain packaging for cigarettes, raising concerns about foreign intervention in its tobacco policy.
Hikmahanto Juwana, an international law professor at the University of Indonesia (UI), said Indonesia should protect its national sovereignty from foreign intervention and that government policies should reflect domestic conditions.
It said that in India, New Delhi halted tobacco-control work by a small non-profit funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies after it failed to disclose its funding, according to a Reuters report. An official said other foreign-funded organizations would need prior approval for anti-tobacco activities in the capital.
The Consumer Choice Center in Vietnam said Bloomberg’s “harmful interference” threatened smoking reduction. A Facebook post showed WHO officials in Vietnam thanking Bloomberg-funded organizations for support in providing technical assistance on smoking and nicotine products.
“The push from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the WHO represents a form of regulatory colonialism, where foreign entities dictate policies without considering the unique challenges of individual countries,” the Consumer Choice Center said.
CAPHRA expressed concern about the allegations, particularly as the WHO prepares for the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the FCTC, scheduled for Nov. 17-22, 2025, in Geneva.
The U.S. withdrawal from the WHO, citing concerns over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and political influence, has prompted other countries, including Argentina, Hungary, Italy, and potentially Russia and the UK, to reassess their affiliations.
CAPHRA urged Asia-Pacific countries, including the Philippines, to assert independent policies and reject influence from foreign funders.
“At this year’s COP, it is crucial that the Philippines assert its sovereignty against Bloomberg’s influence over the FCTC and advocate for its own policies. This ensures that smokers who do not quit will have access to less harmful alternatives,” CAPHRA said.
CAPHRA promotes tobacco harm reduction (THR), advocating for less harmful alternatives to cigarettes such as vapes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches, citing scientific studies that show they are significantly less harmful than cigarettes.
