Corrupção na Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS): uma análise institucionalista da estrutura organizacional e das crises sanitárias (2000-2019)

Abstract

This work aims to analyze corruption within the World Health Organization (WHO), considering its institutional structure and experiences in addressing health crises. Currently, the WHO faces several challenges in promoting global health due to corrupt practices, such as mismanagement of administration and finances, influence of private actors, and lack of transparency. We assume that such practices are related to institutional failures, which is why the normative institutionalist theory is employed to investigate the proposed objective. Documents from the WHO, such as its Constitution, Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA), and Internal Auditor Report, lack regulations and effective actions to combat corruption. Methodologically, we adopt qualitative research, based on literature review and three case studies, two of which involve health crises, namely the H1N1 (2009-2010) and Ebola (2014) outbreaks, and the other focuses on the influence of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on the organization. Through these three studies, it is evident that institutional failures within the organization contribute to corruption, even during the response to global health crises. Ultimately, we conclude that these illegitimate practices undermine the effectiveness of the organization, impairing its ability to respond to crises and compromising its institutional structure.