World Health Organization
Topic A: Global Disparities in Health Professional Training
Topic B: Addressing Substance Use Disorder
Topic Description
Established in 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) is the United Nations’ specialized agency for global health, committed to ensuring the highest attainable standard of health for all. With a history of tackling global threats—from smallpox to COVID-19—the WHO serves as a key convener of governments, scientists, and public health experts, shaping international responses to both chronic and emerging health crises.
This year, the WHO committee will begin by voting between two timely and complex topics. The first centers on global disparities in health professional training. Across the world, the distribution of medical education resources is highly unequal — some countries host hundreds of training institutions, while others have none. These disparities, compounded by inconsistent quality standards and limited continuing education, create systemic gaps in care, especially in rural and low-income regions. Delegates will explore how to design scalable, equitable, and sustainable frameworks for global health workforce development.
The second topic examines substance use disorder, a growing crisis that intersects with healthcare systems, international law, organized crime, and human rights. With addiction affecting over 35 million people worldwide, delegates will consider whether current prohibition-based approaches are effective or whether health-centered, harm reduction strategies are more appropriate. Key questions include the role of pharmaceutical accountability, public health infrastructure, and international cooperation in preventing and treating substance use disorders.
No matter which issue is selected, delegates will be challenged to consider the ethical, political, and logistical dimensions of global health policy. They will be expected to collaborate diplomatically, ground their arguments in scientific research, and develop pragmatic solutions that reflect the complexity of modern global health governance.
Avani Rai - Director
Avani Rai is a junior at Harvard studying Economics and Statistics, with a minor in Government, from central Illinois. While she did not participate in Model UN in high school, she competed in Impromptu and Extemporaneous speech on the national and state public speaking circuits, allowing her to exercise similar communication and critical thinking skills. At Harvard, in an effort to pursue her interest in international relations, she joined the Intercollegiate MUN team and staffed and directed at HMUN and HNMUN Boston. Now, she is excited to take her love for MUN to Dubai! Outside HMUN, Avani is involved in The Harvard Undergraduate Consulting Group, writes for The Harvard Crimson, and conducts economics research.