BUENOS AIRES: Argentina said on Wednesday it will pull out of the World Health Organisation, following in the footsteps of the United States and citing similar complaints over the UN body`s management of the Covid-19 pandemic.

President Javier Milei`s spokesman announced the decision two weeks after President Donald Trump, an ideological ally and hero of the Argentine leader, announced Washington`s planned exit from the agency.

Milei`s decision was based on `deep differences regarding health management especially during the pandemic, spokesman Manuel Adorni told reporters, adding Argentina would not `allow an international body to interfere in our sovereignty.` He cited the `longest lockdown in the history of humanity` and `a lack of independence (at the WHO) in the face of the political influence of some states,` without naming names.

Adorni insisted the measure gave Argentina `greater flexibility to implement policies adapted to the context` locally, while ensuring `greater availability of resources.

WHO data shows Argentina contributed some $8.75 million in membership fees to the organisation across 2022 and 2023 0.11 per cent of the total budget. It is slated to contribute $8.25 million for the two-year 2024/25 cycle.-AFP