Following the outbreak of swine flu in 2009, an independent expert group made stinging criticism of how the WHO had handled the pandemic. When the eyes are now again directed at the UN-based World Health Organization, the demands are high.

- I think they have so far been exemplary in many ways. They have had good information and have addressed the uncertainties surrounding covid-19, ”says Joacim Rocklöv, epidemiologist and professor at Umeå University, to SVT News.

His positive attitude surprises somewhat, given that Rocklöv was one of the authors of the report that in mid-February sent out WHO's estimate of the virus's spread of infection (according to the report estimated too low).

- It was an early stage of the outbreak. Covid-19 is something new and then tests show different. WHO is an important player in the larger perspective. Their recommendations may not always be consistent with the solution in individual countries, but are important for the global view.

But it has raised critical voices. The clearest belongs to US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to pause payments to the WHO because, according to him, the UN body has been "very China-centric".

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Of the 194 member states, the United States is very much the country that provides the most financial support, about 15 percent of the budget according to WHO's own figures. In comparison, China contributes less than 1 percent in financial aid.

Nevertheless, China's influence on WHO is what has been discussed most during the coronavirus outbreak.

On March 24, Sweden's Radio revealed that WHO has turned in its attitude to herbal medicine. From discouraging corona patients to using it as a drug to completely remove that recommendation. In China, healthcare is urged to use traditional Chinese herbal medicine against covid-19, suggesting Chinese impact on the reversal.

Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has also spoken in positive terms about how China managed to stop the spread of infection - despite much pointing out that the country has darkened death and infection rates.

Exactly how well or poorly the WHO has acted in the corona pandemic is premature to say, but that the UN body which in its constitution aims to "all people achieve the highest possible health" has a difficult job ahead of them, it does not need a independent expert group to understand.