The next three months are a "window of opportunity," according to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO. Several treatment methods show positive results and even more are under development. At the same time, several vaccine projects are taking steps towards a finished product.

The problem, according to Ghebreyesus, is that the organization is severely underfunded and lacks the means to capitalize on its medical success.

Gates among the donors

- We are very grateful for the grants we have received, but it is only 10 percent of the billions required to be able to fulfill the promise from ACT, said the director general at a press conference on Monday.

ACT stands for "Access to Covid-19 tools" (roughly: Access to covid-19 tools) and is an initiative to raise money for the pandemic fight. In addition to the European Commission and a number of heads of state, the spouses and philanthropists Melinda and Bill Gates are also among the initiators.

The United States has cut ties

But despite resourceful financiers, the lack of money is obvious. Just to be able to develop and distribute vaccines, the organization needs $ 100 billion (approximately $ 874 billion).

Exactly how the WHO will finance its work has received a lot of attention recently, not least after US President Donald Trump announced in May that the country is breaking off its cooperation with the organization. The United States is the country that gives by far the most money to the WHO and accounted for 15 percent of the organization's budget for 2018 and 2019.