WHO Releases Guidance Amid Sharp Decline in Global Health Funding

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new guidance to help poorer countries manage severe cuts in global health financing. A new WHO report projects a 30-40% decline in funding for health services abroad this year compared to 2023, leading to up to 70% reductions in key health services in some low and middle-income countries. Over 50 of these nations also reported job losses among health and care workers, exacerbated by ongoing financial pressures from inflation, debt repayments, and dependence on external funding. The WHO warns that sudden cuts in aid are severely impacting critical health services like maternal care, vaccination, and disease surveillance, leading to loss of lives and jeopardizing health gains. WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasizes the need for these countries to move towards self-reliance by utilizing domestic resources to protect their most vulnerable populations. Several African countries are taking steps to bolster their health systems in response to reduced external funding. Nigeria has increased its health budget by $200 million, and Ghana has raised its excise tax revenues to boost its national health insurance fund by 60%. The WHO highlights the importance of national leadership and global solidarity in sustaining health systems amid decreased aid.