Global health funding hits 15-year low as US and Europe cut aid

Global health funding has plummeted to its lowest point in fifteen years following significant aid reductions by the United States and multiple European governments. According to recent reports, overall international health assistance has declined from $80 billion in 2021 to under $40 billion this year, raising serious concerns about worldwide pandemic preparedness and essential health services in vulnerable nations.

US Leadership in Funding Reductions

The United States has implemented the most substantial cuts, reducing its global health contributions by 67%—representing more than $9 billion—under the Trump administration. On his first day in office, President Trump announced Washington's withdrawal from the World Health Organization and the termination of its $640 million annual contribution to the agency. This formal departure is scheduled to take effect in January, despite warnings from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that the abrupt exit "should have allowed an exit strategy" and has already resulted in preventable deaths.

WHO Downsizing and European Cuts

The World Health Organization is undergoing its most significant organizational downsizing in history, with a 20% budget reduction for the upcoming two-year period and approximately 600 staff members facing layoffs at its Geneva headquarters. European nations have similarly scaled back their commitments, with the United Kingdom implementing 40% cuts and France reducing contributions by 33%. This collective retreat from global health cooperation reflects shifting geopolitical priorities toward domestic defense and economic concerns.

Broader Impact on Global Health Initiatives

The funding crisis extends beyond the WHO, affecting major global health initiatives including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has seen a $300 million annual reduction in US support and has downsized its workforce by 24%. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has also faced funding shortfalls. Health advocates including Bill Gates warn these cuts could reverse decades of progress, potentially causing child mortality rates to rise for the first time in 25 years, while African nations are increasingly focusing on domestic health financing in response to the changing international landscape.