WHO Warns of Health Service Disruptions Amid Declining Foreign Aid

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Posted by newadmin on 2025-04-14 09:02:53 |

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning about growing disruptions to health services following reductions in official development assistance (ODA) for health. These cuts are severely affecting low- and lower-middle-income countries, undermining progress made in public health and exposing vulnerable populations to increased risks.

A survey conducted across 108 WHO country offices in March–April 2025 revealed that over 70% of them experienced significant disruptions. Key areas affected include emergency preparedness (70%), public health surveillance (66%), and basic service delivery (58%). Health workforce reductions, disrupted disease detection for malaria, HIV, TB, and lack of essential medicines are compounding the crisis.

The report also highlights a worrying rise in out-of-pocket healthcare costs in 24% of countries, pushing the burden onto low-income families. Health information systems, including disease reporting and national surveys, have been disrupted in over 40% of nations. In over half, training programs for health workers have been suspended, further weakening the system.

Despite the grim outlook, WHO notes a growing shift towards domestic health financing and resilience building. Encouragingly, 81 countries have sought WHO’s support for technical guidance, system planning, and alternative funding mechanisms. The organization calls for urgent global cooperation to protect public health and prevent long-term setbacks reminiscent of the COVID-19 crisis.

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