The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm over a projected decline in external health aid, which is expected to fall by 30% to 40% by 2025 compared to levels in 2023. This decline poses a significant threat to health services in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), prompting the WHO to call upon policymakers to prioritize health funding even amidst financial crises.
A survey encompassing 108 LMICs, conducted in March 2025, revealed that funding cuts have compromised critical health services. Some countries have reported reductions in essential care, including maternal health, vaccinations, emergency preparedness, and disease surveillance, by as much as 70%. More than 50 countries also indicated losses in health and care employment, alongside significant interruptions to health worker training programs.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General, expressed concern over the “sudden and unplanned cuts to aid,” stating that these have severely impacted nations, putting lives at risk and threatening hard-earned health achievements. However, he emphasized that this crisis presents an opportunity for countries to reduce their dependency on foreign aid and build sustainable self-reliance through domestic resources.
In response to the funding crisis, WHO has issued new guidance aimed at helping countries cope with the immediate and future repercussions of these financial cuts, which have disrupted essential health service delivery. This guidance, titled “Responding to the health financing emergency: immediate measures and longer-term shifts,” offers a range of policy options to help nations mobilize and implement necessary and sustainable financing for their health systems.
The WHO’s warning comes at a crucial time when global health funding has plummeted to its lowest point in 15 years, with notable reductions in aid from several nations, including the United States and various European countries. The withdrawal of U.S. financial support for the WHO and significant cuts from countries like the United Kingdom and France exacerbate the situation, emphasizing the urgent need for governments to reassess their health funding priorities.
As nations navigate these challenges, the call for innovative strategies and domestic resource mobilization is more critical than ever. The WHO’s initiatives mark a progressive step toward empowering countries to maintain and improve their health systems, even in the face of diminishing external support.