By Staff Reporter
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm over the growing trend of reduced and suspended Official Development Assistance (ODA) for health, warning that such cuts are already weakening health systems in low- and middle-income countries and placing millions of lives at risk.
In its latest report titled “The Impact of Suspensions and Reductions in Health ODA on Health Systems,” WHO says the decrease in global health aid has come at a critical time when many countries are still reeling from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic instability, and climate-related shocks.
Health ODA has been a lifeline for vulnerable populations, and its reduction now threatens to reverse years of progress,” said the WHO.
“We are witnessing critical gaps in essential health services, from immunization to maternal care, due to the drying up of external funding.”
The report, based on in-depth case studies from countries including Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Somalia, reveals that cuts in donor support have led to disruptions in health worker salaries, stock-outs of essential medicines, and increased out-of-pocket expenditures by patients.
In Afghanistan, the report notes, the suspension of donor funding after August 2021 led to the collapse of over 2,000 primary health care facilities within a year. In Somalia, reductions in health aid forced major international partners to halt reproductive and maternal health services in several regions, contributing to spikes in maternal mortality.
The WHO emphasized that these funding decisions not only jeopardize individual health outcomes but also pose broader global health security risks. “When basic health systems are eroded, countries become more vulnerable to disease outbreaks, creating threats that do not respect borders,” the agency warned.
The organization urged donor countries to reconsider ODA decisions and prioritize sustainable, long-term investments in health systems. “Resilient health systems are the cornerstone of global stability and prosperity,” the report concludes.
