WHO Issues Guidance to Tackle Global Health Funding Cuts

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published new guidelines for nations on how to mitigate the short-term and long-term consequences of abrupt and drastic cuts to external financing, which are interfering with the provision of critical health services in numerous nations.

The new guidance, called “Responding to the health financing emergency: immediate measures and longer-term shifts”, offers a range of policy choices to help nations deal with unexpected financial shocks and support initiatives to raise and administer adequate and long-term funding for national health systems.

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Health services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are expected to be severely disrupted as external health aid declines by 30% to 40% in 2025 compared to 2023.

According to WHO survey data from 108 LMICs gathered in March 2025, funding cuts have resulted in a 70% reduction in certain countries for vital services like disease surveillance, immunization, maternal care, and emergency planning and response.

There have been significant delays to health worker training programs and employment losses among health and care workers in more than 50 nations.

“Sudden and unplanned cuts to aid have hit many countries hard, costing lives and jeopardizing hard-won health gains,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “But in the crisis lies an opportunity for countries to transition away from aid dependency towards sustainable self-reliance, based on domestic resources.

 WHO’s new guidance will help countries to better mobilize, allocate, prioritize and use funds to support the delivery of health services that protect the most vulnerable.”