The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that 70% of its country offices are facing major disruptions to health services due to sudden reductions and suspensions in official development assistance (ODA) for healthcare. In a statement released on Friday, WHO expressed serious concern following a rapid assessment conducted between March and April 2025, involving 108 of its country offices. The survey, which primarily focused on low- and lower-middle-income nations, highlighted growing strain on global health systems. The organization warned that the impact of these disruptions could be long-lasting, emphasizing the urgent need for coordinated global support to reinforce healthcare systems, particularly in vulnerable regions.
“Many countries are striving to bridge funding gaps by reallocating domestic resources or seeking alternative external funding. Still, around 24% of WHO offices report that budget cuts are already driving up out-of-pocket healthcare costs, disproportionately affecting the poor and vulnerable,” the report noted.
Consequences of Sudden Aid Cuts
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the findings as alarming, illustrating how abrupt and uncoordinated aid cuts could negatively affect the health of millions.
“Although these funding cuts are jarring, they are also hastening a shift from aid dependency toward more sustainable, self-financed health systems,” he said.
Ghebreyesus added that many countries are seeking WHO's assistance, and the organization is actively working with them to develop tailored strategies to address their specific needs. He noted that the assessment offers early insights into the challenges WHO offices face as they collaborate with national health ministries on policy and planning.
The goal, he emphasized, is to provide the necessary support to prevent serious health crises and keep a close watch on the rapidly changing situation.
Widespread Impact on Health Systems
WHO reported that cuts to ODA are affecting nearly all aspects of health systems. The most frequently cited areas of impact include health emergency preparedness and response (70%), public health surveillance (66%), healthcare services (58%), humanitarian aid (56%), and the health workforce (54%).
One-third of the countries surveyed reported disruptions across all major health services. These include setbacks in detecting and responding to disease outbreaks, and declines in services for malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, family planning, and maternal and child health.
Some regions are experiencing disruptions on a scale similar to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A third of countries also reported critical shortages in essential medicines and health products.
Furthermore, more than half of the surveyed countries have seen layoffs in the health workforce and disruptions to training programs. Health information systems are also being hit, with over 40% of countries reporting issues in data systems crucial for emergency response, lab networks, and population surveys.
Call for Global Support
Dr. Ghebreyesus stated that 81 out of 108 WHO country offices have identified a pressing need for support across multiple health sectors. This includes innovative funding solutions, technical expertise, and capacity-building initiatives.
He concluded by affirming WHO’s commitment to closely monitoring the situation and working alongside global health partners and donors to provide urgent assistance and build long-term resilience.
