The World Health Organization (WHO) issues a warning on the disturbances of the health services reported in 70% of its country offices questioned due to sudden suspensions and the reduction of official development assistance (ODA) for health.
The results, depending on the rapid evaluation of the WHO of the rapid development situation, show concern for potentially deeper and prolonged effects on health systems and services around the world, especially in vulnerable and fragile contexts. This requires urgent action and an international response.
The new fast stock takes Directed in March-April 2025 with 108 WHO country offices, mainly in low and lower income countries, shows that many countries are working to increase or reassign funding from national and alternative external sources to fill the gaps. However, up to 24% of the responses from the country’s office that suggests that budget cuts already result in an increase in pocket payments. The poor and vulnerable are likely to risk the most of these impacts.
“These results paint a disturbing image of the impact of sudden and unforeseen cuts to help the health of millions of people,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is managing director. “Although these cuts are a shock, they also move an accelerated transition from dependence on aid to more sustainable autonomy, based on national resources. Many countries are asking for who is supporting and working with them to identify and adapt the most effective measures. ”
The stock takes on reports Provide an early snapshot and the ideas of the country offices that work closely with the Ministries of Health, providing regular support on policies and planning of health systems. The stock took the identification of urgent support whose countries must avoid the catastrophic impacts on the health of the populations and guide the monitoring of the rapidly evolving situation.
The main conclusions of the stock display the following.
- ODA suspensions and discounts disrupt all the functions of the health system, the most frequently reported impacts being on the preparation and response to emergency emergencies (70%), surveillance of public health (66%), the provision of services (58%), humanitarian aid (56%) and health and care workforce (54%).
- Health services are disrupted at all levels in at least a third of responding countries, with high levels of disturbances reported in the detection and response of epidemics, malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, family planning and maternal and child health services.
- The nature and scale of service disturbances are comparable to those observed during the peak periods of the COVVI-19 pandemic in certain contexts.
- Critical shortages in the availability of drugs and health products leave a third of the countries responding without basic products for the main areas of service.
- The ODA break has led to job losses for health and care workers in more than half of responding countries and significant disturbances in training.
- Information systems are particularly affected as key health data is disturbed. More than 40% of countries have experienced disruptions of the main information systems, including collaborative surveillance and emergency systems, health management information systems, disease -specific relationship systems, laboratory information systems and domestic / population surveys.
- Eighty-one of the 108 WHO country offices expressed the need for support in a wide range of health areas, including innovative funding and resource mobilization, targeted technical assistance and support.
Given the rapidly evolving context, which will monitor the situation over time and will initiate the World Health Community, including partners and donor agencies, to enlighten urgent response plans to mitigate the supply of countries and allow greater sustainability.
Note to publishers:
These results represent a snapshot of the situation of health systems and health services in the context of a rapidly evolving situation. WHO Superior Bureau staff were interviewed during the period from March 7 to April 2, 2025 to provide inputs and observations on the impact of ADA suspensions and reductions thanks to a structured survey. WHO Pays offices in low -income and lower -income countries in the six WHO regions were included in this survey. They do not reflect the official opinions of the governments of countries, territories and areas. Which has a global presence in more than 150 locations emphasizing countries and populations, working to protect and improve the health of all, everywhere. More information.