The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning that severe funding cuts, particularly from the United States, are threatening decades of progress in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), the world’s deadliest infectious disease.
The global health agency emphasized that vital prevention, testing, and treatment services are at risk of collapsing, putting millions in danger.
Impact of Funding Cuts
The hardest-hit regions—Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific—rely heavily on international support to sustain their national TB programs. With funding disruptions looming, WHO officials fear a devastating impact on public health.
“Any disruption to TB services—whether financial, political, or operational—can have devastating and often fatal consequences for millions worldwide,” stated Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global Programme on TB and Lung Health, in a statement released on Wednesday.
The warning follows a recent statement from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who, on February 24, highlighted the broader consequences of funding cuts on key health programs combating TB, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and cholera.
Guterres stressed the need for urgent international intervention to prevent a major public health crisis.
Decades of Progress at Risk
Over the past 20 years, global TB programs have made significant strides, saving more than 79 million lives and preventing approximately 3.65 million deaths in 2023 alone.
A substantial portion of this success has been attributed to U.S. government funding, which has contributed between $200 million and $250 million annually—accounting for roughly 25% of all international donor funding.
As the largest bilateral donor in the fight against TB, the U.S. has played a critical role in providing resources for treatment, research, and preventive measures.
However, newly announced budget cuts for 2025, implemented through executive orders, are set to significantly undermine these efforts.
At least 18 high-burden countries, which were projected to receive 89% of the expected U.S. funding for TB care, will now face severe shortages of financial support.
Dire Consequences for High-Burden Regions
The impact will be especially devastating in African countries, where treatment interruptions and staff layoffs could trigger a sharp increase in TB transmission rates. Early reports from affected nations indicate that funding constraints are already dismantling critical health services, leading to:
- Layoffs of frontline health workers
- Drug shortages and supply chain disruptions
- Collapse of data and surveillance systems
- Stalled progress in TB research and funding
With an estimated 10.6 million people infected with TB annually and over 1.6 million deaths recorded in 2021, the disease remains one of the most persistent global health challenges. Experts fear that without urgent intervention, TB transmission rates will skyrocket, reversing decades of progress.
Call for Immediate Action
WHO has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting governments and global partners in sustaining TB response efforts.
However, the agency stressed that additional international support is urgently needed to bridge the financial gap left by U.S. funding cuts.
“Without immediate action, hard-won progress in the fight against TB is at risk. Our collective response must be swift, strategic, and fully resourced to protect the most vulnerable and maintain momentum toward ending TB,” Kasaeva urged.
Global health organizations and stakeholders are now exploring alternative funding sources, including increased contributions from private donors, philanthropic organizations, and government coalitions, to counteract the shortfall.
Some experts are also advocating for a reevaluation of national TB program budgets to ensure sustainability amid uncertain international funding.
A Global Health Crisis in the Making?
The looming crisis has reignited discussions on the need for a more resilient and self-sustaining global health financing model.
Public health advocates warn that continued dependence on fluctuating international aid exposes critical disease prevention programs to political and economic instability.
While WHO and other international bodies push for emergency funding solutions, the global health community remains on high alert, hoping for swift intervention before millions lose access to life-saving TB treatment and prevention services.
As the situation unfolds, the call for international solidarity grows louder, urging governments, health organizations, and donors to act decisively to prevent a resurgence of one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.
