The United States’ sudden decision to cut billions of dollars in aid programs will have huge implications for the health systems of the many countries reliant on its assistance. Many health clinics have shut down, and thousands of people have lost their jobs in the U.S. and abroad.
The shift in U.S. aid policy also raises questions about this year’s replenishments for established global health institutions such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, both of which have enjoyed significant support from the U.S. government for decades.
The current reality highlights the dysfunctional nature of global health, which has relied on foreign aid and perpetuated the need for global health institutions, said Olusoji Adeyi, president of Resilient Health Systems and former director of health, nutrition, and population global practice at the World Bank, during a recent Devex Pro briefing.