UK warned that 15% cut to health fund will force ‘impossible choices’ on Africa | Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Campaigners claim the UK is undermining its legacy in tackling infectious diseases, including AIDS and malaria, by cutting money pledged to a leading global health fund.
Reducing the contribution margin by 15 percent Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria The fear, he pleads, this week’s announcement – in a year when the UK co-hosts the fund’s boosting effort along with South Africa – risks encouraging other countries to scale back their commitments.
The government announced an £850 million commitment to the fund on Tuesday, up from £1 billion in the latest round.
Campaigners urge UK prime minister Keir Starmer to show leadership and attend meeting Supply summit in Johannesburg It’s towards the end of November and to find extra money.
This smaller commitment is part of the UK government’s cut in aid spending from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of GDP in a bid to boost defense funding.
UK Development Minister Jenny Chapman said: this year’s financing “In dollars […] It’s just 5% less than the amount pledged for 2023-25 and will “save up to 1.3 million lives, prevent up to 22 million new cases or infections of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, and deliver health gains and economic returns of up to £13 billion in the countries where the Global Fund works”.
But campaigners said the cut would have a drastic impact. Prof Kenneth Ngure, president-elect of the International Aids Foundation, said: “The Global Fund saves lives every day through its work on HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, and is estimated to have halved deaths from these three diseases since 2002.
“While the ultimate outcome of the supply has yet to be determined, any reduction in support will have consequences, forcing African countries to make impossible choices as they try to protect the most vulnerable.”
Ngure, who is based in Kenya, said he was also concerned that funding cuts could jeopardize the rollout of new drugs considered potential game-changers in HIV prevention.
Joy Phumaphi, secretary general of the African Leaders’ Malaria Alliance, said the UK’s continued commitment was welcome, but the decline “will have real consequences across Africa; fewer bed nets, medicines and diagnostics will reach those who need them most.”
Research published in October suggested that a 20% cut to the entire Global Fund would result in 330,000 additional deaths from malaria alone by 2040. The fund provides 59% of international financing for malaria.
Phumaphi added: “As co-hosts of this renewal, the UK has the chance to reaffirm its global leadership by investing in stronger, more resilient health systems that benefit millions.”
John Plastow, chief executive of Frontline Aids, a global partnership, said: “We expected a stronger show of leadership that reflects the UK’s proud legacy of support for the global goal to end AIDS.
“There is a danger that this reduction in commitment will lead to a reduction in commitments from other donors, creating real risks to people’s lives and the global response to HIV.”
He added: “We call on the UK to make a clear commitment to increase its Global Fund commitment during this three-year renewal period, when it is able to secure additional funding.”
Adrian Lovett, UK managing director of the One campaign, suggested the money could come from the £74 million saved. Reducing hotel accommodation costs for refugees in England. He said: “Ministers should use these funds to complement this Global Fund commitment to help save more lives and increase the chances of a successful resupply in Johannesburg.”
Director of the Ukrainian Public Health Alliance Dr. Andriy Klepikov said the Global Fund enabled more than half a million Ukrainians to access HIV and TB services during the war. He said: “Every single one of these people is counting on the results of the eighth renewal; their lives depend on commitments from the UK and other countries.”
But Klepikov said he was “grateful for the UK’s generous contribution in the current challenging context”, adding: “With such a contribution, the UK confirms its leadership in global health.”
