UK warned that 15% cut to health fund will force impossible choices' on Africa

"The UK is undermining its legacy in fighting infectious diseases including Aids and malaria by cutting money pledged to a leading global health fund, campaigners claim. The 15% reduction in the contribution to the Global Fund for Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced this week in a year when the UK, alongside South Africa, is co-host of the fund's replenishment drive risks encouraging other countries to cut back commitments as well, advocates fear."

"The British development minister Jenny Chapman said this year's funding was in dollar terms [] only 5% less than the amount pledged for 2023-25 and would save up to 1.3 million lives, avert up to 22m new cases or infections of HIV, TB and malaria, and generate up to 13bn in health gains and economic returns in the countries where the Global Fund works."

"The Global Fund saves lives every day through its work on HIV, tuberculosis and malaria and is estimated to have saved deaths from these three diseases by half since 2002. While the final outcome of the replenishment is still to be determined, any reduction in support will have consequences forcing African countries to make impossible choices as they strive to protect the most vulnerable."

The UK announced an £850m commitment to the Global Fund, down from £1bn in the previous replenishment round, a 15% reduction. The reduction coincides with the UK co-hosting the fund's replenishment drive with South Africa. The government framed the pledge as only about 5% lower in dollar terms and projected it could save up to 1.3 million lives, avert up to 22 million infections, and generate up to $13 billion in health and economic returns. The cut follows a broader reduction in UK aid from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP to increase defence spending. Campaigners warn the smaller pledge could prompt other donors to cut commitments, force difficult choices in African countries, and jeopardise rollout of promising new HIV prevention drugs while urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to attend the Johannesburg replenishment and secure additional funding.

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