WHO Chief Warns: Global Health Funding Crisis Hits Unprecedented Low

The leader of the World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned that worldwide health faces significant danger due to dwindling contributions from donors and impending major budget reductions.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated on Thursday that the organization is experiencing "the most significant disruption to global health funding in recent history," with donations plummeting across all categories.

The situation worsened following the withdrawal of the United States, which was once the organization’s largest contributor, in January. They claimed that the health body failed to properly manage the COVID-19 pandemic along with various other global health emergencies. Previously, the U.S. accounted for almost one-fifth of the World Health Organization's funding.

As a result, the WHO has adjusted its financial strategies, reducing its present expenditures and suggesting a 21 percent decrease for the budget period from 2026 to 2027.

An internal memo seen by the news agency Reuters outlines a reduction from $5.3bn to $4.2bn as well as significant staff cuts.

"It is indeed extremely distressing," Tedros stated, cautioning that reducing the budget will have a direct effect on healthcare systems globally, with the most affected being the least developed nations.

Across-the-board cuts

The World Health Organization intends to implement reductions throughout its entire operational structure, affecting even its main office in Geneva as well as its regional and local branches. Certain facilities located in more affluent countries might be shut down completely.

Raul Thomas, Assistant Director-General for Business Operations at the WHO, mentioned that approximately 25 percent of their salary budget still lacks funding for the coming two years. He also stated that it's premature to determine the number of positions that might be eliminated since this depends on various factors including staffing levels and specific locations.

Although the departure of the U.S. intensified the stress, Tedros highlighted more profound systemic issues. At present, the WHO depends largely on just a few nations, which provide 80 percent of its funds via voluntary donations. He emphasized that the organization needs to broaden its financial support base to ensure sustained survival.

Tedros informed journalists that he maintains contact with U.S. officials and keeps supplying them with updates, even though he hasn’t communicated directly with President Donald Trump.

Facing a deficit of almost $600 million just this year, World Health Organization (WHO) officials are urgently calling on donors to take prompt action. They cautioned that without additional backing, the capacity to address global health crises and maintain essential services might fall apart.