Geneva [Switzerland], November 4, 2025: The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a new set of guidelines to help countries confront the immediate and long-term challenges arising from drastic reductions in global health funding. The guidance aims to support governments in sustaining essential health services amid sharp cuts to external financial aid.
The new document, titled “Responding to the Health Financing Emergency: Immediate Measures and Longer-Term Shifts,” outlines policy strategies for nations to absorb financial shocks, ensure the continuity of health programmes, and strengthen sustainable domestic financing systems.
According to WHO estimates, external health aid is expected to drop by 30–40% in 2025 compared to 2023, triggering major disruptions in health services across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A WHO survey conducted in March 2025 across 108 LMICs revealed that the funding shortfall has led to reductions of up to 70% in key services, including maternal and child health, immunisation, emergency preparedness, and disease surveillance. Over 50 countries have reported layoffs in the health sector and interruptions in training programmes for healthcare workers.
“Sudden and unplanned cuts to aid have hit many countries hard, costing lives and jeopardising hard-won health gains,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “However, this crisis also presents an opportunity for countries to move towards sustainable self-reliance, grounded in domestic resource mobilisation.”
The WHO guidance urges governments to treat health spending as an investment in national stability and resilience rather than a financial burden. It stresses the importance of protecting essential health budgets, improving efficiency in procurement and service delivery, and integrating disease-specific programmes into broader primary healthcare systems.
Key policy recommendations include:
Prioritising services that reach the poorest and most vulnerable populations.
Safeguarding national health budgets and critical services.
Improving cost-efficiency through better procurement and strategic purchasing.
Using health technology assessments to ensure the best outcomes per dollar spent.
Integrating donor-funded initiatives within comprehensive public health frameworks.
Several countries have already taken proactive steps. Nigeria boosted its health budget by USD 200 million to counter aid shortfalls, while Ghana lifted the cap on excise tax for its national health insurance, resulting in a 60% funding increase. Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda have also introduced fiscal measures to strengthen healthcare resilience and sustain essential services.
The WHO’s guidance builds upon the organisation’s ongoing efforts to promote Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and resilient health systems. It aligns with World Health Assembly resolutions on global health financing and the “Economics of Health for All” agenda.
To further assist countries, WHO, in collaboration with the Government of Japan and the World Bank, will launch a UHC Knowledge Hub in December 2025. The hub will provide technical expertise, analytical tools, and peer learning platforms to help nations navigate the health financing crisis and achieve long-term stability.
