More than $1.3 billion in U.S. global health funding for tuberculosis, malaria, HIV, and maternal healthcare may be wasted in the next two weeks due to lack of allocation from the Trump administration. This situation could lead to preventable deaths numbering in the tens of thousands.
Budget Situation Analysis
An analysis of U.S. global health spending by a non-profit organization revealed that this amount, approved by Congress, has been blocked by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This funding is valid until September 30, the end of the U.S. federal fiscal year.
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The organization stated: "The result of this situation will have deadly consequences for patients and will undermine historically successful global health programs, fueling the spread of a new HIV pandemic."
Consequences Forecast
This analysis predicts that global health program costs may lead to approximately 121,000 deaths due to tuberculosis. Of this amount, $150 million is allocated for programs related to this disease, 47,600 deaths due to malaria, and the loss of lifesaving nutritional products for 22.9 million children is estimated.
Among the at-risk budgets, there is $250 million for bilateral malaria programs, $320 million for maternal and child health, and $330 million for HIV programs. Vincent Lin, executive director of health policy and communications at this organization, said: "This money could be transferred to the State Department or the timeline for its use could be extended, but unless this money is allocated to programs and countries, it will not help those in need."
Reduction in Global Health Spending
This warning comes as a separate analysis shows that the U.S. has spent $2.3 billion less than the original HIV program, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), compared to two years ago. PEPFAR has been helping with HIV treatment and prevention since 2003 and has saved over 26 million lives.
U.S. government data shows that about two million people have been removed from PEPFAR treatment programs, while transmission of HIV from mother to child is on the rise. This reduction in spending will lead to more serious consequences and will put global health programs under pressure.
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Source: independent.co.uk
