The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised an alarm regarding the detrimental impact of funding cuts on the global health system. In a statement delivered to the WHO Executive Board in Geneva on Monday, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that ongoing reductions in international aid and persistent funding gaps are exacerbating vulnerabilities in health services worldwide.
Tedros highlighted that these funding challenges come at a time when the risks associated with pandemics, drug-resistant infections, and weakened health services are on the rise. He described 2025 as potentially one of the most challenging years in the organization’s history, primarily due to significant cuts to their funding that have led to workforce reductions and severe disruptions in health services across various countries.
In spite of these challenges, Tedros noted that the WHO has managed to continue its life-saving work, although the funding crisis has revealed serious flaws in global health governance, particularly in low and middle-income nations that are struggling to deliver essential health services. He pointed to a broader trend of retreat from international health financing that forces countries to make tough decisions about resource allocation.
In response to these funding cuts, Tedros expressed that the WHO is assisting countries in sustaining essential health services. A key part of this strategy is promoting self-reliance through domestic resource mobilization, including increased health taxes on harmful products like tobacco, alcohol, and sugary beverages. However, he acknowledged that the unmet health needs globally remain staggering, with 4.6 billion people lacking access to essential services and 2.1 billion facing financial distress due to health costs. The world is also projected to face a shortfall of 11 million health workers by 2030, more than half of whom are expected to be nurses.
Tedros remarked that the WHO has only avoided a more severe financial crisis thanks to the agreement by Member States to boost mandatory assessed contributions, which has helped lessen dependence on voluntary, earmarked funding. While the organization has successfully mobilized about 85 percent of the resources needed for its core budget for 2026-27, Tedros warned that closing the remaining funding gap could prove challenging, especially in a difficult global economic climate.
Despite these financial hurdles, Tedros pointed to significant progress made recently. He noted the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement and updates to the International Health Regulations (IHR) designed to enhance preparedness in the aftermath of COVID-19. The WHO has also expanded its disease surveillance capabilities and implemented AI-powered systems for epidemic intelligence, effectively managing numerous health emergencies this year.
Nonetheless, he raised concerns that one in six bacterial infections globally is now resistant to antibiotics, indicating a worrying upward trend in certain regions. Emphasizing the lessons learned from the pandemic, Tedros stated that global threats necessitate a coordinated global response, reminding the assembled health ministers and diplomats that “solidarity is the best immunity.”
Looking ahead, Tedros cautioned that without assured and sufficient financing, the world may be ill-prepared for future health emergencies. He made a poignant appeal to the Board, stating, “This is your WHO. Its strength is your unity. Its future is your choice,” highlighting the collective responsibility in ensuring a robust global health system for the future.
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