UK warned that 15% cut to health fund will force ‘impossible choices’ on Africa | Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria

The UK is undermining its legacy in tackling infectious diseases including Aids and malaria by cutting funding pledged to a leading global health fund, campaigners say.

The 15% reduction in contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced this week – in a year when the UK, alongside South Africa, is co-hosting the fund’s replenishment drive – risks encouraging other countries to also reduce their commitments, advocates fear.

The government announced a commitment of £850m to the fund on Tuesday, up from £1bn in the last round.

Campaigners have called on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to show leadership and attend the replenishment summit in Johannesburg later in November – and find additional funds.

This more modest commitment is part of the UK government’s reduction in aid spending from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3% in order to increase defense funding.

UK Development Minister Jenny Chapman said this year’s funding was “in dollar terms”. […] just 5% less than the amount” pledged for 2023-25 ​​and “would save up to 1.3 million lives, prevent up to 22 million new cases or infections of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, and generate up to £13 billion in health gains and economic benefits in countries where the Global Fund works”.

But campaigners said the reduction would be very heavy. Professor Kenneth Ngure, President-elect of the International Aids Society, said: “The Global Fund saves lives every day through its work on HIV, tuberculosis and malaria and is estimated to have prevented deaths from these three diseases by half since 2002.

“While the final outcome of the replenishment remains to be determined, any reduction in support will have consequences – forcing African countries to make impossible choices as they work to protect the most vulnerable. »

Ngure, based in Kenya, also expressed concern that funding cuts could jeopardize the rollout of new drugs widely seen as potential game-changers in HIV prevention.

Joy Phumaphi, executive secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, said the UK’s continued commitment was welcome, but the cut “would have real consequences across Africa: fewer bed nets, medicines and diagnostics for those who need them most”.

A study published in October suggests that a 20% reduction in the Global Fund’s overall budget would result in 330,000 additional deaths by 2040 from malaria alone. The fund provides 59% of international funding for the fight against malaria.

Phumaphi added: “As co-host of this replenishment, the UK has the opportunity to reaffirm its global leadership by investing in stronger, more resilient health systems that benefit millions of people. »

John Plastow, executive director of Frontline Aids, a global partnership, said: “We expected a stronger show of leadership, reflecting the UK’s pride in supporting the global goal of ending AIDS.

“There is a risk that this reduction in commitment will lead to a reduction in commitments from other donors, with real risks to people’s lives and to the global response to HIV. »

He added: “We urge the UK to explicitly commit to increasing its contribution to the Global Fund later in this triennial replenishment, when it is able to find additional funds. »

Adrian Lovett, UK executive director of the One campaign, suggested the money could come from the £74 million saved from reducing the cost of hotel accommodation for asylum seekers in the UK. He said: “Ministers should use these funds to complement this Global Fund commitment, thereby helping to save more lives and increasing the chances of a successful replenishment in Johannesburg. »

Dr Andriy Klepikov, director of the Ukrainian Public Health Alliance, said the Global Fund had enabled more than half a million Ukrainians to access HIV and tuberculosis services during the war. He said: “Each of these people is counting on the results of the Eighth Replenishment; their lives depend on the commitment of the UK and other countries. »

However, Klepikov said he was “grateful for the UK’s generous contribution in the current difficult context”, adding: “With such a contribution, the UK confirms its leadership in global health.”