Cutting humanitarian funding puts global health systems at risk

In a speech to the WHO Executive Board in Geneva, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed the impact of last year’s workforce cuts due to “significant cuts in our funding,” which had dire consequences.

He added: “Sudden and severe cuts in bilateral aid have also caused massive disruptions to health systems and services in many countries.”describing the year 2025 as “One of the most difficult years” In the history of the organization.

Although the WHO has been able to continue its life-saving work, Dr. Tedros said the funding crisis has exposed deeper weaknesses in global health governance, especially in low- and middle-income countries struggling to maintain basic services.

4.6 billion people lack health services

Tedros added that the WHO funding crisis is part of a broader decline in international health financing, forcing countries to make difficult choices.

And he said: “In response to funding cuts, WHO is supporting many countries to maintain essential health services and move from aid dependence to self-reliance,” Pointing to mobilizing domestic resources – including through higher health taxes on tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks – as a key strategy. However, the scale of unmet need remains enormous.

According to the World Health Organization, 4.6 billion people still lack access to basic health services, while 2.1 billion people face financial hardship due to health care costs. Meanwhile, the world faces a projected shortage of 11 million health workers by 2030, more than half of whom are nurses.

Avoid a deeper crisis

Dr Tedros said the WHO had avoided a more severe financial shock only because member states agreed to increase mandatory assessed contributions, which reduced the organisation’s reliance on allocated voluntary funding. He added: “If you had not agreed to increase assessed contributions, we would be in a much worse situation than we are now.”

Thanks to these reforms, WHO has mobilized about 85 percent of the resources needed for its core budget for 2026-2027. But Tedros warned that closing the remaining gap will be difficult, especially in light of the difficult global financing environment.

And he said: “Although 85% sounds like a good percentage – and it is – the situation is very difficult,” Warning of lack of funding in priority areas such as emergency preparedness, antimicrobial resistance, and resilience to climate change.

“Solidarity is the best immunity”

Dr. Tedros said: “The pandemic has taught us many lessons – especially that global threats require a global response. Solidarity is the best immunity.”

He warned that without adequate and predictable funding, the world risks being less prepared for the next health emergency. And he said: “This is your World Health Organization, its strength is in your unity, and its future is in your choice.”