WHO Releases Guidance for Countries to Counter Health Financing Crisis

Countries struggling with sudden and severe cuts to external funding are now facing a significant threat to the delivery of essential health services, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO has released new guidance to help countries navigate this crisis, entitled "Responding to the health financing emergency: immediate measures and longer-term shifts." The guidance provides a suite of policy options for countries to cope with the sudden financing shocks and bolster efforts to mobilize and implement sufficient and sustainable financing for national health systems. External health aid is projected to drop by 30% to 40% in 2025 compared with 2023, causing immediate and severe disruption to health services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Key Takeaways:

• External health aid is projected to drop by 30% to 40% in 2025 compared with 2023, causing immediate and severe disruption to health services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• Funding cuts have reduced critical services, including maternal care, vaccination, health emergency preparedness and response, and disease surveillance, by up to 70% in some countries.
• More than 50 countries have reported job losses among health and care workers, along with major disruptions to health worker training programmes.
• WHO's new guidance urges policy-makers to make health a political and fiscal priority in government budgets, and to cushion the immediate impact of reductions in foreign assistance for health.
• Key policy recommendations include prioritizing health services accessed by the poorest, protecting health budgets and essential health services, and improving efficiency through better procurement and reduced overheads.
• Country leadership and global solidarity are critical for addressing the health financing crisis, with several countries taking decisive action to strengthen their health systems and protect essential health services.

Statistics:

• External health aid is projected to drop by 30% to 40% in 2025.
• Funding cuts have reduced critical services by up to 70% in some countries.
• More than 50 countries have reported job losses among health and care workers.
• WHO survey data from 108 LMICs collected in March 2025 indicate a significant impact on health services.

Sources:

• World Health Organization (WHO). (2025). Responding to the health financing emergency: immediate measures and longer-term shifts.
• World Health Organization (WHO). (2025). WHO survey data from 108 LMICs collected in March 2025.
• World Health Organization (WHO). (2025). Press Release: WHO Releases Guidance for Countries to Counter Health Financing Crisis.