Halt in Funding Tuberculosis Treatment A Threat to Global Progress; WHO Warns
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the alarm over the devastating impact of 2025 funding cuts on global tuberculosis (TB) programs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that rely heavily on international aid.
In a statement issued Thursday in Abuja, WHO warned that the cuts stemming from reduced U.S. government contributions could jeopardize TB care in 18 high-burden countries, where 89% of the expected U.S. funding was critical for sustaining prevention, testing, and treatment services.
According to WHO, the African region will bear the brunt of the funding disruptions, followed by the Southeast Asian and Western Pacific regions.
For over two decades, TB programs have saved 79 million lives, preventing an estimated 3.65 million deaths in 2024 alone. However, these gains were made possible through substantial foreign aid, particularly from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) which has historically provided $200-$250 million annually in bilateral funding for TB response.
With the U.S. government’s contribution accounting for one-quarter of all international TB donor funding, the cuts could reverse decades of progress, leaving millions, especially the most vulnerable, at grave risk.
Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, WHO’s Director of the Global Programme on TB and Lung Health, stressed that disruptions to TB services, whether financial, political, or operational,, could have fatal consequences for millions worldwide.
“The COVID-19 pandemic proved this, as service interruptions led to over 700,000 excess TB deaths between 2020 and 2023 due to inadequate social protection measures,” she said.
“Without immediate action, the global fight against TB is in jeopardy. Our response must be swift, strategic, and fully resourced to protect vulnerable populations and sustain progress toward ending TB.”
According to early reports from the 30 highest TB-burden countries, funding withdrawals are already dismantling essential services, leading to:
Health workforce crisis – Thousands of health workers in high-burden countries are facing layoffs, while technical assistance roles are being suspended, crippling national TB programs.
Drug supply chain disruptions – Staff suspensions, funding gaps, and data failures are breaking down TB treatment and prevention supply chains.
Severe laboratory disruptions – Delays in sample transportation, shortages of essential testing materials, and procurement failures are halting diagnostic efforts.
Breakdown of TB data and surveillance systems – Routine reporting and drug resistance monitoring is collapsing, making it harder to track and respond to TB outbreaks.
Reduced community engagement – Active case finding, screening, and contact tracing efforts are deteriorating, increasing TB transmission risks.
In addition to programmatic disruptions, USAID, the world’s third-largest TB research funder, has halted all its funded trials, dealing a severe blow to ongoing TB research and innovation.
WHO, mandated by Heads of State, continues to lead global efforts toward achieving the “End TB” targets for 2027 and 2030. However, the organization warns that without immediate financial interventions, these systemic failures will cripple TB prevention and treatment efforts, reverse decades of progress, and endanger millions of lives.
The world now faces a critical moment in the fight against TB. Sustained funding, renewed global commitments, and urgent policy action will be essential to prevent a full-scale global TB crisis.
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