The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm over the devastating impact of 2025 funding cuts on global tuberculosis (TB) programmes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries that rely heavily on international aid.
The body 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 a statement, the African region will bear the brunt of the funding disruptions, followed by the South-East Asian and Western Pacific regions.
For over two decades, TB programmes have saved 79 million lives, preventing an estimated 3.65 million deaths in 2024 alone,the statement said.
It added that 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.
It disclosed that following 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 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, drug supply chain disruptions, severe laboratory disruptions, breakdown of TB data and surveillance systems and reduced community engagement.
