Britain warned that 15% cut to health fund would force Africa to make ‘impossible choices’ | Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

The UK is undermining its legacy in the fight against infectious diseases such as Aids and malaria by cutting funding pledged to a leading global health fund, campaigners claim.

The 15 percent reduction in the contribution to Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria The move announced this week – in a year when the UK is co-hosting the fund’s replenishment campaign with South Africa – risks encouraging other countries to also cut their commitments, advocates fear.

The government announced a commitment of £850 million invested in the fund on Tuesday, less than £1 billion in the latest round.

Activists called on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to show leadership and take part the supply summit in Johannesburg later in November – and to find extra money.

The smaller pledge is part of the UK government’s reduction in aid spending from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3% to boost defense funding.

This is what British Development Secretary Jenny Chapman said this year’s funding was “expressed in dollars […] “just 5% less than the amount committed 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 returns in the countries where the Global Fund operates”.

But activists said the cut would hit hard. Prof 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 has saved an estimated half of deaths from these three diseases since 2002.”

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

Ngure, who is based in Kenya, said he was also concerned that funding cuts could jeopardize the introduction of new drugs that are being widely considered potential game changers in HIV prevention.

Joy Phumaphi, Executive Director of African Leaders malaria Alliance said the UK’s continued commitment was welcome but the reduction would have “real consequences across Africa; fewer bed nets, medicines and diagnostics would reach those most in need”.

A study published in October suggests A 20% cut to the entire Global Fund would result in 330,000 additional deaths from malaria alone by 2040. The Fund provides 59% of international funding for malaria.

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

John Plastow, chief executive of Frontline Aids, a global partnership, said: “We expected stronger leadership that reflected the UK’s proud heritage of support for the global goal of ending Aids.”

“There is a risk that this reduction in commitment will lead to cuts in other donor commitments, posing real risks to people’s lives and to the global response to HIV.”

He added: “We urge the UK to make a strong commitment to increasing its commitment to the Global Fund later in this three-year replenishment if it is able to raise additional funding.”

Adrian Lovett, UK chief executive of the One campaign, suggested the money could come from the £74m saved Reducing the cost of hotel accommodation for asylum seekers in the UK. He said: “Ministers should use these funds to scale up this Global Fund commitment to save more lives and increase the chances of a successful recovery in Johannesburg.”

Dr. Andriy Klepikov, Director of the Ukrainian Public Alliance Healthsaid the Global Fund helped more than half a million Ukrainians 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 situation,” adding: “With such a contribution, the UK confirms its leadership in global health.”