Speaking in the Regular Information Session of the Friday press in Geneva for humanitarian agencies, he warned that, as the richest nations make deep expenses cuts, both international aid and national health systems face serious interruptions.
Dr. Chalkidou highlighted the recent decisions of the United States, several European governments and EU agencies to freeze or reduce health help.
Who forecasts indicate that global health investment is It will probably fall by 40 percent this year, less than $ 10 billion of just over $ 25 billion in 2023. The estimated $ 15 billion in health aid would reduce the figure to the lowest level in a decade.
Impacts on developing countries
This shortage of financing is creating an emergency health financing in many developing countries, particularly in sub -Saharan Africa, which depend on external aid to finance their health systems.
In numerous countries, health programs financed by the United States were the main source of external aid, Represent up to 30 percent of current health spending in countries such as Malawi, and about 25 percent in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Since 2006, external per capita aid in low -income countries has constantly exceeded domestic health spending.
Many sub -Saharan nations face a very high debt load, some spending double in debt that the health service, which hinders the reallocation of resources.
The consequences are serious: Dr. Chalkidou referred to a survey conducted by WHO that shows that today’s countries are reporting interruptions of the health service “are not seen from the Covid-19 peak.”
Solutions
To address this crisis, which urges countries to reduce aid dependence, increase income through improved taxes, including health taxes in products such as tobacco and alcohol, and work with multilateral banks to ensure low interest loans for profitable health investments.
WHO also plans to attend the next International Conference on Development Financing in Seville, where global leaders are expected to address the health financing crisis and, hopefully, make new commitments.
