Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the contributions have fallen sharply across the board.
The World Health Organization’s Head (WHO) warns that global health is at serious risk as donor support is drying up and severe budget cuts are looming.
Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Thursday that the agency is facing “the biggest disruption in global health funding in memory” as its contributions drop dramatically across the board.
The crisis deepened after the US, previously the organisation’s biggest funder, pulled out in January, and health agencies said they mistook the Covid-19 pandemic and other international health crises. The US previously covered almost a fifth of the WHO budget.
In response, the WHO has proposed amending its financial plan, reducing its current spending and reducing 21% in the 2026-2027 budget cycle.
An internal memo seen by Reuters in the press outlines the cuts of $5.3 billion to $4.2 billion and critical staff cuts.
“It’s extremely painful, of course,” Tedros warned that cutting budgets would directly affect health systems around the world, particularly the most vulnerable countries.
Full cut
WHO plans to cut back on all levels of its operations, including headquarters in Geneva and regional and country offices. Some offices in wealthy countries may be closed completely.
Raul Thomas, Deputy Director of Business Operations, added that it is too early to say that there will be a loss of several roles as approximately 25% of the WHO salary budget will remain unsubsidized for the next two years and will depend on the level and location of staffing.
The US exit added pressure, but Tedros pointed to deeper structural problems. WHO currently relies on a small number of countries for 80% of its budget through voluntary contributions. He said agencies must diversify funding sources to survive in the long term.
Tedros told reporters that he has been in touch with US officials and has not communicated directly with President Donald Trump, but he continues to provide information.
This year alone, there has been a nearly $600 million shortfall, and officials are urging donors to act quickly. They warned that without new support, our ability to respond to international health emergencies and maintain basic services could collapse.