The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that growing funding shortfalls and shrinking development aid are putting global health systems at serious risk, undermining efforts to prepare for future pandemics and sustain essential services, the agency said.
Speaking at the WHO Executive Board meeting in Geneva, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called 2025 “one of the most difficult years” in the organisation’s history, citing workforce cuts and disruptions caused by a sudden drop in international funding.
“Swift and severe cuts to bilateral aid have caused huge disruptions to health systems in many countries,” he said. “These setbacks expose deep vulnerabilities in global health governance, particularly for low- and middle-income countries already struggling to keep services running.”
The Executive Board meeting this week focuses on issues including pandemic preparedness, immunization, antimicrobial resistance, mental health, and health emergencies in conflict zones. Members are also reviewing WHO’s budget pressures, governance reforms, and the formal withdrawal notices from the United States and Argentina.
Despite the funding crisis, Tedros noted that some progress has been made. The adoption of the Pandemic Agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations marked major steps toward stronger global preparedness. WHO also expanded epidemic intelligence tools powered by artificial intelligence and supported countries in managing hundreds of health emergencies last year—most contained before they could spread.
Still, the gap in health access remains vast. WHO estimates 4.6 billion people lack access to essential health services, while 2.1 billion face financial hardship from health costs. The world also faces a projected shortage of 11 million health workers by 2030, more than half of them nurses.
To help countries move away from aid dependency, WHO is supporting national strategies for domestic resource mobilization, including higher health taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks. Tedros said the agency narrowly avoided a deeper financial crisis thanks to Member States’ decision to boost mandatory contributions, allowing it to secure 85% of its 2026–27 core budget. Yet he cautioned that priority areas like emergency preparedness, antimicrobial resistance, and climate resilience remain critically underfunded.
“The pandemic taught us that no one is safe until everyone is safe,” Tedros said. “Solidarity is the best immunity. Without predictable and sufficient financing, the world will not be ready for the next global health crisis.”
