WORLD (Enmaeya News) - November 25, 2025
The fight against HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria is facing a severe setback after major donors failed to meet funding expectations at the latest Global Fund replenishment summit, according to The Guardian.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria has secured only US$11.3 billion of its US$18 billion target for the 2026–2028 cycle.
Several historically large contributors, including France, Japan, and the European Commission, did not make pledges during the summit, raising alarms among public health advocates. In addition, the United States reduced its commitment from US$6 billion to US$4.6 billion, compounding the shortfall.
Health experts told The Guardian that without renewed and increased investment, the remarkable progress achieved over decades risks being reversed.
According to the Global Fund’s own reporting, its work has helped save 70 million lives since 2002, reducing the combined death rate of HIV, TB, and malaria by 63%.
The Global Fund Innovations in prevention and treatment, such as new HIV drugs, advanced TB diagnostics, and more effective malaria tools, are now at risk of being underfunded just as they could make major impacts.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has sounded the alarm, describing the funding gap as a “crisis” that threatens to undo decades of gains.
MSF’s health policy advisor, Tess Hewett, warned that without the full US$18 billion, vital systems for disease surveillance, diagnostics, and treatment would suffer and the most vulnerable patients would bear the greatest burden.
The funding challenge is made more acute because of cuts in major donor pledges. The United Kingdom, for example, has reduced its contribution by 15%, from £1 billion to £850 million, for the upcoming funding cycle.
Aid groups worry that such reductions could encourage other countries to follow suit, triggering a domino effect.
UNAIDS welcomed the initial pledges but stressed that the full target must still be met. “AIDS is not over … but our shared goal is US$18 billion, and we look forward to additional pledges to close the gap,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima in a press release.
With millions of lives at stake, global health experts agree: this is a critical moment. Without urgent action, the progress made in combating HIV, TB, and malaria could unravel and the cost in human lives would be catastrophic.
