WHO Faces Budget Cuts, Bleak Outlook for 2026

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that it is facing significant budget cuts for emergency humanitarian needs, with a bleak outlook for 2026.

Teresa Zakaria, head of humanitarian operations at WHO, stated that the agency has received 40% less funding compared to 2024. This has led to a reduction in services in over 5,600 health centers and the suspension of operations in more than 2,000, limiting access to health services for 53 million people.

The WHO is focusing on the most impoverished, but countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Haiti are seeing an increase in maternal mortality and malnutrition.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern about the consequences for the poorest countries, while noting that some countries are seeking national resources to finance their health systems.

Source: ΚΥΠΕ