EXCLUSIVE: WHO Chief Names New Team of Directors – Mostly Familiar Faces

01/07/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

World Health Organization Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced his new team of 36 directors at headquarters on Tuesday, according to an internal message to WHO staff, seen by Health Policy Watch. Nine of the appointments, including key positions heading the Departments of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, and the newly-combined Department of Environment, […] Continue reading ->

NIH Cuts to South Africa Will Cause Global Loss of TB and HIV Research Capacity

15/05/2025 Kerry Cullinan

Essential research on tuberculosis and HIV cancelled. Clinical trial participants in limbo. Young researchers’ careers halted – and billions of dollars invested and expertise developed over 30 years potentially down the drain. These are some of the impacts on South Africa of the decision by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) barely a week ago […] Continue reading ->

WHO’s Samira Asma Reportedly Leaving Tedros’ Leadership Team – UNAIDS Scraps Merger Plan

08/05/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

Samira Asma, assistant director of Data, Analytics and Delivery since 2020, is reportedly leaving WHO in the first of an expected departure of five senior leadership team members as the Organisation sets out to dramatically shrinks its Geneva footprint and staffing. Of the existing 11-member team, only six would remain, if a plan shared by […] Continue reading ->

UNAIDS and HIV Sector Struggle Amid Funding Cuts

07/05/2025 Kerry Cullinan

As countries dependent on United States aid for their HIV response report looming shortages of antiretroviral medicine, the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is also fighting for survival. Meanwhile, more shocks may be ahead for the HIV sector as the US Health and Human Services plans to curtail research collaboration between US scientists and […] Continue reading ->

Bribes and Rationing of AIDS Medicine in Zimbabwe as Trump’s Aid Cuts Bite

30/04/2025 Jeffrey Moyo

As Donald Trump’s US presidency reaches its 100th day, Zimbabweans living with HIV are fearful about their futures as they struggle to get antiretroviral medication. MWENEZI, Zimbabwe – Memory Sibanda tried three times to get antiretroviral medication from her usual clinic in February but was turned away. The 67-year-old has lived with HIV for the […] Continue reading ->

Uganda to End Ebola Emergency; Africa CDC May Follow Suit with Mpox

24/04/2025 Stefan Anderson

Uganda is set to declare an end to its Ebola outbreak on April 26 if no new cases emerge, Africa’s top public health agency announced Thursday. The country’s 83% recovery rate among confirmed cases significantly exceeds the typical 30-40% survival rate for Ebola outbreaks, with Uganda managing to contain the disease while simultaneously responding to […] Continue reading ->

Civil Society Organisations Face Backlash After Trump, Musk Link USAID Grantees to ‘Terrorism’

25/03/2025 Kerry Cullinan

Civil society organisations (CSOs) globally face investigation, restrictions and harassment in dozens of countries after US President Donald Trump claimed that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was run by “radical left lunatics” and Elon Musk claimed that several grantees supported terror organisations. This is according to a recent survey carried out by the […] Continue reading ->

PEPFAR Reauthorisation Expires With No Clarity About Renewed US Funding for HIV

25/03/2025 Kerry Cullinan

The US Congress’s one-year reauthorisation of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) expires on Tuesday (25 March) and there is no clarity about its future – other than that it is likely to be slashed. The only Bill up for discussion on this date that has any connection to PEPFAR is the Reorganizing […] Continue reading ->

Africa CDC: Aid Cuts Will Result in Millions More African Deaths

20/03/2025 Kerry Cullinan

Two to four million additional Africans are likely to die annually as a result of the shock aid cuts by the United States and other key donors, according to Dr Jean Kaseya, who heads the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Kaseya heads to Washington next week to coincide with the end of US […] Continue reading ->

Grim Global Impact of US Funds Withdrawal; WHO Mulls ‘Terrible Choices’

17/03/2025 Kerry Cullinan

A grim picture is emerging of people running out of food, countries running out of medicine and hospitals closing as a result of the shock slashing of global health budgets by the United States, according to multiple World Health Organization (WHO) staff addressing a media briefing on Monday. Meanwhile, the WHO is mulling “terrible choices” […] Continue reading ->