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Some international organisations are having to gear up to address proposed cuts to their budgets announced this month by the United States, in many cases the major funder. Geneva-based health agencies this week responded that they are counting on the US not to make significant cuts.

Spokespersons for Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria commented on the US budget proposal to Intellectual Property Watch.

“Gavi has acknowledged the Administration’s proposal and has no further comment while the US budget process is not yet finalised,” it said in a response to Intellectual Property Watch. “Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of nearly 640 million children and the prevention of more than 9 million future deaths.”

The Global Fund said “We count on the US to maintain its commitment to the Global Fund, PEPFAR, PMI, the USAID TB program and to other lifesaving global health programs.”

PEPFAR is the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. PMI is the President’s Malaria Initiative, a State Department program. USAID TB is the US Agency for International Development tuberculosis program.

IP-Watch reported on the proposed cuts to various agencies here (IPW, Health Policy Watch, 13 February 2018).

The Trump administration proposal would dramatically reduce funding to these programs, some by more than 20 percent, while boosting areas like military spending, while pushing other governments to step up their funding commitments. The proposed reduction for Gavi from last year’s request is from $290 million to $250 million.

Some other agencies in Geneva, including the World Health Organization and World Trade Organization, were proposed to receive similar levels of funding to the previous year (IPW, North America, 19 February 2018).

The budget process is long and slow, taking months and intensive lobbying to work its way through the US Congress.