The High Cost of Donor Withdrawal: Implications for TB Progress

29 August 2025

TB programmes in many settings rely heavily on international donor funding. In particular, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have been pivotal in supporting national TB programmes, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. USAID’s withdrawal in 2025, along with announced cuts in development assistance from other countries, has raised serious concerns about the future of TB prevention and care efforts.

A study, published in The Lancet Global Health, quantified the potential epidemiological impacts on the TB burden attributable to these reductions in funding.

An accompanying comment can be accessed here.