USAID budget slashed by 83%, and other top health stories

Over 80% of USAID funding is to be cancelled and the remaining programmes administered by the State Department, Reuters reports.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on 10 March that, following a six-week review by the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, significant changes have been made to US foreign aid.

And it's not just the US, other countries are reducing their foreign aid allocation, including some of Europe’s largest global health funders, reports EuroNews.

So what does this mean for health? The exact funding picture remains unclear, but experts say that the US's immediate freeze in January on all foreign aid has already impacted health services worldwide, including major United Nations (UN) programmes like UNAIDS.

With artificial intelligence transforming healthcare, the World Health Organization (WHO) has named the Netherlands' Digital Ethics Centre at Delft University of Technology as a WHO Collaborating Centre on AI for health governance.

The designation aims to strengthen global efforts in ensuring AI is used responsibly, safely and equitably in health systems.

As a leader in ethical AI research, the Centre will support global AI policy, advise the WHO and lead training initiatives.

AI in health faces multiple challenges, notes a recent Forum white paper, particularly the sensitive nature of health data and its protection, which can create a risk-averse environment that hampers technological development. The Future of AI-Enabled Health outlines six key governance priorities:

“WHO is committed to helping Member States plan, govern and adopt responsible AI technologies,” said Dr Alain Labrique, WHO’s Director of Digital Health and Innovation.

“To ensure these benefits reach everyone ethically, safely, and equitably, we rely on strong technical and academic partnerships that guide us in this rapidly evolving field.”

A WHO staff memo reveals new cost-cutting measures following the US decision to withdraw from the body, according to ABC. The agency is seeking alternative funding but has not confirmed success, the Australian news outlet says.

Africa’s health system is at risk of collapse due to rising chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes, according to Dr Githinji Gitahi, CEO of Amref Health Africa. While foreign aid has focused on infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have escalated and now account for 37% of deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, he told The Guardian. NCDs are expected to be the leading cause of death by 2030, driven by unhealthy diets and pollution.

Obesity rates in Africa are also rising, with nearly half of women expected to be overweight or obese by 2030, a recent study says. Access to weight loss treatments and care for related diseases like diabetes and heart disease remains limited, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Lab-grown meat, dairy, and sugar could be available in the UK within two years as the Food Standards Agency fast-tracks approval, reports the BBC. UK firms face delays due to regulations, while Singapore, the US, and Israel have already approved lab-grown meat.

Haemorrhage and hypertensive disorders like preeclampsia are the leading causes of maternal deaths globally, responsible for 80,000 and 50,000 fatalities in 2020, according to a new WHO study. Published in the Lancet Global Health, it also highlights that conditions including HIV/AIDS, malaria and diabetes contribute to 23% of maternal deaths, often going undetected until complications arise.

Pharma companies are calling for increased investment in non-communicable disease prevention and treatment, as new research shows that spending 1% more of GDP on healthcare could save 5 million lives annually in low- and middle-income countries.

Noncommunicable diseases are responsible for 80% of deaths in low- and middle-income countries, but digital health technologies offer a powerful solution. By improving care and cutting costs, these innovations can bridge geographic and economic gaps – if governments and the private sector collaborate effectively for lasting change.

When women have access to quality healthcare, they can thrive in education, the workforce and their communities. Despite progress, barriers like limited access to timely screenings and accurate diagnostics remain. As we mark 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, experts stress the need to prioritize accessible, high-quality diagnostics to achieve global gender and health equity goals.

This video shows five major advances in healthcare set to change the patient experience - from diagnostics to surgery: