The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to introduce ‘sin taxes’ on tobacco, alcohol, and other harmful products to offset major aid cuts proposed by the United States under President Donald Trump.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the call Thursday at a tuberculosis forum, warning that abrupt reductions in official development assistance (ODA) are disrupting health services across low-income countries. “We are seeing treatment interruptions, clinics closed, health workers losing jobs, and setbacks across key health areas including TB, HIV, malaria, child health, and vaccinations,” he said.
The appeal comes as Trump formally submitted a rescission proposal to Congress this week, requesting the cancellation of $9.4 billion in approved foreign aid budgets. If approved, the move would cement funding cuts already made by Trump-aligned agencies, including to the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and several United Nations programs such as UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, and UNFPA.
The proposed cuts, endorsed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), include $500 million from USAID global health programs, targeting maternal health, HIV/AIDS, and infectious diseases. Trump claims the funds support “programs antithetical to American interests,” referencing reproductive health, LGBTQI+ activities, and equity initiatives.
Health advocates have condemned the proposal. The Global Health Council described it as a dangerous political manoeuvre that weakens U.S. leadership in global health. The One Campaign also criticized the lack of transparency, noting that nearly $1 billion in cuts to infectious disease response are explained in just 11 vague sentences.
In Uganda, the fallout is already visible. Up to 29,000 health workers are reportedly at risk, and Ebola containment efforts were severely hindered by the sudden funding freeze. “Diseases like Ebola don’t stay within borders,” said Irene Atuhairwe of Seed Global Health. “These abrupt cuts have made all of us less safe.”
Other proposed rescissions include $2.5 billion for development aid, $400 million from PEPFAR, $496 million for international disaster relief, and the entire $437 million allocated to multilateral agencies. Trump also seeks to eliminate the $125 million Clean Technology Fund, citing ideological opposition to climate initiatives.
Senator Dick Durbin questioned the logic behind the cuts, stating: “Why in the world would we gut low-cost but impactful programs?” Congress has 45 days to respond to the proposal. Until then, global health agencies remain in limbo.
