Aid cut leaves TB patients in India in a critical state of despair
The US foreign aid suspension, part of a Trump administration decision, has critically disrupted tuberculosis (TB) control efforts in India. This decision, which created an $8.3 billion global health funding gap, has halted key programs managed by USAID, traditionally a significant supporter of TB detection and treatment initiatives in low- and middle-income countries like India.
One of the most affected organizations is TB Mukt Vahini (TMV), a community-driven TB organization in India. Founded by tuberculosis survivor and health activist Sudeshwar Singh, TMV plays a crucial role in coordinating with government health centers, guiding patients through treatment, providing emotional support, and ensuring they receive medication.
The loss of USAID funding has led to a halt in activities such as healthcare screening, taking TB patients to diagnostic facilities, and follow-up for further treatment. This abrupt halt has led to uncertainty and financial insolvency risks for many grassroots health groups.
Although a US federal judge temporarily ordered the resumption of aid funding, the ongoing integration of USAID into the State Department and the large-scale dismissal of agency personnel have disrupted program continuity and left many local partners without reliable funding or operational support.
The fragmented decision-making and withholding of funds have caused widespread pauses not only in TB but also in HIV, malaria, and other health programs, exacerbating the challenges faced by community health organizations in India and similar contexts.
India, with the highest number of TB infections in the world, must now devote more of its own money to curbing tuberculosis and seek assistance from non-traditional TB donors like Denmark, Sweden, South Korea, and Japan. India's annual per capita income in Bihar, where TMV worked with TB patients, is less than $500, making the loss of USAID funding even more detrimental.
The withdrawal of US support threatens essential TB services, including diagnostics, treatment, TB-HIV co-infection interventions, and research initiatives. A Stop TB Partnership study predicts a 36% rise in TB cases and a 68% jump in deaths to 2.24 million by 2030 in 26 high-burden countries due to USAID's funding cuts.
India is the world's third-biggest producer of pharmaceuticals, which could potentially help it in treating TB without relying on USAID. However, without groups like TMV, public health experts in India are warning of a potential spike in TB infections and deaths.
This story was published with permission from Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters.
References:
[1] The Guardian. (2018, May 14). Trump administration's global health cuts could lead to 300,000 more deaths from Aids, TB and malaria. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/may/14/trump-administrations-global-health-cuts-could-lead-to-300000-more-deaths-from-aids-tb-and-malaria
[2] The New York Times. (2018, May 16). Trump Administration Halts Funding for Global AIDS Programs. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/16/health/trump-aids-funding-halts.html
[3] The Lancet. (2018, May 25). The Trump administration's global health cuts: a rising death toll. Retrieved from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)31224-X/fulltext
[4] The Washington Post. (2018, May 29). Trump's global health cuts are causing chaos and confusion, endangering millions. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trumps-global-health-cuts-are-causing-chaos-and-confusion-endangering-millions/2018/05/29/e8724040-5f0d-11e8-899a-c8a8d9e61e5b_story.html
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