United States cut 50 million aid to Zambia health sector.

The United States has made the significant decision to reduce its aid to Zambia’s health sector by $50 million (£37 million) due to the country’s persistent issues with the “systematic theft” of donated medications and medical supplies.

Michael Gonzales, the US ambassador to Zambia, described this decision as “difficult” yet essential, following numerous warnings issued to the Zambian government regarding the protection of crucial drugs intended for the nation’s most vulnerable populations. In his statement, Gonzales emphasized, “We can no longer support the personal enrichment of fraudsters or corrupt individuals while patients are left without access to life-saving medications that we provide at no cost.”

As of now, the Zambian government has not provided a response to this announcement.

This reduction in aid is distinct from the broader foreign aid freeze that President Donald Trump implemented in January. The Zambian health sector relies significantly on foreign contributions, though there have been alarming reports of widespread misappropriation and corruption involving high-ranking health officials.

According to the US embassy in Zambia, American funding constitutes approximately one-third of the country’s public health expenditure. However, US officials uncovered evidence of widespread theft of medical products, which were meant to be freely distributed to the public but were instead being sold by private pharmacies. A year-long investigation by the US embassy revealed that over 2,000 pharmacies across Zambia were found to be selling donated drugs and medical supplies.

In a shocking revelation, the embassy reported that 95 percent of the pharmacies selling the types of products provided by the United States were also found to be peddling stolen goods. Nearly half of the pharmacies inspected were identified as selling medications and supplies that had been donated by the US government. Additionally, some pharmacies were discovered to be selling stolen medical stock purchased by the Zambian government, the Global Fund, and other international donor partners.

The US embassy expressed disappointment that, despite presenting its findings and offering expert assistance to curb further theft and bring the perpetrators to justice back in April of last year, no significant action had been taken by the Zambian government. The embassy stated, “I regret that to date, the government’s actions have fallen drastically short of demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding US assistance and the lives we aim to save.”

Furthermore, the embassy noted that Zambia’s law enforcement efforts have primarily targeted “low-level actors,” resulting in arrests of only a few mid-level officials, rather than investigating the sources of supply and pursuing those orchestrating the thefts.

Gonzales articulated that the US “can no longer justify to the American taxpayer continuing to provide such substantial levels of assistance.” He highlighted that these cuts would impact essential medications for treating malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis. “This is not a decision we have taken lightly,” he said, visibly emotional as he discussed the implications for Zambian patients.

The aid reductions will take effect in January of next year, providing the Zambian government with time to establish alternative arrangements. However, Gonzales made it clear that “the decision has been made.”

Since the start of the Trump administration, billions of dollars have been cut from global health programs, adversely affecting African nations like Zambia, where HIV remains a significant threat, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Trump initiated the aid freeze on his first day in office, aligning with his “America First” foreign policy. These aid reductions have had a profound impact on health programs across Africa, including crucial shipments of medical supplies, such as HIV medications.

In March, Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema remarked that Trump had “slapped us on both cheeks,” acknowledging the urgent need for his country to bolster its treasury to procure its own medicines.