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BASHH update on US Government’s Halt to PEPFAR Funding

The United States government has announced an immediate ninety-day halt to funding for the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This decision, made without prior notice, has raised significant concerns regarding the global HIV response and its immediate humanitarian impact.

Responding to the announcement, Professor Matt Phillips, BASHH President, commented:

“We are very concerned about the decision to halt PEPFAR funding and the potential consequences for people living with and affected by HIV worldwide. PEPFAR has played a critical role in HIV prevention and treatment globally, providing vital treatment and support to millions of individuals and advancing efforts to reduce HIV incidence. We are also deeply concerned about the immediate and long term impact on our global community of practice.”

BASHH welcomes reports from UNAIDS on 29 January 2025 that the US Secretary of State has agreed to an ‘Emergency Humanitarian Waiver’ to enable people to continue life-saving HIV treatment across 55 countries worldwide. The US Government has also agreed to convene partners to mitigate impacts on HIV services. We stand in solidarity with our international colleagues as we navigate the evolving situation. As part of the global sexual health and HIV response.

We have joined STOPAIDS and other sector colleagues in urging the UK Government to:

  • Raise the concerns about the impact of funding cuts to PEPFAR at the highest possible level with the US administration.
  • Identify ways to advance UK funds both to address the urgent funding crisis, working with other countries and with civil society and community partners to coordinate a rapid response to save lives, and to plan ways to fill the long-term funding gap that will likely be left if the US withdraws funding to the communities that are most affected by HIV.
  • Issue a ministerial statement setting out the FCDO’s analysis on the impact of this policy on UK aid programmes and the communities they support.

BASHH supports and welcomes the statement from UK colleagues at BHIVA, who have also expressed concern about the potential impact of this funding suspension.

For further information and updates, please access statements issued by STOPAIDS, the International AIDS Society (IAS), the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG), and UNAIDS, which provide additional context and perspectives on this critical issue.

BASHH update on US Government’s Halt to PEPFAR Funding