Health Financing Conference Highlights Record Debt and Declining Global Aid

A health financing conference was co-hosted by the Governments of South Africa, Spain, and Tanzania, alongside the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (PMMCH). Participants called for a financing reset for women’s, children’s, and adolescent health. The meeting highlighted that Official Development Assistance (ODA) fell to USD 174.3 billion in 2025, a 23.1 percent decline from 2024. Simultaneously, external debt in low- and middle-income countries reached a record USD 8.9 trillion.

The reduction in global assistance combined with rising debt limits the ability of governments to invest in essential services. This situation could lead to consequences for women’s, children’s, and adolescent health.