On the 11th November 2025 the UK Government announced that they will be investing £850 million in the Global Fund for 2026-2028.
This is a cut of £150 million compared to the previous UK investment, directly affecting communities on the front lines and putting millions of lives at risk.
UK Academics & Professionals to End TB (UKAPTB) is deeply concerned by the UK Government’s decision to reduce its pledge to the Eighth Replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The Global Fund is an integral mechanism in tackling infectious diseases, building stronger health systems, and improving global resilience - all key priorities of the UK Government. Reducing support at this moment undermines progress on the UK’s stated commitments to health security, pandemic preparedness, and gender equality.
A lower pledge risks limiting access to TB diagnosis and treatment, slowing the response to drug-resistant TB, and weakening frontline health systems that protect both the UK and the world from future health threats.
As co-host of the Global Fund’s eighth replenishment, the UK had an opportunity to lead by example. Instead, a reduced contribution sends the wrong signal at a critical time, potentially discouraging other donors and putting millions of lives at risk.
Dr Jessica Potter, Chair of the UKAPTB, said:
“The UK’s partnership with the Global Fund has saved millions of lives. Choosing to step back now not only weakens our global standing but directly impacts communities fighting TB, HIV and malaria on the front lines - putting lives at risk. With rising numbers of people affected by TB in the UK and large gaps in global health funding, this was a moment that called for renewed commitment, not retreat.”