The Trump administration has moved to halt the supply of essential medications for HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis in countries supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a move that has sparked widespread concern over its impact on millions of vulnerable patients worldwide.
Memos reviewed by Reuters on Tuesday revealed that USAID contractors and partners had been instructed to immediately cease operations related to the supply of these medicines and other critical medical supplies, including those for maternal and child health.
The decision is part of a broader freeze on US foreign aid initiated after Trump assumed office on 20 January.
One such directive was issued to Chemonics, a major US consulting firm that works with USAID to supply life-saving drugs globally.
Sources within USAID confirmed that the memo covered Chemonics’ work on the distribution of HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis medicines, as well as contraception and medical supplies for newborns.
Describing the situation as dire, Atul Gawande, a former global health chief at USAID who recently left the agency, warned of severe consequences. “This is catastrophic,” he told Reuters. “Donated drug supplies keeping 20 million people living with HIV alive. That stops today.”
Healthcare experts have expressed concerns that the abrupt withdrawal of support will not only disrupt treatment for millions but also increase the risk of drug-resistant strains emerging, particularly for HIV.
In addition to treatment interruptions, partners receiving USAID funds have also been instructed to stop delivering medicines to clinics, even if the drugs are already in stock.
Gawande further revealed that organisations providing care for 6.5 million orphans and vulnerable children living with HIV in 23 countries had also received similar notices.
Reports indicate that the freeze extends to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a globally recognised programme credited with saving over 25 million lives since its inception by former U.S. President George W. Bush.
The Trump administration had already blocked PEPFAR funds from reaching hospitals, clinics, and other organisations in low-income countries before issuing this new directive.
As a result, medical appointments have been abruptly cancelled, and patients have been turned away from clinics, leading to widespread distress among those dependent on these services.
According to sources, many US government officials have also been barred from communicating with external partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), further exacerbating confusion and anxiety among global health workers.
A directive issued to employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sunday night ordered them to immediately cease communication with WHO personnel, according to The New York Times.
They were later instructed not to participate in any meetings—virtual or physical—that involved WHO representatives, nor to engage in email conversations with WHO staff.
Asia Russell, executive director of the health advocacy group Health Gap, described the situation as unprecedented and alarming. “The partners we collaborate with are in shock, and they do not know what to do because their life saving mission and commitment has been breached,” she said.
The implications of the aid freeze are dire. Without continued treatment, HIV-positive patients will experience viral rebounds that weaken their immune systems and heighten the risk of transmission to others.
Pregnant women who go untreated face an increased likelihood of passing the virus to their babies, with studies estimating that one in three untreated women will transmit HIV to their child.
With many poorer nations heavily reliant on PEPFAR for their HIV/AIDS programmes, the Trump administration’s decision to halt funding and support has sent shockwaves across the global health community, raising urgent concerns about the future of millions of vulnerable patients worldwide.
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