Is global health security worth 0.01% of our gross domestic product?

Abstract

Within days of starting his second term as President of the United States of America (US), Donald Trump ended most US contributions to global health. Global responses to HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria are not the only programmes affected, but were particularly dependent on US support. The US withdrawal from global health could result in 3 million additional HIV deaths and 10 million additional HIV infections; 107.000 additional malaria deaths and 15 million additional malaria infections; and 2 million of additional TB deaths, all in 2025. These decisions will negatively affect public health in the US and other countries that did not benefit from US aid. HIV, TB and malaria are global health security threats that require international collective action. Undermining such collective action makes the world less safe for everyone.