Introduction to Global Health Cuts
The face of the cuts to global health initiatives is often associated with a particular individual, but the story of the cruelty of the current government is not the only one being told. Global giving for health grew rapidly in the 2000s but slowed down significantly in the 2010s. The culture of philanthropy has also undergone changes, shifting from an era of grand promises by the wealthy to donate more than half of their assets to charity, to a new age of effective altruism, and then to an era of extreme wealth that is less defined by altruism.
The Shift in Philanthropy
After the divorce of a prominent philanthropic couple in 2021, one of the individuals left their joint foundation to establish their own philanthropic endeavor. A long-time supporter of this foundation recently announced plans to leave most of their remaining assets to a non-profit trust in their own children’s names, rather than donating additional funds to the foundation upon their death. This move comes after a few years of slow decline in foreign aid, which, according to the managing director of the foundation, "fell off a cliff" following the pandemic.
Challenges in Global Health Progress
The progress in global health has been bumpy, especially after the pandemic emergency, when many routine vaccination programs were paused and the poorest countries in the world were left to fight extreme debt. Despite significant reductions in extreme poverty between 1990 and 2014, the proportion of the world living in extreme poverty has hardly shrunk since then. However, there is hope that new biomedical tools and life-saving innovations in the development pipeline, along with advancements in AI, can help bridge the yawning gaps in global health.
A Vision for the Future
The idea of a world where philanthropic efforts have made themselves unnecessary is an appealing one. However, building such a world in the face of current obstacles is a daunting task. The state of global health and the legacy of philanthropic endeavors are complex issues that require careful consideration of past achievements, disappointments, and future plans.
The Current State of Global Health
The current state of global health is precarious, with millions of additional child deaths predicted due to the decline in foreign aid and the repercussions of the pandemic. The Trump administration’s complete turnaround on foreign aid has not only declined support for many millions of people but also undermined most global institutions. The question remains as to how bad the situation is and what can be done to mitigate the damage.
Moving Forward
In the face of these challenges, it is essential to look to the future and consider what can be done to improve global health outcomes. The next decades have the potential to lead to more radical improvements in global development than what has been achieved in the past. However, achieving this vision will require sustained efforts and a commitment to addressing the obstacles that stand in the way of progress.
