US Restructures Foreign Health Aid Strategy

The US State Department announced a revamp of its foreign health assistance strategy, focusing on multi-year bilateral agreements with recipient countries to improve aid efficacy, officials revealed Thursday. This move forms part of a broader diplomatic approach prioritizing direct benefits to American interests.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized maintaining valuable aspects of health programs while swiftly addressing inefficiencies. The strategy aligns with President Trump's foreign policy, prioritizing transactional dealings to bolster American priorities abroad. This shift follows criticism of traditional programs for straying from US values.

Key changes include reallocating funding to purchase essential medical supplies, while transitioning responsibilities like program management to recipient governments. Enhanced disease surveillance and targeting areas most at risk of outbreaks are additional priorities, as the administration pledges an ongoing commitment to battling HIV, particularly in Africa.