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Mail & Guardian
6 days ago
- Health
- Mail & Guardian
Aid cuts, including by UK, undermine progress on fight against superbugs
Antimicrobial resistance silent pandemic that already claims more than 1.3 million lives every year. File photo A recent global economic model warns that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) may cost the world economy up to This escalating threat coincides with a decline in international support for AMR surveillance. The Low- and middle-income countries, including South Africa, are likely to bear the heaviest burden because of under-resourced health systems, limited surveillance capacity and growing barriers to effective treatments. AMR arises when microorganisms evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotics intended to eliminate them. As resistance spreads, infections that were once easily treatable become increasingly difficult, and sometimes impossible, to cure. This silent pandemic is already responsible for more than By 2050, resistant infections could reduce global GDP by up to 3.1% and push millions into poverty as a result of the cost of prolonged illness and ineffective treatment. Health systems, especially in countries already facing a high burden of disease, are at risk of being overwhelmed. The But Experts caution that even partial reductions in funding may accelerate the spread of AMR in high-risk regions. Such cutbacks can delay the detection of resistant pathogens, disrupt surveillance efforts and weaken public health responses. The consequences are clear: more infections, higher mortality rates and mounting pressure on already overstretched health systems. AMR does not respect borders. Resistant bacteria can emerge in one location and spread globally through travel, trade and migration. Inadequate surveillance in one part of the world increases vulnerability everywhere. Many low- and medium-income countries face compounded problems: limited access to diagnostics, overuse or misuse of antibiotics in both clinical and agricultural settings, as well as underinvestment in water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. Surveillance programmes supported by international aid help fill these gaps by enabling early detection and informed response. Cutting funding now undermines global preparedness just as AMR risks are accelerating. While AMR is a long-term challenge, the window for effective action is narrowing. Delaying investment now will probably increase the cost and complexity of response in the future. According to recent economic analyses, every dollar spent on AMR containment today could save up to $20 in future health and productivity costs. Continued investment in surveillance, laboratory capacity, workforce training and antimicrobial stewardship is essential for all countries and for global health security. Multilateral partnerships, sustained funding, and equitable access to innovation are critical pillars of any effective AMR strategy. What can be done? Given the recent decline in global funding, it is essential to explore alternative strategies to sustain and strengthen AMR efforts. Reinforce multilateral funding: Donor countries should explore shared funding mechanisms to sustain critical AMR programmes beyond bilateral commitments. Strengthen regional cooperation: Regional AMR surveillance networks can improve resilience and facilitate data-sharing, even in the face of international funding cuts. Mobilise domestic resources: Prioritise public health investment in laboratory systems, data infrastructure, and training to reduce reliance on fluctuating aid flows. Promote responsible antimicrobial use: Stewardship programmes in human and veterinary medicine are essential to slow the development of resistance. Invest in research and equitable access: Support for the development and fair distribution of new antibiotics, vaccines, and diagnostics must remain a global priority. AMR is one of the most urgent and complex public health issues of our time. Progress made in the past decade, through global collaboration, investment and capacity-building now stands at risk. At the very moment when stronger action is needed, international funding is contracting. The decisions made now will shape the trajectory of AMR for decades. Reducing support is not just a financial recalibration; it is a choice that may have irreversible consequences for millions of people worldwide. The global community must act decisively to protect hard-won gains, support countries most at risk and uphold the shared responsibility of safeguarding the effectiveness of life-saving medicines. Dr Jose L Balcazar is a senior microbiologist at the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), Spain.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hospital, health system M&A falls in Q2 as Medicaid cuts loom: report
This story was originally published on Healthcare Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Healthcare Dive newsletter. Mergers and acquisitions between hospitals and health systems were down in the second quarter compared to recent years, as impacts from new healthcare policy and trade uncertainty came into focus, according to a report by Kaufman Hall. Eight transactions were announced in the second quarter, the lowest in the quarter since at least 2017, according to the healthcare consultancy. About half of the transactions were divestitures. Hospital and health system M&A is expected to accelerate, although it 'may return at a slower pace than it fell' as the sector absorbs the impacts from federal policy changes, including cuts to Medicaid, the report said. No mega-mergers, or transactions in which the annual revenue of the smaller party exceeds $1 billion, were announced in the second quarter. That pushed the average seller size down to $175 million, 'relatively low' compared to recent year-end averages, according to Kaufman Hall. Other metrics were low, including total transacted revenue in the quarter, which hit $1.4 billion. The metric is the lowest second-quarter result since at least 2017. The next lowest quarter was 2018, which logged $3 billion in transacted revenue across deals. Hospital and health system transactions announced in Q2, 2017-2025 This embedded content is not available in your region. Still, the number of deals in the second quarter was a modest uptick from the five deals announced in the first quarter, according to Kaufman Hall. Deal numbers were probably low in the first quarter as market volatility and economic uncertainty from the Trump administration's new tariffs had a chilling effect on M&A, according to Kaufman Hall. The potential of significant cuts to Medicaid also likely dampened deals. Those cuts were realized after President Donald Trump signed a reconciliation bill in early July with over $1 trillion cuts in healthcare spending over the next decade. Most of those cuts will be concentrated in Medicaid, with providers bracing for hits to their revenue as the uninsurance rate rises. That chilling effect has consequently bled through into the first half of the year, according to the consultancy. 'Business challenges and uncertainty about federal and state policies have affected both the divestitures and affiliations we're seeing in the market,' said Anu Singh, managing director at Kaufman Hall. 'Now that some of the policy uncertainty has resolved, we expect providers will refocus their strategy and transformation efforts, which could spark greater activity in future quarters.' Recommended Reading Historic Medicaid cuts to come as Trump signs domestic policy bill Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Louisiana hospitals press Johnson over megabill Medicaid cut proposals
As the 'big, beautiful bill' teeters towards passage in the Senate, every major health system in Louisiana sent a letter Saturday to the state's entire congressional delegation, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R), warning that planned cuts to Medicaid would be 'historic in their devastation.' The letter said that the Senate's version of the bill would cut more than $4 billion in Medicaid funding, with a loss of more than 16,000 jobs. Even the House's version of cuts, the letter stated, would be a more palatable solution. However, the 'economic consequences pale in comparison to the harm that will be caused to residents across the state, regardless of insurance status, who will no longer be able to get the care that they need,' the letter reads. 'Steep cuts will force consolidation of services, staffing reductions and closures, reducing healthcare access to everyone in our communities. Our rural communities will especially feel the impact as many of these hospitals are already in difficult financial situations and are likely to experience a significant reduction of services.' The letter was also sent to Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who expressed concerns about the cuts to Medicaid in the Senate version of the bill Thursday and said that the House version would be preferable. However, Cassidy has not since spoken out against the bill, a vote for which kicked off in the Senate Saturday night. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
