The United States plans to sign multi-year bilateral agreements on global health cooperation with several countries that receive U.S. health assistance, according to an announcement made as part of the America First Global Health Strategy. The agreements are intended to strengthen collaboration between the U.S. and recipient governments, aiming to improve the effectiveness of global health aid and build more resilient health systems.
“These landmark agreements will advance a comprehensive and shared vision directly between the United States and recipient country governments for continued future cooperation on global health issues. The agreements will also maximize the impact of our global health assistance and strengthen our bilateral relationships while simultaneously saving millions of lives, stopping the spread of diseases globally, and helping countries move toward more resilient and durable health systems.”
The new agreements will transition key functions, such as technical assistance and financial responsibility, from the U.S. government to partner countries over time. This transition builds on previous investments by focusing on long-term sustainability in areas including procurement of medical commodities, integration of frontline healthcare workers into local payrolls, expansion of data systems for disease tracking, increased domestic spending by partner governments, and performance-based incentives.
A central aspect is maintaining progress against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, polio, maternal and child health concerns, disease surveillance, and outbreak preparedness. The approach includes streamlining monitoring processes and integrating U.S.-funded programs within national health frameworks.
Each agreement will require gradual transfer of commodity procurement responsibilities to partner governments. For the next fiscal year, the United States has committed to cover all costs for frontline healthcare workers and essential commodities before transitioning these responsibilities through co-investment models.
Additionally, frontline workers funded by the U.S. will be aligned with roles that can be absorbed into local government employment structures over a period agreed upon by both parties. Funding is also allocated for expanding national data systems to support tracking of key diseases at scale.
To ensure sustainability after U.S. support ends, partner countries are expected to increase their own spending on health throughout the duration of each agreement. Financial incentives from the U.S. will be tied to meeting or surpassing established public health benchmarks.
Since 2001, U.S. investment in foreign government health sectors has exceeded $204 billion in efforts that have contributed to saving lives and strengthening international cooperation in public health.
“This is another example of the Trump Administration’s America First Global Health Strategy ensuring America is safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”
