The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued guidance on "Responding to health financing emergencies: immediate actions and longer-term shifts" to help countries cope with a 30-40% reduction in external health financing in 2025 compared to 2023, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. A WHO survey of 108 such countries in March 2025 showed that funding had fallen by up to 70% in critical services such as maternal care, immunization, epidemic preparedness and disease surveillance. More than 50 countries have lost health worker jobs and staff training has been disrupted. The guidance recommends prioritising services for the poorest, protecting budgets, improving procurement efficiency, integrating services into primary health care and using technology assessments. Examples of countries include Nigeria, which increased its budget by $200 million, Ghana with a 60% increase in its insurance budget, and Kenya and South Africa with additional funds. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed the shift from aid dependency to self-sufficiency from domestic sources. The guideline promotes universal health coverage and collaboration with partners such as the World Bank.