UK criticised for ‘disastrous decision’ to cut health aid pledge by almost a third

Charities say reduced donations to the Global Fund will lead to the preventable deaths of up to 1.5 million people

Charities and MPs have criticised the UK for reducing the amount of money it gives to a major global health fund by almost a third, lambasting it as a disastrous decision" that will cause preventable deaths and mean a more dangerous world for us all".

Britain will provide 1bn over the next three years to the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office said today, a cut of 400m on its previous pledge in 2019.