Despite US funding pause: health minister says HIV, tuberculosis, malaria services still free

This follows widely spread rumours that some healthcare providers have been charging patient’s fees.

The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie has reassured Cameroonians that HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria medications and services remain entirely free in all public health facilities and affiliated community-based organizations nationwide. The announcement follows widespread concerns over reports that some healthcare providers have been demanding payments for these services.

In a statement issued on March 14, Dr. Malachie dismissed these reports as “misleading” and urged the public to report any instances of unauthorized charges to Regional Delegations of Public Health or Regional Technical Groups for appropriate action. Despite the recent suspension of American international funding, the Cameroonian government is implementing immediate, medium-, and long-term measures to ensure the uninterrupted provision of essential healthcare services.

According to the Minister, these efforts reaffirm the government’s commitment to ensuring nationwide access to prevention, care, treatment, and support services for HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria patients. Dr. Malachie further noted that recent exemptions granted by the U.S. government have helped sustain access to HIV and TB services during this period of evaluation.

Additionally, under the directives of President Paul Biya, the Ministry of Public Health is advancing its Universal Health Coverage agenda to reinforce the sustainability of priority health programs across the country.

Call for public vigilance and compliance

Dr Manaouda Malachie has urged healthcare providers, including staff at public health facilities and Community-Based Organizations, to continue their duties in accordance with national guidelines. He emphasized that all beneficiaries must receive uninterrupted care without financial burden. Furthermore, he called on Cameroonians to remain calm and to rely exclusively on official communications from the Ministry to avoid misinformation.

Impact of U.S. funding pause

The concerns over funding emerged after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January instituting a 90-day pause on all foreign assistance, including funds allocated through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, PEPFAR and the President’s Malaria Initiative, PMI. PEPFAR is the leading global initiative for HIV/AIDS support, directly aiding over 20 million people worldwide.

PMI delivers cost-effective malaria interventions to partner countries. Although the extent of the funding pause remains uncertain, Cameroon has been working on a sustainability plan to ensure national ownership of healthcare programs and mitigate the impact of declining external funding. In a significant boost to the country’s efforts, the World Bank and the World Health Organization recently reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Cameroon’s health sector during this transitional period.