The 2027 federal budget faces the threat of significant cuts to funding for global child health. The four aid organisations – medmissio, Misereor, the Action Alliance Against AIDS and the children’s mission organisation ‘Die Sternsinger’ – have examined ten budget headings that are directly relevant to global child health. Cuts are planned for eight of these compared with 2026. Across all ten headings, funding will fall by a net total of 500 million euros. The four organisations are calling on the Bundestag to take action now to counter this.
The planned cuts threaten to eliminate medical services for basic healthcare: vaccinations against childhood diseases, preventive check-ups, the treatment of illnesses, essential medicines and specialised therapeutic nutrition. The consequences begin even before birth: risks such as gestational diabetes could go undetected, potential HIV transmission from mother to baby might not be identified in time, and the development of the unborn child could be monitored less effectively. Children in crisis-hit countries such as South Sudan, Pakistan, Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are particularly at risk. The cuts jeopardise children’s chances of growing up healthy – with consequences extending far beyond childhood.
Preventing avoidable deaths and illnesses
Through various programmes, international organisations and funds, Germany contributes to the financing of measures to improve health. In recent years, development co-operation and humanitarian aid have already suffered significant cuts. Further cuts increase the risk that fewer children will be reached and that preventable illnesses and deaths will not be averted. Aid organisations are therefore calling for reliable funding for global child health. Additional funding options, such as debt-for-health swaps, should also be utilised.
Development budget particularly affected by cuts
According to current plans, the development budget is particularly affected by cuts within the federal budget, which is otherwise growing strongly overall. Eight of the budget lines examined that are significant for child health are set to be cut in the budget of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) alone. The two remaining headings belong to the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of Health.
Background:
medmissio, Misereor, the Action Alliance Against AIDS and the children’s mission organisation ‘Die Sternsinger’ will present their analysis of the 2027 federal budget and its implications for global children’s health at a parliamentary breakfast in the Bundestag on 23 September. In discussions with MPs, they will call for the planned cuts to be reviewed and amended where they jeopardise children’s health.
