LUSAKA, Zambia

The World Health Organization (WHO) will cut 600 jobs at its Geneva headquarters in 2025 as part of a cost-saving operational restructuring, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on Monday.

The move follows major shifts in global donor contributions to health. Ghebreyesus said other measures have included realigning director-level roles and reducing travel, generating $190 million in savings this year.

"Our biannual budget for 2026-2027 has been reduced by 21% from $5.3 billion to $4.2 billion. We have also introduced early and voluntary retirement in our quest to remain fit for purpose and focus on our core mandate to provide global health security," Ghebreyesus said.

He made the remarks in Lusaka, Zambia, as the 75th WHO Regional Conference Committee Conference for Africa began on Monday, with 47 African health ministers and other delegates in attendance.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema opened the three-day conference by calling for stronger health diplomacy to help the continent respond effectively to the health risks posed by geopolitics, conflict, and climate change.

"We need to strengthen health diplomacy to address health insecurities through a one-health approach," Hichilema said.

Jean Kaseya, director-general of the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, highlighted that pharmaceutical imports cost the continent $240 billion in annual losses and called for sustainable indigenous financing mechanisms from member states to reduce dependence on external aid.

Zambian Health Minister Elijah Muchima and his Liberian counterpart Louise Kpoto also spoke at the ceremony, where Hichilema awarded state honors to Ghebreyesus and Kaseya for their contributions to continental and global health security.