South Africa’s National Department of Health has reassured the public that the country is prepared to manage the potential impact of reports that the United States government has withdrawn PEPFAR funding to South Africa.
While the department said it has not yet received any official notification from the US government regarding the reported decision by President Donald Trump’s administration, it noted that such a development would not come as a surprise.
The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is a United States-funded initiative launched in 2003 to combat the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. The programme has supported HIV/AIDS interventions in more than 50 partner countries, including South Africa.
In a statement released on Saturday, the department said it has been implementing a self-sufficiency strategy since foreign assistance and USAID grants were first suspended in January 2025. The plan was specifically designed to reduce the impact of any future funding cuts.
“As such, there is no need for the public to panic because the transition plan has long been developed, and implementation has already been underway,” the department said.
The department acknowledged PEPFAR’s significant contribution to South Africa’s HIV response but stressed that the programme has not been the primary source of funding for life-saving antiretroviral treatment (ARVs).
“There is no doubt that PEPFAR has been a major contributor to our HIV programme. However, it has not funded the provision of life-saving antiretroviral medicines, as 90% of ARVs are procured through the government fiscus, while the remaining 10% is supported by the Global Fund,” the statement read.
Health officials also reminded South Africans that most healthcare facilities across the country have never depended on PEPFAR funding.
According to the department, PEPFAR support was focused on 27 of South Africa’s 52 HIV/AIDS high-burden districts across eight provinces, excluding the Northern Cape.
“It is important to remind the public that public health facilities remain accessible to all clients, including those who previously received services from PEPFAR-funded clinics,” the department said.
Meanwhile, funding for the global HIV/AIDS response is expected to be a key topic at the upcoming United Nations High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, scheduled for 22–23 June 2026 in New York.
Minister of Health, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, is expected to participate in discussions during the meeting as global leaders deliberate on the future of HIV/AIDS funding and response strategies.
