Examining Sequestration’s Effects On Global Health Spending

“Although we’re several days into sequestration, details about the full impact of funding cuts are still hazy,” Kim Lufkin, communications officer of the Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC), writes in the group’s “Breakthroughs” blog, noting, “On [March 1], the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a report [.pdf] to Congress, which details funding cuts required to offset $85 billion in the fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget.” Lufkin describes some details of the report, but adds, “However, because agency heads will have discretion over how specific cuts affect their agencies, the exact implications of sequestration will be determined in the coming weeks.” She then outlines “some estimates … regarding the impact of sequestration on the agencies that support global health [research and development (R&D)].” Lufkin concludes, “Policymakers should use the upcoming budget negotiations as an opportunity to reverse sequestration and develop a long-term budget solution that protects and — where possible — increases funding for global health product development” (3/7).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

KFF Headquarters: 185 Berry St., Suite 2000, San Francisco, CA 94107 | Phone 650-854-9400
Washington Offices and Barbara Jordan Conference Center: 1330 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005 | Phone 202-347-5270

www.kff.org | Email Alerts: kff.org/email | facebook.com/KFF | twitter.com/kff

The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news, KFF is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California.