Yemen Warns 70% of Health Facilities May Shut Down Due to Funding Shortage
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Minister of Public Health and Population in Yemen’s caretaker government, Qasim Buhaibeh, has warned of a major collapse in the country’s health sector. He confirmed that approximately 70% of health facilities are at risk of shutting down due to a sharp decline in funding, unless urgent interventions are made to bridge the gap.
In an interview with Al Jazeera Net, the minister explained that donor funding for the health sector has seen a decrease reaching 100% in some cases. This decline exacerbates existing challenges and threatens essential services in hospitals and health centers across the country.
Buhaibeh pointed to the emergence of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases—such as measles, polio, and diphtheria—due to the decline in free vaccination programs. He emphasized that the funding shortage has also crippled the operational budgets of health facilities, already strained by rising costs and the depreciation of the local currency.
The minister also highlighted the “brain drain” of medical personnel moving abroad or to the private sector due to weak incentives in the public sector and a hiring freeze that has lasted over a decade. This trend increases pressure on the health system and obstructs service delivery to citizens.
Critical Health Indicators
The minister provided a stark overview of the current health crisis:
- Child Malnutrition: Nearly 50% of children suffer from chronic malnutrition.
- Stunting: One-quarter of children under the age of five are stunted.
- Maternal Mortality: Rates have reached 183 deaths per 100,000 live births.
- Chronic Illness: A significant rise in cases of cancer, kidney failure, and heart disease.
According to Buhaibeh, the number of functional health facilities has already dropped from 60% (out of 5,000 total facilities) before the financial crisis to 50% today. He expects operational capacity to plummet to just 30% if the funding decline continues, directly threatening all health indicators in the country.
The minister noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) remains the primary technical supporter for Yemen through various vital activities. However, he stressed that the weakness of external funding will ultimately hinder the ministry’s ability to provide basic services and double the escalating health risks. He concluded by calling for urgent interventions and alternative funding models to prevent a potential public health catastrophe.
