US accused of shameless exploitation' over proposed Zambian health aid deal

"These terms are vastly worse than other deals. [The US] is conditioning life-saving health services on plundering the mineral wealth of the country. It's shameless exploitation, which is immoral. It's also dangerous—when health programmes are treated like a bargaining chip by a rapacious administration, everyone suffers."

"A leaked draft of a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two countries reveals that Zambia may accept terms worse than health financing agreements the US has reached with 16 other African countries. The terms include a commitment to give Washington access to its health data for 10 years far longer than other countries have negotiated."

"In Zambia's case, Washington is offering $1.012bn in health funding in exchange for Lusaka's commitment to hire 40,000 new health workers and contribute an additional $400m in health services over five years, while improving the health sector's performance. If Zambia faltered on any of these fronts, Washington could terminate the agreement and withdraw its funds."

The Trump administration has negotiated a $1 billion health financing agreement with Zambia that contains significantly harsher terms than agreements with 16 other African countries. The leaked memorandum of understanding requires Zambia to grant the US access to health data for 10 years and includes provisions linking health financing to access to the country's mining industry. In exchange, the US offers $1.012 billion in health funding conditional on Zambia hiring 40,000 health workers and contributing $400 million in additional health services over five years. Health advocates criticize these terms as exploitative, arguing that conditioning life-saving health services on mineral wealth access is immoral and dangerous. The arrangement reflects the Trump administration's new strategy of channeling health financing directly to governments rather than through aid organizations.

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