**Ukraine’s HIV Patients Face Uncertain Future as US Funding Remains in Limbo**
In a concerning development, patients with HIV across Ukraine are facing an acute crisis due to the uncertainty surrounding US-funded treatment programs. A Politico report highlights that medication supplies, including for children, will only be guaranteed until November, following a funding freeze by the Trump administration in January.
The crisis began when the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) issued a stop-work order after President Donald Trump’s suspension of US foreign aid. This halted HIV programs nationwide, causing medication deliveries to stall and treatment for over 116,000 people to be threatened. Some services shut down for up to two months.
**”We’ve Never Had Such an Apocalypse Before”**
Anzhela Moiseyenko, a representative from the Chernihiv Network, recalled how their HIV testing site had to shut down for two months in early 2025 due to the funding freeze. The site has now reopened in reduced form, but with a significant caveat – vulnerable groups excluded under new US funding restrictions are no longer mentioned.
Moiseyenko’s words reflect the gravity of the situation: “We’ve never had such an apocalypse before.” With the war in Ukraine raging on, redirecting over 50% of its budget to defense, and the PEPFAR program covering nearly all HIV treatment costs, the uncertainty surrounding US funding has created a perfect storm.
**Shifting Policies and Donor Fatigue**
Ukraine’s Public Health Centre has reported that current medication supplies can only meet national demand until November. Testing and prevention services are less secure, strained by both resource shortages and new US funding criteria on reproductive rights and diversity. According to WHO Ukraine’s mission, 17% funded by the US, has already lost $8 million and cut staff and technical support.
This is not the first time that Ukraine’s HIV patients have faced setbacks. Over 10,000 new HIV cases were recorded in Ukraine in 2024, with 75% of new cases in Chernihiv being late-stage. Dmytro Sherembey, who heads NGO 100% Life, noted that if treatment programs are put on hold, it means that 20 years of effort went for nothing.
**A Final Decision Remains Pending**
As of mid-May, a final US decision is still pending. The extended review period ends 20 May. In March, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that Ukraine, along with seven other countries, faces an imminent shortage of essential HIV medications due to funding cuts from USAID.
The uncertainty surrounding US funding has created a crisis for Ukraine’s HIV patients, who are already struggling with the ongoing war. The fate of these treatment programs remains uncertain, and it is imperative that a decision is made soon to ensure that those in need continue to receive life-saving treatment.
**What Does This Mean?**
This article highlights the challenges faced by Ukraine’s HIV patients due to US funding uncertainty. It also emphasizes the impact of shifting policies and donor fatigue on HIV treatment programs. The crisis has created a perfect storm, with medication supplies only guaranteed until November, and testing and prevention services under threat.
