Animal health receives as little as 0.6 percent of global health spending despite mounting disease threats that pose significant risks to human populations, according to a new report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). The stark disparity in funding allocation comes as the world grapples with increasing zoonotic disease outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance challenges that transcend species boundaries.
Global health spending distribution reveals massive animal health funding gap
Percentage of total global health expenditure by sector, 2024
Source: World Organisation for Animal Health, 2024 | Georgian Medical Journal News
Funding disparity threatens global health security
The World Organisation for Animal Health report highlights a critical gap in global health financing that undermines efforts to prevent pandemic threats at their source. Animal health systems remain chronically underfunded compared to human health infrastructure.
The funding imbalance is particularly concerning given recent disease outbreaks including avian influenza, African swine fever, and foot-and-mouth disease that have caused economic losses globally. Related research on global health challenges continues to emphasize the interconnected nature of human, animal, and environmental health.
The WOAH report calls for a fundamental shift in how the international community approaches health investment, advocating for integrated One Health approaches that recognize the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health systems.
Economic consequences of neglecting animal health
Animal disease outbreaks have significant economic impacts on the global economy through livestock losses, trade restrictions, and market disruptions, according to the WOAH report.
African swine fever has killed hundreds of millions of pigs worldwide since 2018, causing severe protein shortages and food price inflation in affected regions. Similarly, highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks have necessitated the culling of millions of poultry, disrupting protein supply chains and threatening food security for vulnerable populations.
The WOAH report emphasizes that investing in animal health infrastructure, surveillance systems, and veterinary capacity building would provide substantial returns on investment by preventing costly disease outbreaks.
Antimicrobial resistance compounds the crisis
The underfunding of animal health systems also hampers global efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), according to the WOAH report. Poor animal health infrastructure often leads to inappropriate use of antibiotics in livestock, contributing to the development and spread of drug-resistant pathogens.
The World Health Organization has identified AMR as one of the top 10 global public health threats. Without adequate investment in animal health surveillance and diagnostic capacity, monitoring and controlling AMR remains extremely challenging, according to the WOAH report.
Veterinary diagnostic capabilities in many regions remain severely limited, forcing practitioners to rely on empirical antibiotic treatment rather than targeted therapy based on susceptibility testing, the WOAH report notes. Research featured in recent studies continues to demonstrate the urgent need for coordinated action across human and animal health sectors.
Animal health receives just 0.6% of global health spending despite the critical role of animals in disease emergence and antimicrobial resistance development
— World Organisation for Animal Health, Global Health Spending Report (2024)
Key takeaways
- Animal health receives only 0.6% of global health spending, according to the WOAH report
- Animal disease outbreaks cause significant economic losses through livestock deaths, trade restrictions, and market disruptions
- Inadequate animal health funding undermines global efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance and pandemic preparedness
Frequently asked questions
Why is animal health funding important for human health?
Animal health surveillance and response systems help detect and contain disease threats before they become human health crises, according to the WOAH report.
How does underfunding animal health contribute to antimicrobial resistance?
Poor animal health infrastructure leads to inappropriate antibiotic use in livestock due to limited diagnostic capacity, contributing to the development of drug-resistant pathogens that can affect both animals and humans, according to the WOAH report.
What would improved animal health funding achieve?
Increased investment would strengthen disease surveillance systems, improve veterinary capacity, and enhance early detection of disease outbreaks, according to the WOAH report.
The WOAH report’s findings underscore the urgent need for a paradigm shift in global health financing that recognizes animal health as a critical component of pandemic preparedness and global health security. As the world continues to grapple with emerging disease threats, addressing this funding disparity will be essential for building resilient health systems capable of protecting both animal and human populations from future health crises.
