ActionSA on Friday expressed deep concerns with the permanent funding cuts by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to South Africa’s healthcare programmes, particularly PEPFAR, calling on the Government of National Unity (GNU) to use the upcoming Budget presentation on March 12 to bolster frontline healthcare capacity.

This, the party said, must include addressing vacancies within the healthcare sector.

In a recent parliamentary reply, ActionSA stated that many skilled young medical professionals were ready and willing to serve but remained unemployed owing to the government's “failure” to fill essential posts.

US President Donald Trump has ordered the immediate end to USAID funding for HIV organisations in South Africa.

This comes almost a month after Trump halted most aid to South Africa after accusing the government of confiscating privately owned land and treating some class of people “very bad”.

“In light of this, ActionSA calls on the South African government to urgently mobilise domestic resources to fill the gap left by USAID’s withdrawal. The health and well-being of our people cannot depend on external funding from unreliable and exploitative international ‘partners’. It is a national priority that demands a self-sufficient approach,” said ActionSA MP Dr Kgosi Letlape.

He said the end to the funding posed a “significant risk” to patient care, critical research efforts and the livelihoods of thousands of healthcare workers, claiming that this ultimately threatened the country’s overall healthcare system.

The party wants government to urgently make available the collected Health Professions Levy to plug funding gaps, ensuring healthcare facilities remain operational and adequately resourced.

It also wants government to expedite the release of all conditional grants allocated for the National Health Insurance to support patient care and safeguard South Africa’s research capabilities.

ActionSA said it would continue to push for “decisive action” to prevent further strain on the country’s health services and protect patients and healthcare workers.