Primary Medical Care reduced as needs grow
We have had to scale back Primary Medical Care in East Sumba as patient needs grow. Reduced resources mean less support where care is already hard to reach.
We have had to scale back our Primary Medical Care programme in East Sumba, at patients’ expense, while more people need care.
Our teams continue working hard. But effort cannot replace the resources needed to sustain care in remote villages. Reducing a programme does not reduce illness, distance or the cost of reaching treatment.
The wider funding crisis is already affecting services. In a survey published on 6 September 2026, PMNCH, the partnership hosted by WHO, reported that 69% of responding partner organisations had reduced, suspended or closed programmes. That figure describes the survey respondents, not every organisation worldwide.
For us, this is also a local reality: fewer resources for a programme that is becoming more necessary. Primary Medical Care connects community health workers, medicines, medical supervision, prevention, follow-up and referral in places where access remains difficult.
Patients’ needs should determine the care we build. Funding shortages should not force us to reduce it.
Read the PMNCH findings on the funding crisis →
Understand our Primary Medical Care programme in East Sumba →
