The health partnership between the United States and Madagascar is taking a new turn. The United States is encouraging Madagascar to build a more autonomous health system.
The U.S. is pushing Madagascar to gradually move away from foreign support. U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Steve Bremner reiterated the new doctrine of foreign aid under the “America First” policy during a medical equipment handover ceremony to the Malagasy government at the Filatex compound in Ankadimbahoaka yesterday. “This is a tool for strategic engagement, not global charity. Every dollar paid by American taxpayers must produce measurable results, reduce long-term dependence on American taxpayer resources, and foster greater self-reliance in beneficiary countries,” he emphasized in his speech.
The era of purely unilateral American aid is over. From now on, Madagascar is actively participating in financing its own health system.
The bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on global health, signed on December 22, 2025, by the Ministry of Public Health and the United States, focuses on co-investment. This protocol seals a financial commitment from both parties, with $134 million provided by the United States against $41 million contributed by the Malagasy state.
“Our goal is not to provide permanent support,” insisted Steve Bremner, reiterating that this aid will remain temporary and targeted to accompany the country toward financial autonomy.
This new American requirement for co-investment indirectly pushes Madagascar to review its budgetary priorities. Until now, the share allocated to health has stagnated at only 6% of the state budget, a figure that has barely changed since 2024, according to successive finance laws.
Present at the event, Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, President of the Refoundation of the Republic of Madagascar, warmly thanked the U.S. government for its unwavering support. He also reaffirmed Madagascar’s position: “The State remains fully open to any cooperation aimed at supporting the health system for the well-being of the Malagasy population.”
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-14 05:57:12 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/cooperation-sanitaire-les-etats-unis.html
