U.S., Zambia sign $2.49B health financing pact after removing data and specimen-sharing terms

The U.S. government and Zambia signed a health financing deal on Thursday after agreeing to remove specimen-sharing and patient-data clauses that had stalled the conclusion of the pact. The Zambian government also said that the deal does not contain any clauses linked to the country’s abundant mineral resources, which will be negotiated separately. Zambia is Africa’s second-largest copper producer and there were concerns that the U.S. would try linking its health pact with the country to its natural minerals. The U.S. State Department said the deal is worth a total of $2.49 billion, with the U.S. contributing $1.52 billion and Zambia investing $975 million into its health system over the next five years. The amount is somewhat less than the $3.6 billion mooted by Zambian officials earlier this week. The deal is part of the Trump administration’s America First Global Health Strategy after it dismantled the U.S.