Zambia will sign $3.6 billion health plan with US that won't require sharing of patient data

LUSAKA, Zambia -- LUSAKA, Zambia (AP) — Zambia will sign a revised health agreement with the United States that will not include contentious clauses committing the African nation to share patient health data and specimens with the U.S. government.The five-year deal is worth $3.6 billion in total, combined funding from both countries for the African nation’s health services, Zambian Minister of Health Roma Chilengi told reporters Tuesday. He didn't say how much the U.S. would commit. However, he told Zambian state broadcaster ZNBC on Monday the U.S. would provide $1.5 billion over five years.The U.S. has signed new bilateral health agreements with around two dozen African nations since last year, but some have pushed back on requirements to provide patient data.The Trump administration is pursuing bilateral agreements with African nations under U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” approach after dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, once the world’s largest humanitarian donor.The new agreements aim to commit African nations to gradually increase spending on health services while the U.S. gradually phases out its assistance.However, the clauses that comm...