Zimbabwe rejects 'lopsided' US health aid deal over data concerns

Access to biological samples raised flags for Zimbabwe as the US did not want to share the benefits of its research.

The United States will begin phasing out health assistance to Zimbabwe after negotiations collapsed over a proposed $367 million funding agreement, with Zimbabwe citing concerns over data sharing and sovereignty.

The U.S. is to wind down health assistance to Zimbabwe after the African country withdrew from talks on a proposed $367 million bilateral funding deal, citing concerns over data sharing and sovereignty.

A leaked draft of a five-year memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Zambia reveals terms that may be worse than health financing agreements the U.S. has reached with 16 other African countries, including a commitment to give Washington access to its health data for 10 years.