UK Pledges £51 Million to Fight Congo Ebola as Critics Raise 'Poaching' Concerns Over African Doctors

The UK has announced that it is adding more than £50 million ($67.56 million) to combat the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It had previously donated £20 million ($27 million) in May.

The move comes as the health crisis deepens, with the DRC's Health Ministry reporting more than 6,100 cases, including 2,950 deaths as of Tuesday, 1 September 2026. The Bundibugyo virus causes the outbreak that has spread throughout six provinces: Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Bas-Uele and Tshopo.

Deadliest Outbreak on Record?

Minister for Africa Kirsty McNeill described the situation as potentially the 'deadliest on record.' She said: 'Families across the DRC are living through unimaginable loss as Ebola tears through communities, claiming lives, and leaving thousands more fighting for survival.'

McNeill added: 'We know that speed saves lives, which is why we were amongst the first to commit support and experts to the region, but as the outbreak intensifies, we are accelerating our response to match the pace and scale of the challenge.'

The British Government said that 'the new UK package will help strengthen disease surveillance, support frontline health workers, improve infection prevention and control, expand access to treatment, strengthen community engagement and support safe and dignified burials.'

The first confirmed case was reported in May 2026 in the Ituri Province. However, health experts believe the virus had been spreading undetected since January. The UK Health Security Agency has already deployed public health specialists to the DRC to support the international response to the outbreak.

Africa's Stuggle To Retain Health Workers

The outbreak has reignited debate over Africa's chronic shortage of medical staff. One Reddit user commented: 'Maybe if we stopped poaching medical staff from Africa they would have more of an ability to manage this themselves?'

The remark reflects the long-standing problem of Africa's 'brain drain'. Many of the continent's healthcare workers migrate to other countries for work, including the UK. A recent article in The Conversation noted that Africa is losing healthcare workers at a time when they are needed the most.

According to the World Health Organization, every 1,000 people need at least 4.45 doctors, nurses and midwives. However, in Africa, only four countries have reached this minimum: Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles and South Africa.

The rest have fewer medical workers, with Benin, Chad, Central African Republic, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, South Sudan and Togo having less than one for every 1,000 people. In Europe, the range is between 5.43 and 20 doctors, nurses and midwives for every 1,000 people.

'Poaching' Allegations Against UK

The UK has been accused of 'poaching' medical workers from other countries. In 2021, Professor Johannes Fagan from the University of Cape Town and Professor Mahmood Bhutta from the Royal Sussex County Hospital said: 'The UK already has one of the highest proportions and overall numbers of overseas-qualified doctors in its workforce, yet continues to actively encourage and support overseas health workers to relocate.'

Reports suggest that overseas recruits are offered positions in the National Health Service and granted reduced visa fees and relocation support. In 2019, around 35% of doctors in the UK had graduated overseas.