Despite ongoing challenges from funding cuts, conflict, and climate change, global health initiatives saw significant progress in 2025. Governments and partners achieved notable gains in disease control, prevention, and preparedness, even as essential health services were disrupted in many parts of the world.
Victories in Disease Control
Several nations reached historic milestones in the fight against infectious diseases. The Maldives became the first country to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. Brazil also achieved elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, a landmark achievement for the Americas.
Progress extended to neglected tropical diseases. Burundi, Egypt, and Fiji eliminated trachoma, while Guinea and Kenya eliminated sleeping sickness. Niger became the first African nation to eliminate river blindness. Since 2010, the number of people requiring treatment for these diseases has decreased by nearly one-third.
Deaths from tuberculosis (TB) continued to decline, with reductions exceeding 45 percent in Africa and Europe over the past decade. However, TB still claimed an estimated 1.2 million lives in 2024, highlighting ongoing risks associated with factors like HIV and undernutrition.
Malaria control also advanced, with Georgia, Suriname, and Timor-Leste certified as malaria-free. Seven additional African countries introduced malaria vaccines in 2025, contributing to the prevention of an estimated 170 million cases and one million deaths in 2024 through combined efforts including improved mosquito nets.
Global Health Cooperation and Uneven Progress
Beyond specific disease victories, 2025 saw advancements in global health cooperation. World leaders endorsed a historic political declaration on noncommunicable diseases and mental health, and new evidence-based guidance was issued on topics ranging from maternal care to meningitis and cancer treatment.
According to the WHO’s World Health Statistics 2025 report, 1.4 billion more people are living healthier lives, driven by reductions in tobacco use, improved air quality, and better water and sanitation. Immunization efforts have been central to this progress, cutting measles deaths by 88 percent since 2000 and saving nearly 59 million lives.
Despite these gains, challenges remain. Twenty million children missed essential vaccinations due to conflict, supply disruptions, and misinformation. Declines in maternal and child deaths are also not occurring quickly enough to meet global targets, underscoring the need for increased investment in primary healthcare and safe childbirth programs.
Funding and Future Outlook
Funding cuts in 2025 disrupted essential health services, including maternal care, vaccination programs, HIV prevention, and disease surveillance. The WHO warned that reduced financing could jeopardize past achievements.
Despite these pressures, the WHO provided rapid responses to health emergencies and crises in 79 countries and territories, including Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine. This support included delivering medicines, maintaining hospital operations, and conducting vaccination campaigns, ensuring continued access to essential healthcare even in challenging circumstances – “because babies still need to be born, heart attacks still need to be avoided, and diabetes still needs to be treated, even during an emergency.”
Looking ahead to 2026, the WHO points to the newly adopted Pandemic Agreement and strengthened International Health Regulations as indicators of renewed global commitment to preparedness. The agency remains guided by its founding principle: that the highest attainable standard of health is a right for all, not a privilege for a few.
Frequently Asked Questions
What diseases saw significant progress in 2025?
The Maldives and Brazil achieved milestones in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. Several countries also eliminated trachoma, sleeping sickness, and river blindness, and deaths from tuberculosis continued to decline.
What challenges continue to hinder global health progress?
Funding cuts, conflict, climate shocks, and misinformation are disrupting health services and hindering progress. Twenty million children missed essential vaccines, and maternal and child mortality rates are not declining quickly enough to meet global targets.
What steps are being taken to improve global health security?
Countries adopted the world’s first Pandemic Agreement and strengthened the International Health Regulations to lay the groundwork for faster, fairer responses to future health emergencies.
Given the complex interplay of progress and setbacks, how can the global community ensure continued advancements in public health for all?
