WHO Reports Measurable Health Impact in 2025 Amid Strategic Transition

The World Health Organization reported measurable health impact in 2025 as it transitions to a new global health strategy, highlighting progress in key areas while acknowledging ongoing challenges in universal health coverage and emergency preparedness.

An estimated 431 million more people gained access to essential health services without suffering catastrophic financial costs by the end of 2024, according to WHO’s mid-term Results Report for 2024–2025. This progress reflects efforts under the 13th General Programme of Work to expand universal health coverage.

An estimated 1.4 billion more people are living healthier lives, reflecting gains in tobacco control, air quality, clean household energy, and water, sanitation and hygiene.

WHO Results Report 2024-2025

In health emergencies, 637 million more people are better protected through stronger preparedness, surveillance, workforce capacity, and equitable access to tools and services, supported by reforms such as the amendments to the International Health Regulations.

These advances are underpinned by a focus on equity, community engagement, multisectoral collaboration, investments in the health workforce and information systems, and steps toward more predictable and sustainable financing, the report states.

WHO’s Global report on neglected tropical diseases shows 32% fewer people needing treatments against an NTD since 2010, with 867 million people treated in 2023. Diseases such as trachoma, sleeping sickness, and river blindness have seen elimination milestones in several countries.

Tuberculosis deaths declined significantly, with the WHO African and European regions achieving 46% and 49% reductions over the past decade. However, TB still killed 1.2 million people in 2024, underscoring the need to address risk factors like HIV, diabetes, smoking, and undernutrition.

Progress toward increased coverage of essential health services and protection from emergencies has lagged, with only 431 million more people gaining access to essential health services without financial hardfall and close to 637 million more people better protected from health emergencies.

Maternal and child deaths are not falling fast enough to reach global targets, with progress stalling after two decades of gains. Between 2000 and 2023, maternal deaths dropped by over 40% and child deaths under five years of age more than halved, but underinvestment in primary health care, shortages of skilled health workers, and gaps in services like immunization and safe childbirth are now holding countries back.

Premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer are rising, driven by population growth and aging, and now account for most deaths among people under the age of 70 worldwide. The world is currently off track to reduce NCD premature mortality by one-third by 2030.

Where governments and civil society have committed to action, progress has been possible: tobacco use is declining, and global alcohol consumption dropped from 5.7 to 5.0 litres per capita between 2010 and 2022. Air pollution remains one of the top causes of preventable death worldwide, and the impact of poor mental health continues to hold back progress.

Recovery in essential health services remains incomplete, with a shortfall in access and utilization persisting in many regions despite efforts to restore services disrupted by recent health emergencies.