GENEVA, Nov 4: The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported significant progress in the global fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), with 63 countries having eliminated at least one such disease by June 2026. However, the organisation has warned that funding shortages, growing health inequalities and disruptions to treatment programmes could threaten the achievements made over recent years.
According to the WHO’s Global Report on Neglected Tropical Diseases 2026, the number of countries that have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease has increased from 42 at the end of 2020 to 63 by June this year.
The report provides a midterm assessment of the organisation’s 2021–2030 roadmap and highlights improvements in disease prevention, treatment access and national healthcare programmes.
It also reveals that the number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases declined to 1.41 billion in 2024. This represents a 36 per cent reduction compared with 2010 and a 19 per cent decrease since 2020.
The findings demonstrate that coordinated public health programmes, improved medicines, scientific innovation and international cooperation have helped reduce the burden of several infectious diseases.
Despite these achievements, the WHO has cautioned that progress remains uneven across countries and communities. Many neglected tropical diseases continue to disproportionately affect people living in poverty, particularly those with limited access to clean water, sanitation, healthcare facilities and preventive services.
The organisation has called on governments and international partners to maintain financial support and strengthen primary healthcare systems to ensure that the progress made so far is not reversed.
Global Efforts Show Measurable Results
Neglected tropical diseases refer to a group of infectious and other conditions that affect vulnerable populations, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.
These diseases can cause severe illness, long-term disability, physical disfigurement and premature death. Their impact often extends beyond individual patients, affecting household incomes, education opportunities and community development.
The latest WHO report highlights substantial improvements in controlling several of these conditions.
One of the most notable achievements has been the reduction in human African trypanosomiasis, commonly known as sleeping sickness.
The number of cases has fallen by 98 per cent since 1999, reflecting decades of surveillance, early diagnosis, treatment programmes and disease-control measures.
Another significant development concerns Guinea worm disease, which has reached a historic low.
Only 10 human cases were reported worldwide in 2025, demonstrating the progress achieved through sustained community-based interventions and surveillance.
The WHO considers these developments important examples of how diseases affecting disadvantaged communities can be controlled through long-term investment and coordinated public health action.
However, the organisation has emphasised that low case numbers do not automatically mean a disease has been permanently eliminated. Continued monitoring and rapid intervention remain necessary to prevent its return.
Dengue and Other Diseases Remain a Serious Concern
While the report highlights progress against several infections, it also identifies areas where the global response is falling behind.
Dengue cases reached a record 15.1 million in 2024, demonstrating the continuing challenge posed by mosquito-borne diseases.
The WHO has also reported rising deaths associated with vector-borne neglected tropical diseases.
Yaws eradication efforts are another area of concern, with progress remaining behind the expected targets.
The differences between individual diseases show that a single strategy cannot address every neglected tropical disease.
Some conditions require mass drug administration, while others depend on improved sanitation, mosquito control, early diagnosis, specialised treatment and community awareness.
Climate change, population movement, urbanisation and inadequate infrastructure can further complicate disease prevention and control.
The report also identifies shortcomings in the availability of comprehensive and timely health data. In particular, insufficient information broken down by gender makes it difficult to fully understand how diseases affect different population groups.
Reliable data are essential for identifying high-risk communities, measuring treatment coverage and deciding where additional healthcare resources are required.
The WHO has therefore stressed the importance of strengthening disease surveillance and improving reporting systems.
Funding Shortages Threaten Hard-Won Achievements
One of the major concerns highlighted in the report is the shortage of financial resources available for neglected tropical disease programmes.
According to the WHO, international development assistance for these diseases remains highly concentrated among a limited number of donors.
Between 2018 and 2024, nearly 80 per cent of total international assistance came from a small group of funding partners.
This concentration makes programmes vulnerable when individual donors reduce or withdraw their financial support.
The WHO said sudden funding cuts have already disrupted important activities, including mass drug administration, patient treatment, disease surveillance and vector-control operations.
In some cases, donated medicines have also faced the risk of expiring because interruptions in distribution and treatment programmes prevented them from reaching patients on time.
The organisation further reported that overall resources available for neglected tropical diseases remain 30 per cent below pre-COVID-19 levels.
Dedicated funding for certain disease-control programmes has almost disappeared, creating additional difficulties for countries that depend on external assistance.
The financial situation is particularly concerning for low-income countries, where domestic healthcare budgets are often insufficient to cover all public health requirements.
The WHO has urged governments to increase national investment and diversify funding sources rather than relying heavily on a small number of international donors.
New Medicines and Vaccines Offer Hope
Scientific innovation has created additional opportunities to prevent and treat neglected tropical diseases.
The WHO highlighted several recent developments that could improve access to effective medical interventions.
One important advancement is the availability of child-friendly arpraziquantel for the treatment of schistosomiasis.
The medicine has been prequalified by the WHO and is intended to improve treatment options for children affected by the parasitic disease.
Another development involves generic miltefosine for leishmaniasis, which could help expand access to treatment.
The report also highlighted progress in dengue vaccine development and the regulatory approval of two chikungunya vaccines.
New medicines for onchocerciasis and human African trypanosomiasis have also received regulatory approval.
These developments demonstrate how research and pharmaceutical innovation can support disease-control programmes.
However, the WHO has stressed that the availability of new medicines does not automatically guarantee access for affected populations.
Countries must establish effective procurement, distribution and healthcare delivery systems to ensure that treatments reach those who need them.
The affordability of medicines, availability of trained healthcare workers and capacity of local health facilities will remain important factors in determining the impact of these innovations.
Integrating Disease Control Into Primary Healthcare
The WHO has called for neglected tropical disease services to become a stronger part of national primary healthcare systems.
Rather than treating disease-control programmes as separate initiatives, governments should integrate prevention, diagnosis and treatment into routine healthcare services.
This approach can improve access, reduce administrative costs and make public health interventions more sustainable.
For example, healthcare facilities providing routine services can also help identify patients with neglected tropical diseases and connect them with appropriate treatment.
Shared delivery systems can support interventions against multiple diseases at the same time.
The WHO reported that more countries are adopting integrated approaches, including its recommended strategy for skin-related neglected tropical diseases.
The number of countries implementing this strategy has already exceeded the target set for 2030.
Such programmes can help health authorities identify different conditions through coordinated screening and treatment services.
The approach is particularly useful in communities where several neglected tropical diseases exist together and healthcare resources are limited.
Strengthening primary healthcare also improves the ability of countries to respond to disease outbreaks and maintain essential services during emergencies.
Poverty Remains Closely Linked to Disease Burden
Neglected tropical diseases are closely associated with social and economic disadvantages.
Communities without reliable access to safe drinking water, sanitation and adequate housing often face a greater risk of infection.
Limited healthcare infrastructure can delay diagnosis and allow preventable conditions to develop into severe illnesses.
People affected by these diseases may also experience discrimination, reduced employment opportunities and difficulties continuing their education.
Physical disabilities and visible disfigurement can further increase social exclusion.
The WHO has emphasised that eliminating neglected tropical diseases is not simply a medical objective. It is also essential for reducing poverty and improving living conditions.
Investments in clean water, sanitation, hygiene education and community healthcare can help address the underlying factors responsible for the continued spread of several infections.
Governments must therefore coordinate health policies with development programmes to achieve lasting results.
WHO Calls for Stronger Commitment Towards 2030
The WHO’s 2021–2030 roadmap established ambitious targets for reducing the global burden of neglected tropical diseases.
These include reducing by 90 per cent the number of people requiring interventions, lowering NTD-related disability and premature deaths by 75 per cent, and enabling 100 countries to eliminate at least one neglected tropical disease.
The roadmap also aims to eradicate Guinea worm disease and yaws.
With five years remaining until the 2030 deadline, the latest assessment suggests that additional efforts will be necessary to meet these objectives.
The WHO has called on affected countries to increase domestic funding, integrate disease-control services into universal health coverage and adapt programmes to the challenges posed by conflicts and climate change.
International donors have also been urged to expand their support across a wider range of neglected tropical disease programmes.
Countries receiving assistance should work towards diversifying their financial resources to reduce dependence on individual funding partners.
The organisation believes that sustained investment, stronger surveillance and improved access to medicines will be essential to maintaining progress.
A Critical Period for Global Disease Elimination
The latest WHO assessment presents a mixed picture of the international fight against neglected tropical diseases.
The increase in the number of countries achieving elimination and the sharp decline in several infections demonstrate that sustained public health interventions can deliver significant results.
At the same time, record dengue cases, inadequate financing and unequal healthcare access highlight the challenges that remain.
The coming years will be particularly important in determining whether countries can maintain their achievements and accelerate progress towards the 2030 targets.
The WHO has made clear that temporary improvements will not be sufficient without long-term commitments from governments, international institutions and healthcare partners.
Protecting vulnerable communities, expanding primary healthcare and ensuring a reliable supply of medicines will remain central to the global response.
The organisation’s message is clear: progress against neglected tropical diseases is achievable, but maintaining it will require consistent funding, scientific innovation and stronger public health systems.