Global progress against neglected tropical diseases continues despite challenges, new WHO report finds

The World Health Organization (WHO) today released the Global report on neglected tropical diseases 2025, the third in a series monitoring progress towards the 2030 targets set in the Road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030. The report presents a comprehensive picture of global achievements and challenges across the portfolio of neglected tropical disease (NTDs) and across all six WHO regions.

"Despite multiple challenges, NTD programmes continue to deliver important results, freeing large sectors of populations from these ancient diseases. This report is a tribute to their dedication and hard work as well as to the generous support of all partners involved," said Dr Daniel Ngamije Madandi, Director, a.i., Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases at WHO. "The global NTD community is a real partnership, a community of practice united by shared goals - this report is a reflection of it."

This year also marks 20 years since WHO consolidated disease-specific activities under a single programme dedicated to all NTDs, fostering collaboration among pharmaceutical manufacturers, development partners, philanthropic organizations, national health authorities and WHO. This coordinated effort has contributed to a measurable decline in the global burden of NTDs.

Report highlights

• Reduced number of people requiring NTD interventions: In 2023, an estimated 1.495 billion people required interventions against NTDs, 122 million fewer than in 2022 and a 32% decrease from the 2010 baseline.
• Reduced disease burden: Between 2015 and 2021, the disease burden dropped from 17.2 million to 14.1 million DALYs, while NTD-related deaths decreased from an estimated 139 000 to 119 000. The number of people affected by NTDs declined from 1.9 billion in 1990 to just over 1 billion in 2021.
• Increased number of people treated: In 2023, 867.1 million people were treated for at least one NTD, some 18 million more than in 2022.
• Elimination of NTDs: In 2024, seven countries were acknowledged by WHO for eliminating an NTD.
• Cross-cutting progress: Advances include enhanced integration in the implementation of preventive chemotherapy, broader adoption of integrated strategies for skin-NTDs, increased inclusion of NTDs in national health strategies, plans and essential service packages, and the wider adoption of guidelines for management of NTD-related disabilities.
• Research and innovation: In 2024, WHO launched a process to define research and development priorities for NTDs, and prequalified six new medicine formulations, one active pharmaceutical ingredient and a new dengue vaccine.
• Medicines and other health products: As of end 2024, 19 different types of NTD medicines were donated by 12 manufacturers; of the almost 30 billion tablets and vials delivered to countries since 2011, 1.8 billion were for treatments in 2024 alone. In the same year, WHO facilitated the procurement of over 1 million diagnostics tests for five NTDs.
• Advocacy and partnerships: In 2024, NTDs remained visible in global fora such as the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Human Rights Council, and the G7 and G20; partnerships were established or renewed with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (on rabies vaccine) and with the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (on access to medicines, vaccines and diagnostics).
• Sustainability: As of 2024, 14 African countries had developed national plans to strengthen sustainability of NTD service delivery.

Challenges

The report highlights slow progress in reducing deaths from vector-borne diseases, expanding access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and protecting populations from catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditures, revealing persistent gaps in a harmonized, multisectoral response. Gaps also remain in ensuring complete data reporting on all NTDs and in collecting gender-disaggregated information.

Findings from a qualitative assessment of progress towards the road map targets identified key needs and priorities across four of the 11 dimensions in the road map - diagnostics, monitoring and evaluation, access and logistics, and advocacy and funding.

Programmes for NTDs continue to be severely disrupted by reduced availability of funding. Official development assistance decreased by 41% between 2018 and 2023, underscoring the need for prioritization, domestic resource mobilization and strategic focus on high-impact interventions.