WHO reports health progress in 2025 despite funding constraints
The Story
The World Health Organization released its Results Report showing measurable health improvements in 2025 under its Thirteenth General Programme of Work, even as funding cuts affected the organization and the global health sector. The report found progress on all three “Triple Billion” targets but warned that the world remains off track to meet health-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The full report will be presented at the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly in May 2026.
Key Facts
- An estimated 567 million additional people were covered by essential health services without catastrophic health spending in 2025, compared with 2018 baseline (increase of 136 million since 2024).
- An estimated 698 million additional people were better protected from health emergencies in 2025, compared with 2018 baseline (increase of 61 million since 2024).
- An estimated 1.75 billion additional people living healthier lives in 2025, compared with 2018 baseline (increase of 300 million since 2024).
- Approximately half of the 121 output indicators used to assess WHO Secretariat performance were not achieved, particularly in emergency-prone and resource-constrained settings.
- Progress on universal health coverage was driven by expanded services for communicable diseases, HIV and tuberculosis, improved sanitation, and a growing health workforce.
- Mental health emergency support systems increased country coverage from 28% to 48%.
- HPV vaccination global coverage rose from 17% in 2019 to 31% in 2024 using simplified single-dose schedules.
- WHO responded to 66 emergencies across 88 countries in 2025, delivering 33 million medical consultations in Gaza.
- A correction was made on 1 May 2026 to clarify that 46 outcome indicators align with the 2030 Agenda, and 121 output indicators assess WHO Secretariat performance.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
What specific funding cuts affected WHO and the global health sector? What caused the unmet ambitions that leave the world off track for 2030 goals?
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
- WHO results report (author organization)
Sources: World Health Organization
