UN warns decades of global health progress are at risk

Decades of progress in global healthcare could be at risk as funding cuts threaten efforts to improve health outcomes around the world, according to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026.

The latest report shows significant improvements have been achieved since the Sustainable Development Goals were introduced in 2015, particularly in maternal and child health and the fight against infectious diseases. New HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths have fallen by more than 30% since 2015, tuberculosis deaths are declining following increases during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 780 million fewer people now require treatment for neglected tropical diseases. Immunisation coverage is also gradually recovering following disruption during the pandemic.

Despite the progress, the UN has warned that health targets remain out of reach in many areas. Maternal mortality remains almost three times higher than the Sustainable Development Goal target, while millions of children around the world remain unvaccinated. Progress is also particularly uneven in countries affected by conflict and instability, where access to healthcare can be significantly more difficult.

Funding has emerged as one of the biggest threats to maintaining improvements. The report warns that reductions in international health funding risk reversing decades of progress, particularly in lower-income countries and communities where healthcare systems are already under significant pressure. The World Health Organization has issued a similar warning, reporting earlier this year that the world is currently off track to achieve any of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

With fewer than five years remaining until the 2030 deadline, the UN says faster action and sustained investment will be required to protect the progress already made and accelerate improvements in countries that continue to experience some of the poorest health outcomes.

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