Global health gains falter as progress stalls, WHO warns
WHO's World Health Statistics 2026 shows real progress in some areas (e.g., a 40% drop in new HIV infections since 2010, declines in tobacco and alcohol use, and widespread gains in drinking water, sanitation, hygiene and clean cooking access), but overall progress toward the health-related SDGs by 2030 is off track. Gains are uneven across regions, with persistent risks like anemia and childhood overweight, rising malaria in some areas, a slowed pace of universal health coverage, and large gaps in mortality data that hinder monitoring. The report calls for stronger primary health care, better prevention, and sustainable financing to safeguard achievements and accelerate progress.