WHO warns global health SDG targets unlikely by 2030, citing funding gaps, uneven progress, and persistent health system challenges worldwide
Share
KOHIMA — The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that global health targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are unlikely to be achieved by 2030, citing uneven progress, funding constraints, and persistent gaps in health systems worldwide.
The warning is based on WHO’s end-of-biennium Results Report for 2024–2025, marking the final assessment under its Thirteenth General Programme of Work (2019–2025). The report presents an evidence-based evaluation of global health performance, indicating that while progress has been real, it remains insufficient and uneven across countries and programme areas.
Overall, only 50.4% of output indicators met or exceeded their targets, while 31% fell slightly below and 19% remained significantly below expectations, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
A major concern highlighted in the report is the shortfall in achieving the “triple billion targets.” Under the universal health coverage goal, an estimated 567 million additional people gained access to essential health services by 2025, leaving a gap of 433 million from the one billion target.
Despite these gains, around 4.5 billion people globally still lack access to essential health services, while nearly 2 billion people face financial hardship due to healthcare costs, including 344 million pushed into extreme poverty.
Also read: Global growth to slow as conflicts bite: G-24
Under the indicator “Improved access to quality essential health services,” which spans service delivery, communicable and noncommunicable diseases, health equity across the life course, governance, and the health workforce, only 47% of targets were achieved. A further 33% were slightly below target and 20% fell significantly short, highlighting persistent weaknesses in core health system functions.
Similarly, under the indicator “Reduced number of people suffering financial hardship,” which covers financing strategies, financial protection, and decision-making, half of the targets were achieved, while the remaining half fell short, pointing to ongoing challenges in ensuring affordable healthcare.
Progress on access to essential medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and devices for primary health care was somewhat better. Under this indicator, 54% of targets were achieved, while 23% remained slightly below and another 23% fell short, although many of the unmet targets showed a positive trajectory.
The report notes that progress has been strongest in areas where the WHO’s role is most direct, including normative guidance, policy support, data and surveillance systems, and targeted technical assistance—particularly in primary health care, financial protection, antimicrobial resistance, and access to essential medicines.
Globally, health outcomes remain under pressure. In 2021, the top 10 causes of death accounted for 39 million deaths, representing 57% of the 68 million deaths worldwide, reflecting the continued burden of both communicable and noncommunicable diseases.
The WHO underscored that health outcomes are closely tied to financing. While overall budget implementation remained high, funding constraints reduced operational capacity, limiting technical support, slowing programme delivery, and weakening critical systems such as surveillance and emergency response—especially in fragile and high-risk settings.
The report also points to structural challenges, including weak health information systems, shortages of healthcare workers, and high staff turnover, compounded by the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. These pressures have been further intensified by declining development assistance, rising inflation, and tightening fiscal conditions globally.
As the current programme cycle concludes, the WHO warned that global health progress remains fragile and uneven, with outcomes heavily dependent on financing and country capacity. It stressed that achieving meaningful impact will require sustained investment, stronger health systems, and sharper prioritisation of core health functions.
In an increasingly uncertain global financial environment, the WHO has called for flexible and sustainable funding to support the implementation of its Fourteenth General Programme of Work (2025–2028) and to accelerate progress towards global health goals.