Global health gains are facing a threat of reversal, with progress uneven, slowing, and in some areas reversing, according to the World Health Statistics 2026 report published by the World Health Organization (WHO). While there have been meaningful improvements in global health over the past decade, persistent and emerging challenges mean that the world remains off track to achieve any of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
What Happened
The WHO report highlights notable progress in access to services that shape health outcomes, with 961 million people gaining access to safely managed drinking water, 1.2 billion to sanitation, 1.6 billion to basic hygiene, and 1.4 billion to clean cooking solutions between 2015 and 2024. The WHO African Region has also achieved faster-than-global reductions in HIV (-70%) and tuberculosis (-28%).
However, concerns over excessive salt intake, sunbed use, and gene therapy risks are on the rise. A recent analysis of 546 sandwiches by Action on Salt & Sugar found that more than one in 10 exceeded government salt targets, with Gail's smoked chicken Caesar club containing 6.88g of salt, more than the recommended daily limit. MPs are calling for a ban on sunbed advertising to prevent skin cancer, citing the fact that using a sunbed before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma by 60%.
Why It Matters
Excessive salt intake is a major risk factor for high blood pressure, heart attacks, and stroke, while sunbed use is linked to skin cancer. Gene therapy, while offering profound benefits, also carries rare risks, as seen in the case of a boy whose tumor was linked to gene therapy viruses.
What Experts Say
"The world remains off track to achieve any of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030." — World Health Organization
"We are alarmed by the high levels of salt in sandwiches and the impact this will have on public health." — Action on Salt & Sugar
Key Numbers
- 961 million people gained access to safely managed drinking water between 2015 and 2024
- 1.2 billion people gained access to sanitation between 2015 and 2024
- 1.6 billion people gained access to basic hygiene between 2015 and 2024
- 1.4 billion people gained access to clean cooking solutions between 2015 and 2024
- 70% reduction in HIV in the WHO African Region
- 28% reduction in tuberculosis in the WHO African Region
- 6.88g of salt in Gail's smoked chicken Caesar club
- 60% increased risk of melanoma from sunbed use before age 35
Key Facts
Key Facts
- Who: World Health Organization
- What: Published World Health Statistics 2026 report
- Where: Global
- Impact: Global health gains under threat
- What: Action on Salt & Sugar analyzed 546 sandwiches
- What: MPs called for sunbed advertising ban
What Comes Next
The WHO report highlights the need for continued efforts to address persistent and emerging health challenges. As concerns over excessive salt intake, sunbed use, and gene therapy risks rise, governments, health organizations, and individuals must work together to achieve the health-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.