Global Health Progress Made, But Challenges Persist

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released several reports in recent weeks, highlighting both progress and challenges in the global health landscape. On the one hand, a new analysis from the WHO's Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety has reaffirmed that there is no causal link between vaccines and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This conclusion is based on evidence from 31 primary research studies published between 2010 and 2025, and confirms the positive safety profile of vaccines used during childhood and pregnancy. In another area of progress, the WHO's annual World Malaria Report has revealed that new tools against malaria, including dual-ingredient nets and WHO-recommended vaccines, have helped to prevent an estimated 170 million cases and 1 million deaths in 2024. Additionally, 24 countries have introduced WHO-recommended malaria vaccines into their routine immunization programs, and seasonal malaria chemoprevention has been expanded to reach 54 million children in 2024. Furthermore, a joint report from the WHO and the World Bank Group has found that most countries have made progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) since 2000, with health service coverage rising from 54 to 71 points between 2000 and 2023, and the share of people experiencing financial hardship due to large and impoverishing out-of-pocket health payments declining from 34% to 26% between 2000 and 2022. However, despite these successes, several challenges persist. A report from the UK's Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner has found that much of the £10.9 billion in taxpayer money lost to fraud and error in COVID-19 support schemes is now "beyond recovery." The report attributes this to the enormous outlays of public money during the pandemic, which exposed the system to the risk of fraud and error. Another area of concern is the ongoing negotiation of the WHO Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system. While countries have made progress in these negotiations, they have decided to reconvene sooner to accelerate progress, reflecting the shared commitment and urgency needed to make the world safer from future pandemics. Finally, the WHO's World Malaria Report also notes that progress in eliminating malaria is under threat due to rising drug resistance. Despite the significant progress made in recent years, with 47 countries and 1 territory certified malaria-free by the WHO, there were an estimated 282 million malaria cases and 610,000 deaths in 2024. In conclusion, while the global health landscape presents a mixed picture, with both progress and challenges, the WHO and other organizations continue to work towards addressing these challenges and making the world a healthier and safer place. Sources: * WHO expert group's new analysis reaffirms there is no link between vaccines and autism * Much of £11bn Covid scheme fraud 'beyond recovery', report says * Most countries make progress towards universal health coverage, but major challenges remain, WHO–World Bank report finds * Countries to reconvene sooner to accelerate progress on WHO Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system negotiations * New tools saved a million lives from malaria last year but progress under threat as drug resistance rises