Introduction to the WHO’s Major Accomplishments in 2025
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, highlighted the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement as the year’s greatest health achievement in 2025, a year marked by international aid cuts threatening decades of progress in maternal care, vaccination, HIV prevention, and disease surveillance.
Key Agreements and Regulations
During the 78th World Health Assembly in May, the WHO adopted the Pandemic Agreement and a new International Health Regulation. These agreements are expected to facilitate a faster, more equitable, and effective response to future health emergencies.
Additionally, the WHO announced the establishment of a pathogen exchange system to enhance research and preparedness, set to launch in May during the 79th World Health Assembly. The WHO views this initiative as a “historic opportunity” to strengthen global health security.
Notable Health Successes in 2025
The WHO’s annual review emphasized its global leadership role in addressing health challenges, always prioritizing scientific evidence.
- Elimination of several diseases in various countries, including Maldives becoming the first nation to eliminate maternal transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B.
- Brazil recognized for eliminating maternal transmission of HIV, making it the most populous country in the Americas to achieve this milestone.
- Burundi, Egypt, and Fiji eliminated trachoma; Guinea and Kenya eradicated sleeping sickness; and Niger eliminated river blindness.
- Georgia, Suriname, and Timor-Leste obtained malaria-free country certification.
Progress in Vaccination
The WHO reported that 24 countries now have malaria vaccines, following the introduction of these vaccines in seven African countries in 2025. The organization also praised efforts to expand vaccination programs against meningitis, pneumococcal disease, polio, rotavirus, and human papillomavirus (HPV).
- Countries like Bhutan, Brazil, China, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tajikistan, Pakistan, and Rwanda have expanded HPV vaccination and screening, bringing the world closer to eliminating cervical cancer. So far, 86 million girls have been vaccinated against HPV.
Despite these achievements, the WHO noted challenges in immunization against other infections like measles, which saw a rise in cases compared to pre-pandemic levels, and diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, and polio affecting 20 million children due to conflicts, supply disruptions, and misinformation about vaccines.
WHO’s Response to 48 Health Emergencies
Throughout 2025, the WHO addressed 48 health emergencies in 79 countries and territories, including conflict-ridden contexts like Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine. These interventions included supporting overwhelmed health systems, providing emergency care, and coordinating international efforts to safeguard vulnerable populations.
The WHO’s emergency contingency fund released $29 million (nearly €25 million) to respond to emergencies in 30 countries. Medical emergency teams supported by the WHO provided 1.6 million consultations in challenging circumstances.
The WHO also acknowledged its actions in Uganda against the Sudan virus, in the Republic of United Tanzania and Ethiopia against Marburg virus outbreaks, and in the Democratic Republic of Congo against an Ebola outbreak.
Moreover, the WHO ended the international public health emergency for mpox in September of that year. Over 1.1 million doses of vaccines were distributed across 11 African countries with the highest infection rates to protect high-risk individuals.
Addressing Non-Communicable Diseases
The WHO also highlighted progress against non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory conditions, and mental health issues—the leading causes of death, disease, and disability.
In mid-December, global leaders adopted a political declaration at the United Nations General Assembly setting targets for 2030, including reducing tobacco users by 150 million, controlling hypertension in 150 million more people, and providing mental health care access to 150 million additional individuals.
The WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025, currently covering over 90% of the global population with measures such as smoke-free spaces, graphic health warnings, and increased tobacco taxes.
The WHO published several evidence-based clinical practice guidelines in 2025, covering topics like meningitis diagnosis and treatment, postpartum hemorrhage, diabetes during pregnancy, the use of the kangaroo mother care method for premature infants, pediatric oncology medications, and safe listening measures in video games.
The WHO recently adopted the Global Strategy for Traditional Medicine 2025-2034, aiming to integrate these practices into healthcare systems based on scientific evidence, safety, and quality. The Second Global Forum on Traditional Medicine, co-hosted with India, promoted more sustainable and inclusive health solutions.
Looking ahead to 2026, the WHO reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the highest possible level of health as a universal human right, not a privilege.
