By Muhammad Amaan
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised concerns that about nine million people worldwide are still without life-saving HIV treatment despite significant progress in reducing new infections and AIDS-related deaths.
It warned that funding cuts, humanitarian crises and inequalities threaten efforts to end HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections by 2030.
The global health body said that the integration of health services, innovation, and stronger community leadership will be critical to accelerating progress towards eliminating the three diseases as public health threats.
The WHO disclosed this on Monday in a new report assessing progress in implementing the Global Health Sector Strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections for 2022–2030.
The report, released during the 26th International AIDS Conference and ahead of World Hepatitis Day on July 28, highlighted major gains in the global response while identifying persistent gaps slowing progress.
According to the report, an estimated 32 million people living with HIV were receiving treatment by the end of 2025.
It added that since 2010, new HIV infections have declined by 42 per cent, while AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 57 per cent.
Despite the progress, WHO said about nine million people still lack access to HIV treatment, while new infections continue to rise in several regions, particularly among key populations, including men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who inject drugs, transgender people and people in prisons.
WHO’s Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, said, “This report tells two stories. It demonstrates what is possible when countries invest in health, communities and science.
But it also shows how quickly progress can be undone with funding disruptions, humanitarian emergencies and persistent inequalities.
“Over the next five years, we must build integrated, resilient health systems that reach those furthest behind.”
The report also highlighted progress in the fight against viral hepatitis, noting that annual hepatitis B infections have fallen by 32 per cent since 2015, while hepatitis C-related deaths have decreased by 12 per cent globally.
However, WHO warned that viral hepatitis remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, causing an estimated 1.3 million deaths in 2024, with mortality continuing to rise.
It further noted that deaths linked to hepatitis B have increased by 17 per cent since 2015, while diagnosis and treatment coverage remain low despite the availability of effective medicines.
On sexually transmitted infections, WHO said countries have improved syphilis screening and treatment during pregnancy and recorded modest increases in HPV vaccination coverage.
The organisation, however, warned that STI rates are increasing in several countries and communities, with growing antimicrobial resistance to gonorrhoea treatment posing an additional threat.
According to the report, reductions in international donor funding in 2025 disrupted HIV prevention programmes in several countries, including access to pre-exposure prophylaxis, with preliminary data showing declining PrEP use in some countries and communities.
WHO said the global response to STIs also remains off track due to rising infection rates, increasing antimicrobial resistance, inadequate HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening, and persistent gaps in surveillance, diagnostics, funding and health information systems.
To accelerate progress, the organisation urged countries to integrate HIV, viral hepatitis and STI services into primary healthcare alongside tuberculosis, sexual and reproductive health, maternal and child health and non-communicable disease services.
It also called for expanded use of digital health technologies, stronger disease surveillance systems, wider access to improved diagnostics and multi-disease testing platforms, and equitable access to innovations, including the WHO-recommended twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, which is currently being introduced in 10 countries with rollout planned in another 14.
The report also identified eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B as a key priority, noting that more countries are applying for WHO validation of elimination through strengthened maternal and child health services.
WHO further stressed the need to strengthen community leadership and incorporate community-generated data into national monitoring systems to improve accountability and ensure health services reach underserved populations.
“This assessment is more than a progress report; it is a practical guide for action for the second half of this strategy period,” said Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Department for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STIs.
“It highlights where countries are succeeding, where progress is stalling, and where investments can have the greatest impact. Together with our new consolidated HIV service delivery and HIV surveillance guidance, WHO is equipping countries with practical tools to strengthen programmes today and reach the people and communities who need them most.”
