WHO Report: Progress and Challenges in Eliminating HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs by 2030

The World Health Organization has released a comprehensive global progress report assessing implementation of the Global Health Sector Strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections for the period spanning 2022 to 2030, according to data published by the United Nations agency. The findings show that while millions of individuals continue to benefit from expanded medical care, persistent funding disruptions, rising infection rates in specific regions, and systemic healthcare inequalities threaten to derail international efforts to eliminate these epidemics as public health threats by the end of the decade.

Released during the 26th International AIDS Conference and ahead of World Hepatitis Day on July 28, the WHO assessment highlights a complex global landscape characterized by substantial scientific gains tempered by vulnerable infrastructure. Globally, an estimated 32 million people living with HIV were receiving treatment by the end of 2025. Since 2010, new HIV infections have fallen by 42 percent, while AIDS-related deaths have declined by 57 percent.

“This report tells two stories,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, in an agency statement. “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.”

Persistent Gaps and Emerging Vulnerabilities in HIV and Hepatitis Responses

Despite significant coverage milestones, major obstacles remain across all three disease categories. Approximately 9 million people living with HIV still lack access to life-saving treatment, and new transmission rates are climbing in several regions. The WHO notes that rising infections are heavily concentrated among key populations, including men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who inject drugs, transgender people, and people in prisons.

International donor funding reductions in 2025 directly impacted prevention programs in multiple countries, interrupting access to vital preventative tools such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Preliminary public health data indicate that PrEP utilization has dropped across various communities as governments struggle to bridge the financial gaps.

Viral hepatitis presents a similarly stark dichotomy. On one hand, global annual hepatitis B infections have dropped by 32 percent since 2015, and hepatitis C-related deaths have fallen by 12 percent. Conversely, viral hepatitis persists as one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, claiming an estimated 1.3 million lives in 2024 alone, with total mortality continuing an upward trajectory. Deaths specifically linked to hepatitis B have climbed by 17 percent since 2015, driven largely by low rates of diagnosis and treatment coverage despite the existence of effective medicines.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are similarly off track globally. While nations have strengthened national screening protocols and improved syphilis detection and treatment during pregnancy alongside modest increases in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage, overall STI rates are rising. Public health officials also report growing antimicrobial resistance among the antibiotics traditionally used to treat gonorrhoea.

Strategic Priorities for Accelerating Progress Toward 2030

To reverse negative trends and meet the 2030 targets established under the Global Health Sector Strategies—adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2022—the WHO report emphasizes healthcare integration as a primary mechanism for acceleration. Countries demonstrating the strongest outcomes are increasingly embedding HIV, hepatitis, and STI services directly into primary healthcare frameworks, linking them with tuberculosis care, maternal and child health services, sexual and reproductive health programs, and noncommunicable disease management.

Eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B remains a central objective. An increasing number of countries are pursuing official WHO validation for elimination, proving that integrated maternal health initiatives yield measurable success. Furthermore, health authorities are expanding digital health tools, interoperable surveillance networks, and multi-disease testing platforms.

Equitable distribution of medical innovations is also expanding. Long-acting prevention technologies, such as the WHO-recommended twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir, are currently being introduced in 10 nations with rollout plans spanning another 14 countries. Additionally, WHO recommendations regarding doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis offer a new pharmacological approach to reducing bacterial STIs among populations at substantial risk.

To support national health authorities in operationalizing these strategies, the agency has published its first consolidated HIV service delivery guidelines, alongside HIV surveillance guidance designed to strengthen routine monitoring systems and local data utilization.

“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.”

The strategic assessment arrives closely following the adoption of the 2026 United Nations High-Level Meeting Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, furnishing member states with empirical evidence to guide domestic implementation.

Next Steps and Public Engagement

As nations prepare for World Hepatitis Day on July 28 under the theme “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” public health ministries are urged to dismantle financial, social, and systemic barriers preventing vulnerable populations from accessing diagnostic testing and care. The WHO new report serves as the baseline framework for regional policy adjustments through the remainder of the decade. Further updates regarding national strategy alignments and validation milestones are expected as member states report progress to the World Health Assembly.