The World Health Organization released its World Health Statistics Report 2026 on May 13, 2026. According to the WHO news release ("Global health gains face threat of reversal," WHO, May 13, 2026):"The notable progress outlined in the report includes:"- new HIV infections fell by 40% between 2010 and 2024;"- both tobacco use and alcohol consumption have declined since 2010; and"- the number of people needing interventions for neglected tropical diseases has dropped by 36% between 2010 and 2024."Though progress has been made in advancing health, challenges still remain. According to the release:"Progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) has slowed sharply.…
WHO Releases World Health Report 2025
May 15, 2025 The WHO released its World Health Report 2025 on May 15, 2025. According to the WHO: "An estimated 1.4 billion more people were living healthier by the end of 2024, surpassing the 1 billion target. The progress in healthier lives was driven by reduction in tobacco use, improved air quality and better access to water, hygiene, and sanitation. But progress towards increased coverage of essential health services and protection from emergencies lagged; only 431 million more people gained access to essential health services without financial hardship, and close to 637 million more people were better protected from…
WHO: Nursing workforce grows but disparities in access persist
May 15, 2025 A new report issued May 12 by the World Health Organization finds that "1 in 7 nurses worldwide – and 23% in high-income countries – are foreign-born, highlighting reliance on international migration."The WHO reports that: "The global nursing workforce has grown from 27.9 million in 2018 to 29.8 million in 2023, but wide disparities in the availability of nurses remain across regions and countries, according to the State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report, published by the World Health Organization (WHO), International Council of Nurses (ICN) and partners."The full report, State of the world’s nursing 2025: investing in education, jobs, leadership and…
WHO: Health inequities are shortening lives by decades
May 15, 2025 A new report issued May 6th by the World Health Organization finds that "underlying causes of ill health often stem from factors beyond the health sector, such as lack of quality housing, education and job opportunities."According to the WHO, the new World report on social determinants of health equity shows that "such determinants can be responsible for a dramatic reduction of healthy life expectancy – sometimes by decades – in high- and low-income countries alike. For example, people in the country with the lowest life expectancy will, on average, live 33 years shorter than those born in the…