The World Health Organization, WHO, has warned that years of progress in the fight against HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, STIs, are at risk of being reversed due to funding gaps, humanitarian crises and persistent inequalities.
In a new global report released ahead of World Hepatitis Day, WHO said millions of people are still being denied access to essential prevention, testing and treatment services despite major advances made over the past decade.
World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on 28 July to commemorate the birthday of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus and developed the first hepatitis B vaccine.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the report reflected both the achievements made through investment in health systems and the risks posed by reduced funding and ongoing inequalities.
“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,” Tedros said.
According to WHO, about 32 million people living with HIV were receiving treatment globally by the end of 2025. Since 2010, new HIV infections have declined by 42 per cent, while AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 57 per cent.
Despite these gains, the agency estimates that about nine million people living with HIV still lack access to life-saving medicines. New infections are also increasing in some regions, particularly among communities facing stigma and discrimination, including sex workers, people who inject drugs, transgender people and people in prisons.
Progress in tackling viral hepatitis has also been uneven. WHO said new hepatitis B infections have fallen by nearly one-third since 2015, while deaths linked to hepatitis C have declined. However, viral hepatitis remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, responsible for an estimated 1.3 million deaths in 2024.
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The agency said efforts to reduce sexually transmitted infections have slowed, with disruptions to international donor funding affecting HIV prevention programmes in several countries.
WHO noted that reduced funding has limited access to pre-exposure prophylaxis, a medication that significantly lowers the risk of HIV infection among people at increased risk.
The organization also highlighted challenges in diagnosing and treating hepatitis B, despite the availability of effective medicines that can prevent millions of deaths.
WHO said integrating HIV, hepatitis and STI services into primary healthcare systems remains one of the most effective ways to expand access and strengthen health services worldwide.
The report identified advances such as long-acting HIV prevention medicines, improved diagnostic tools and digital health systems as key opportunities to accelerate progress.
Among the notable developments is lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention medicine recommended by WHO. The treatment is being introduced in 10 countries, with plans for rollout in an additional 14.
WHO said lenacapavir could significantly transform HIV prevention efforts, particularly for populations most vulnerable to infection.
The agency also stressed the importance of community involvement, urging countries to ensure that people affected by HIV, hepatitis and STIs play a central role in designing health programmes and monitoring service delivery.
“Over the next five years, we must build integrated, resilient health systems that reach those furthest behind,” Tedros said.
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