The World Health Organization has identified the top 10 threats to global health in 20191:
- Air pollution and climate change
- Noncommunicable diseases
- Global influenza pandemic
- Fragile and vulnerable settings
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Ebola and other high-threat pathogens
- Weak primary health care
- Vaccine hesitancy
- Dengue
- HIV
To tackle these threats, WHO has defined the following three strategic priorities and goals in its 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13): 1 billion more people gain access to universal health coverage, 1 billion more people are protected from health emergencies, and 1 billion more people enjoy healthier lives.2 In addition, WHO has delineated specific targets and indicators in its impact and outcome framework in order to monitor worldwide progress toward achieving the three stated goals and improving health.3
- World Health Organization (WHO). Ten Threats to Global Health in 2019. Available at www.who.int/emergencies/ten-threats-to-global-health-in-2019. Accessed January 25, 2019.
- World Health Organization (WHO). Draft Thirteenth General Programme of Work, 2019–2023. Available at http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA71/A71_4-en.pdf?ua=1. Accessed January 25, 2019.
- 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13). WHO Impact Framework: Indicator Metadata. Draft Version 3, 29 October 2018. Available at www.who.int/about/what-we-do/GPW13_WIF_Targets_and_Indicators_English.pdf?ua=1. Accessed January 31, 2019.