NTDs 2030: Turning Challenges into Health System Strength

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are early warning systems. Where they are increasingly prevalent, they typically reveal underlying weaknesses in health systems, poverty, social injustice, and vulnerability. They are also a stress test for global health security. Where NTDs cannot be effectively controlled, epidemics are unlikely to be managed efficiently either. NTD infrastructures—including health personnel, logistics systems, community health workers, and networks—form an important foundation for broader health systems.

However, in the face of funding gaps, fragile supply chains, and weak implementation structures, the question arises: how can NTDs continue to be tackled effectively while simultaneously contributing to the resilience of health systems?