Berlin, 12 October 2026 – At the World Health Summit 2026, international experts came together for the session “NTDs 2030: Turning Challenges into Health System Strength – Leveraging NTD Infrastructure for Resilient Healthcare and Epidemic Response.” The discussion explored how existing infrastructure for neglected tropical disease (NTD) programmes can be strengthened and leveraged to build more resilient health systems and improve epidemic preparedness.
NTDs disproportionately affect people in vulnerable situations and often expose underlying weaknesses in health systems. At the same time, NTD programmes have established valuable infrastructure, including trained health workers, logistics networks and community-based services. These resources can support broader public health efforts well beyond NTD control. Against a backdrop of funding constraints, fragile supply chains and implementation challenges, the session focused on how to protect the progress already made and ensure that existing capacities are sustained and strengthened over the long term.
Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf of University Hospital Bonn highlighted the potential of NTD programmes to strengthen health systems and foster collaboration between research, policymakers and practitioners. Prof. Dr. Carsten Köhler of University Hospital Tübingen emphasised that progress against NTDs depends on reaching people who have traditionally had limited access to healthcare. Strong political leadership and sustained commitment from affected countries are equally essential.
Dr. Elizabeth Juma, Team Lead of the Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN) at the WHO Regional Office for Africa, demonstrated how existing infrastructure can be used to achieve broader health outcomes. Despite limited financial resources, many health workers have been trained and significant progress has been made. Integrating NTD programmes with other health initiatives can generate important synergies. For example, teams have worked across programmes addressing polio and lymphatic filariasis, and these established networks can now also support Ebola response efforts. Preserving these achievements requires recognising, maintaining and further developing the capacities already in place.
Ensuring access to medicines was another central theme. Richard Neci, Executive Director of the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN) in Kenya, stressed that medicine donations remain essential, particularly in settings without local manufacturing capacity. However, significant challenges persist in procurement, medicine quality assurance and the reliable supply of healthcare facilities. Effective supply chains must go hand in hand with trained health workers and strong community networks. Faith-based organisations and other local structures can play a vital role in raising awareness, identifying suspected cases and connecting people with testing and treatment services.
Somphou Sayasone, Deputy Director of the Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute in Laos, highlighted the wider health consequences of NTDs. Infection with the liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini, for example, can lead to serious long-term complications, including cancer. This underlines the importance of integrating NTD prevention and treatment into national health programmes and recognising their contribution to long-term population health. He also called for greater government investment in NTD control, comparable to the funding allocated to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Sabine Specht of Bayer AG emphasised the importance of cross-sector partnerships and medical innovation. Collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry, researchers and the global health community can help deliver new treatment options. The development of a medicine for sleeping sickness was highlighted as one example of what such partnerships can achieve. Yet important gaps remain, particularly in the availability of medicines for children and women. Addressing these needs requires closer coordination, open communication about the different challenges faced by stakeholders, and innovative approaches developed jointly.
Maintaining NTD programmes is particularly challenging in fragile and crisis-affected settings. Johan Willems, NTD Programme Manager at Christoffel-Blindenmission (CBM), highlighted the difficulties of sustaining health interventions in contexts such as South Sudan, while also recognising efforts to carry out activities such as lymphatic filariasis monitoring under challenging conditions. Integrating health services, building on existing infrastructure and strengthening collaboration are essential to maintaining access to care and protecting progress in these settings.
The discussion underscored that tackling neglected tropical diseases is about more than controlling individual diseases. Existing NTD infrastructure can strengthen health systems, improve epidemic preparedness and expand access to healthcare. Achieving these benefits requires sustained political commitment, reliable access to medicines, integrated health programmes and strong partnerships across sectors. Above all, the progress already made must be protected, and existing capacities strengthened to ensure they continue to support resilient health systems beyond 2030.
