Global health underwent a tumultuous journey in 2025 with the anticipated United States (US) withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), the disassembly of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the adoption of key multilateral global health agreements at the World Health Assembly. Against this backdrop, discernible challenges to global health have emerged, which will likely gain prominence in 2026. This commentary will delineate three impending challenges to global health in 2026: surges in vaccine-preventable diseases spurred by policy changes on vaccines, the evolving role of the US in global health activities and its impact on multilateral efforts, and the growing prominence of pharmaceutical interventions in addressing the global obesity crisis.
Emerging Fault Lines in Global Health to Guard Against in 2026
