The Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases (STAG-NTD) has recommended a temporary pause in the consideration of requests to add new diseases to the World Health Organization (WHO) list of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), pending a comprehensive review of the criteria and processes used to determine inclusion.
The recommendation was adopted during the 20th meeting of STAG-NTD (24−25 August) following extensive discussion on the purpose, scope and future evolution of the WHO NTD portfolio. Members agreed that a review is timely, given that the current criteria were established in 2016 and have not undergone a formal reassessment since their adoption.
Why is a review needed?
The WHO list of NTDs, currently comprising 21 diseases and disease groups, plays an important role in mobilizing political attention, guiding public health action, shaping research agendas and facilitating resource mobilization for conditions that disproportionately affect vulnerable and underserved populations. Since the establishment of the current framework, several diseases have been added to the portfolio, most recently, noma .
STAG-NTD noted that the existing criteria have helped establish a more structured and transparent approach for considering requests for inclusion. However, members also recognized that important questions remain regarding whether the current framework remains fit for purpose and sufficiently reflects WHO's evolving mandate, priorities and resource environment.
In particular, members highlighted the absence of a mechanism for reviewing or removing diseases from the list once they have been included, as well as the need to clarify the implications of adding new conditions to the NTD portfolio.
Clarification of WHO responsibilities
STAG-NTD noted that there is currently no formal policy defining WHO's responsibilities following the addition of a disease to the NTD list, nor explicit guidance on the human and financial resources that may be required to support such activities. Clarifying these issues was considered essential before any further expansion of the portfolio.
A time-limited pause
To allow the review to proceed independently of any individual disease application, STAG-NTD recommended that consideration of new requests for inclusion be temporarily paused while the review is conducted.
Members emphasized that the measure should not be viewed as a permanent restriction or a judgment on any specific disease. Rather, it is intended to ensure that future applications are assessed according to clear, up-to-date and broadly agreed criteria.
Next steps
STAG-NTD recommended that the review be undertaken through a structured process involving virtual consultations and written inputs from members. Proposed revisions will be presented at the next STAG-NTD meeting, scheduled for 4−6 May 2027, when the group will formulate relevant recommendations.
Until the review has been completed and any revised criteria have been considered, requests for the inclusion of additional diseases will remain on hold. Following completion of the review, WHO will communicate any changes to the criteria and process and will resume consideration of new submissions under the updated framework.
