Measuring Progress of 2030 Skin-Related Neglected Tropical Diseases Sustainable Development Goals

Skin-related neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) pose a public health threat, yet despite the establishment of related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), systematic analyses of skin-related NTDs SDGs progress are limited.

To measure the progress and project attainment to 2030 of the skin-related NTDs SDGs and to explore potential associated factors.

The disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) data of 6 skin NTDs, including cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, fungal skin diseases, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, and scabies, were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Foresight Visualization study. The general population and 2 vulnerable subpopulations, school-aged children and women of childbearing age, were analyzed. Data were collected from December 2024 to August 2025, and data were analyzed from March to August 2025.

Based on the World Health Organization strategic framework, the progress toward the 2030 skin-related NTDs SDGs targeting a 75% reduction in DALYs from 2020 levels was evaluated. The Skin NTDs SDG Index was developed to quantify the progress to meet the target at the national level and evaluate the role of socioeconomic and health care factors and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Globally, between 2020 and 2030, DALYs were estimated to increase for cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, fungal skin diseases, scabies, and onchocerciasis and decrease for lymphatic filariasis and leprosy. Only a limited number of countries were on track to meet the target, with 11 countries projected to achieve the skin-related NTDs SDGs for 1 type of skin-related NTD. The novel Skin NTDs SDG Index revealed substantial national variation in progress, with the highest in Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia and lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Government health spending per total health spending was a crucial factor for better progress. The COVID-19 pandemic showed complex roles for different skin NTDs in the short term and the long term. Analyses of 2 vulnerable subpopulations revealed divergent trends, with DALYs declining in school-aged children but rising in women of childbearing age, accompanied by unique index distribution patterns.

In this study, the progress toward attaining the skin-related NTDs SDGs targets has been largely insufficient. Regional inequalities, influenced by health spending levels, the COVID-19 pandemic, and vulnerable group disparities, pose major challenges. Targeted action and sustained health investment are urgently needed.