02420nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001653003900042653001100081653001500092653001400107653002500121653001400146653000900160100001500169700001200184700001500196700001100211245008800222856026000310300000900570520161100579       2025                            d10aNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs)10aStigma10aDisability10aTreatment10aglobal health policy10aFinancing10aSDGs1 aMolyneux D1 aDowns P1 aBartlett S1 aBush S00aNeglected Tropical Diseases: Success in Achieving Development Gains for the Poorest  uhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Simon-Bush-3/publication/396448919_Neglected_Tropical_Diseases_Success_in_Achieving_Development_Gains_for_the_Poorest/links/68ecd2d4e7f5f867e6def5ce/Neglected-Tropical-Diseases-Success-in-Achieving-Development-Gains-fo  a1-173 a<p>Neglected tropical diseases are a group of diseases that share common features despite having varied causes for their resulting clinical conditions. They affect one to two billion individuals worldwide, exacerbating existing societal ineq- uities by primarily affecting impoverished and politically marginalized groups in tropical and sub-tropical regions.2 These diseases lead to stigma, disability, and social isolation that make accessing appropriate healthcare, including mental health treatment, increasingly difficult. Advocacy efforts concerning the impact of NTDs on populations and the economic benefits of interventions have led to their inclusion in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). NTD interventions have well-defined economic rates of return, due to effective partnerships, proven successes, and generous pharmaceutical donations.3 While research on NTDs remains limited, effective strategies exist for their control, mitigation, or eradication—if prioritized by governments and donors. This essay aims to raise awareness of NTDs among policymakers, em- phasizing their significant yet overlooked impact on global health policy, as well as the successes and challenges of NTD programs thus far. It details the effective and sustained collaboration between endemic countries, bilateral and philanthropic donors, international organizations, non-governmental development organizations (NGDOs), pharmaceutical donors, and academic institutions. Most importantly it argues for the importance of investing in NTDs within the context of poverty alleviation and development.</p>