The conditions complicate an estimated 10% to 15% of pregnancies and account for around 16% of maternal deaths worldwide. Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are among the main disorders covered by the new plan, which sets out actions for the period from 2026 to 2035 and beyond.
Access to basic care remains a problem
Many women still lack reliable access to routine blood-pressure checks during pregnancy, urine tests to detect protein and essential medicines, including aspirin, antihypertensive drugs and magnesium sulfate. Delays in referring patients to specialist care, shortages of trained health workers and limited emergency obstetric services can make complications harder to treat, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
“Pre-eclampsia can develop in any pregnancy,” said Dr. Pascale Allotey, director of WHO’s Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child, Adolescent Health and Ageing. Whether the condition becomes fatal depends on whether a woman’s blood pressure is checked in time and whether emergency care is available when her condition worsens, she said.
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Early detection and timely treatment can save the lives of both mothers and babies. The risks do not necessarily end at childbirth, as women who experience hypertensive disorders during pregnancy face higher risks of chronic hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke and kidney disease later in life. Children exposed to these conditions in the womb may also face health problems linked to premature birth and an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
A roadmap for research and treatment
The WHO roadmap calls for coordinated action in five areas: research and innovation, clinical guidance and standards, access to medicines and diagnostic tools, implementation of proven interventions, and advocacy and accountability.
One concern is the shortage of medicines specifically developed and approved to prevent or treat pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Research investment has largely focused on diagnostics, while the development of new preventive and treatment options has received less attention.
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In May 2026, the WHO convened more than 140 partners at a global summit to identify 20 priority research questions that could guide future investment in predicting, detecting and treating these disorders.
The new roadmap calls on governments, researchers, health professionals, funders, industry and civil society to coordinate their work and investment so that effective treatments and future medical advances reach the women and babies who need them.
