Samaan Lateef | New Delhi
World Health Organization (WHO) has released its 2023 World Health Statistics report, providing updated figures on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the latest statistics on progress towards achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The report, which includes data up to 2022, reveals a concerning stagnation in health progress on key indicators in recent years, compared to the positive trends observed between 2000 and 2015. It also emphasizes the increasing threat posed by noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and climate change, calling for a coordinated and strengthened response.
One of the significant findings of the report is the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on global health, further hampering progress towards the SDGs. Between 2020 and 2021, the pandemic resulted in a staggering 336.8 million years of life lost worldwide. On average, each excess death caused a loss of 22 years of life, abruptly cutting short the lives of millions of individuals.
While improvements were observed in maternal and child health since 2000, with one-third and one-half reductions in deaths, respectively, the pandemic has derailed these positive trends. It has also contributed to inequalities in access to quality healthcare, routine immunizations, and financial protection. As a consequence, advancements in addressing diseases like malaria, tuberculosis (TB), and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) have been reversed.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, highlighted the report’s significance, stating, “The report sends a stark message on the threat of noncommunicable diseases, which take an immense and increasing toll on lives, livelihoods, health systems, communities, economies, and societies.” He called for increased investments in health and health systems to realign efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The report also raises concerns about the rising impact of noncommunicable diseases on future generations. Currently, NCDs account for nearly three-quarters of all annual deaths, and if the trend continues, it is projected to reach 86% of the 90 million annual deaths by mid-century. This would result in approximately 77 million deaths caused by NCDs, representing an alarming 90% increase since 2019.
Moreover, the report highlights a deceleration in the rate of progress for many health indicators. For instance, the reduction in the global maternal mortality ratio and tuberculosis incidence has slowed down, hindering the achievement of respective SDG targets. Additionally, the prevalence of obesity is on the rise, access to essential health services has slowed, and financial hardships related to healthcare costs persist, impeding progress towards Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
The report also introduces a dedicated section on climate change and health, underscoring the growing importance of this issue in global health. It emphasizes the critical need for timely, reliable, and disaggregated data to track progress and enhance national and global health policies.
Dr. Samira Asma, WHO Assistant Director-General for Data, Analytics, and Delivery for Impact, highlighted the need for collective action, stating, “To stay on track towards the 2030 SDG agenda, we must act decisively and collectively to deliver a measurable impact in all countries.”
As the world grapples with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO report serves as a crucial reminder of the need for renewed efforts to address the immediate health crisis, tackle noncommunicable diseases, and confront the impact of climate change on global health.
The release of the 2023 World Health Statistics report by the World Health Organization (WHO) provides important insights into the current state of global health and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health progress worldwide.
The report presents data up to 2022 and highlights a concerning stagnation in health progress compared to the positive trends observed between 2000 and 2015. This slowdown in progress raises alarms about the achievement of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
One of the key aspects covered in the report is the devastating toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on global health. The report quantifies the impact by estimating that between 2020 and 2021, the pandemic resulted in a staggering 336.8 million years of life lost globally. This means that, on average, each excess death caused a loss of 22 years of life, abruptly cutting short the lives of millions of people.
Despite significant improvements in maternal and child health, along with reductions in infectious diseases like HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria, the pandemic has disrupted these positive trends. Inequalities in access to healthcare, routine immunizations, and financial protection have been exacerbated, leading to a reversal in progress against diseases such as TB and malaria, and a decrease in the treatment of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
The report emphasizes the growing threat of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and their impact on global health. NCDs now account for nearly three-quarters of all annual deaths, and if current trends persist, they are projected to cause 86% of the 90 million annual deaths by mid-century. This highlights the urgent need to address and combat NCDs to ensure a healthier future for generations to come.
The report also raises concerns about the deceleration in progress across various health indicators, such as maternal mortality and tuberculosis incidence. It highlights the rising prevalence of obesity and the challenges in accessing essential health services, as well as the persistence of financial hardships related to healthcare costs. These factors hinder progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
In addition to the above findings, the report includes a dedicated section on climate change and health, underscoring the significance of this issue in global health discussions. It emphasizes the need for accurate and timely data to track progress and inform effective policies addressing the health implications of climate change.
Overall, the release of the World Health Statistics report serves as a call to action for governments, organizations, and individuals to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerate progress towards the SDGs, tackle the growing burden of NCDs, and confront the challenges posed by climate change on global health.
