COVID-19 eliminated a decade of progress in global level of life expectancy

The World Health Organization’s latest statistics reveal that the global health gains achieved over the previous decade were largely erased by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in significant declines in both life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. This regression highlights the fragility of global health progress and underscores the urgent need for stronger pandemic preparedness agreements to safeguard long-term health investments and ensure equitable outcomes across all regions. Beyond infectious diseases, noncommunicable diseases remain the leading cause of mortality, accounting for the vast majority of deaths even during the pandemic. Simultaneously, the world faces a severe double burden of malnutrition, with rising obesity rates coexisting with persistent undernutrition. These challenges are compounded by significant health inequities affecting persons with disabilities and refugees, who often lack adequate access to healthcare, pointing to critical gaps in universal health coverage and social protection. These findings are highly relevant to open data because they demonstrate the critical role of transparent, timely, and accessible health statistics in driving policy responses. As WHO officials emphasize, data is essential for identifying disparities, measuring progress toward Sustainable Development Goals, and holding systems accountable. Open data practices enable researchers and policymakers to analyze these complex trends, fostering better decision-making and ensuring that health interventions are targeted effectively to reverse negative trends and promote equity.

Source: who.int
Published on 2024-05-25

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