New Lancet Report Sets Ambitious Goal to Halve Global Chances of Early Death by 2050

A recent report by the Lancet Commission on Investing in Health aims to reduce premature deaths globally by half by 2050. This ambitious target, known as 50-by-50, is supported by the World Health Organization and involves several populous countries like Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Iran, and Turkiye. These nations are on track to meet this goal, according to the report's authors.

The report's authors include experts from Harvard University's School of Public Health, WHO, and the Public Health Foundation of India. They noted that a person born in 2019 had a 31% chance of dying before age 70. Achieving the 50-by-50 goal could lower this risk to just 15% for those born in 2050. The authors emphasised that early progress in reducing premature deaths can be achieved through universal health coverage.

Focus on Tobacco Control and Sugary Drinks

Tobacco control is highlighted as a crucial policy for governments to adopt. This includes taxation due to tobacco-related deaths and governments' ability to enforce such policies. Additionally, a study led by Harvard University found that sugary drinks increase early death and heart disease risks in people with type 2 diabetes.

The report also addresses pandemic-related death risks. It credits countries like China and Japan for their success in managing pandemics through public health measures such as early action, isolation, quarantine, and financial support for affected individuals.

Interventions for Health System Strengthening

The authors suggest various interventions to strengthen health systems across different income levels. They propose focusing on 15 priority health conditions—eight infectious and maternal health issues and seven non-communicable diseases and injuries. Addressing these could halve premature deaths by mid-century in participating countries.

Between 2000 and 2019, life expectancy gains were largely due to reduced deaths from these conditions. However, millions still lack access to interventions for these high-priority conditions due to insufficient focus on universal health coverage's initial steps.

Fiscal Policies and Economic Value

Other fiscal policies like taxing unhealthy foods and drinks and removing fossil fuel subsidies could directly improve health while generating revenue for health services. The authors believe that achieving the interim milestone of a 30% reduction in premature death probability by 2035 is feasible.

They advocate concentrating resources on specific conditions and increasing funding for new health technologies. "Our analyses have shown that the economic value of achievable mortality declines is high and is often a substantial fraction of the value of gains from economic growth itself," the authors wrote.

The report underscores the importance of targeted investments in health systems to achieve significant reductions in premature deaths globally by 2050.