Global health 2050: the path to halving premature death by mid-century

Rising geopolitical tensions, growing nationalist populism, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic have all slowed health progress. Global Health 2050, a new report by the Lancet Commission on Investing in Health, shows that focused health investments could drive dramatic improvements in human welfare by the middle of the century. 

“Our main message is that countries can reduce their populations’ risk of premature death by 50% by 2050, compared to 2019. We call this goal ‘50 by 50,’ said Dr. David Watkins, associate professor (General Internal Medicine) and co-author of the study. “Our research concluded that this goal is feasible for countries both rich and poor.”

The researchers found that just 15 health conditions account for most of the avoidable death under 70. Focusing health spending on these conditions could help countries achieve the 50 by 50 goal. Watkins led the part of the report that discusses how health systems and financing must change to meet this goal.