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New Lancet Commission Report Aims for 50% Reduction in Premature Deaths by 2050

A group of 50 prominent global health experts has come together to analyze potential strategies for significantly improving health outcomes around the world. The Lancet Commission on Investing in Health (CIH) has produced a comprehensive report that outlines actionable measures targeting a vital objective: achieving a 50% reduction in premature mortality by the year 2050. Among the commission’s members, six are associated with the Bergen Centre for Ethics and Priority Setting in Health (BCEPS) at the University of Bergen, Norway, including the director, Professor Ole Frithjof Norheim, and researchers Sarah Bolongaita, Angela Chang, Dean T. Jamison, Stéphane Verguet, and David Watkins.

The findings of this report will be publicly unveiled on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, during a keynote presentation at the World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany. Following the event, the report will be accessible to the public via the web at https://globalhealth2050.org.

The commission highlights the ambitious “50 by 50” target, which aims to halve the likelihood of premature death—defined as dying before reaching the age of 70. Achieving this goal hinges on focusing resources on 15 essential health conditions, which are divided into two categories: eight related to infectious diseases and maternal health, and seven associated with non-communicable diseases and injuries.

In their analysis, the experts emphasize that increasing funding and enhancing services for these particular health issues is crucial. Notably, the report underscores that raising taxes on tobacco products could be the most effective single health policy for lowering rates of premature mortality.

Moreover, the authors draw attention to the looming threat of pandemics, estimating that there is a greater than 20% chance within the next decade that a pandemic could emerge, resulting in the deaths of at least 25 million individuals. This potential impact mirrors that of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the critical need for robust pandemic preparedness and effective response strategies.

The insights from the Global Health 2050 report serve as a guide for nations across various income levels—high, middle, and low—to enhance human welfare and life expectancy significantly by 2050. Its actionable recommendations aim to provide a blueprint for global health improvements that can resonate universally and cultivate deeper investments in public health initiatives.

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