The world is dealing with a significant gap in health equity, with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) facing the most challenges. Simply, many people in LMICs do not have access to essential healthcare services, and this issue isby deep-rooted social determinants of health such as poverty, discrimination, and gender inequality. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted these inequalities and emphasized the urgent need for coordinated global action.
The text addresses the challenge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and infectious diseases placing stress on already fragile health systems. It also highlights the lack of access to essential medicines and diagnostics, along with weak health information systems, as factors slowing down progress.
For everyone to have the same chance to be healthy, we have to do more than just deal with immediate medical needs. We also have to tackle the social, economic, and political issues that keep these inequalities going. On top of all that, climate change makes things even more complicated. Its impacts, like severe weather, water-related illnesses, and problems with having enough food, affect low-income communities much more than others.