WHO stats show medicines remain out of reach of poorest patients
While the World Health Organization’s latest health numbers show that great progress has been made in improving the health in low-income countries, significant inequalities remain between people living in the richest and poorest countries. Access to even the most basic medicines continues to be a major challenge due to high prices.
The WHO released this year’s World Health Statistics today, highlighting progress that has been made in achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and reducing the health gap between people living in the world’s most-advantaged and least-advantaged countries.
The latest stats show that compared to the MDG 1990 baseline year, the health situation in low-income countries is improving and health inequalities are lessening. In particular, a WHO news release points to the “considerable progress” which has been made in reducing childhood deaths, improving nutrition, and reducing death from HIV infection, TB, and malaria.
Nonetheless, many of the health-related MDGs are projected to remain out of reach by the impending 2015 target. When it comes to improving access to essential medicines, the 2013 World Health Statistics indicate a long road ahead.
According to the statistics summary, “almost half of the countries surveyed have access to less than half the essential medicines they need for basic care in the public sector.” Consequently, many people living in low- and middle-income countries turn to the private sector where the cost of even basic, generic medicines, can be up to 16 times higher.
Source: Intellectual Property Watch
