Equity in decline: illustrating fairness in a worse-off world

Abstract: The past six decades showcase remarkable global advancements in human health and well-being. However, gains are unevenly distributed, leaving large disparities within and between countries. The Agenda for Sustainable Development’s 191- country pledge, ‘to leave no one behind’, remains unfulfilled. The expectation, however, is that as development progresses, socioeconomic benefits should increasingly reach the poor and marginalised. Imagine, however, that we are entering a new period of a bleaker and less forgiving world. Life is going to be harder—year on year. Human health and well- being will experience sustained, global decline. Such a retrogression is easy to imagine when looking at the reports on climate change, food and water shortages, and the fracturing of global accords.

Author(s): Daniel Reidpath, Rajat Khosla, Sofia Gruskin, Arek Dakessian and Pascale Allotey

Date Published: 30th October 2023

Depositing User: Tyanna Lewis

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013274

Keywords: Public Health, Equity, Fair distribution, Resource scarcity, Global health ethics, Declining resources

Pages: 1 – 4

Place of publication: London, United Kingdom

Publication title: Equity in decline: illustrating fairness in a worse-off world

Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group

Subject(s): Health equity

Type of publication: Journal article