50-By-50 Goal: 'Bold' target to halve premature deaths by 2050, many countries have prepared strategies
Ahead of the arrival of the 2024 World Health Summit, a new report on 'Investing in Health' has been released by The Lancet Commission. The main objective of this report is to halve the probability of premature deaths by 2050.
Ahead of the 2024 World Health Summit, a new report on 'Investing in Health' has been released by The Lancet Commission. The main objective of this report is to halve the probability of premature death by 2050. According to the report, seven of the world's most populous countries (including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Iran and Turkey) are already making progress towards achieving this 'bold' but achievable goal. This '50-by-50' target aims to reduce the number of people who die before the age of 70.
According to the report, if this target is achieved at the global level, then a person born in 2050 will have only 15 percent chance of dying before the age of 70, whereas for a person born in 2019 this probability was 31 percent.
Starting with tobacco control
According to the report, tobacco control is the most important policy to achieve this goal. Given the number of tobacco-related deaths and the ability of governments to implement tobacco policy, this step is essential. In addition, high consumption of sugar-rich drinks can also increase the risk of premature death and heart disease, especially in people with type 2 diabetes.
The Pandemic and Public Health Measures
report also highlighted that the best-performing countries such as China and Japan achieved success during the pandemic by taking timely action, isolation and quarantine as well as providing financial support to those affected.
Focus on primary health conditions
The report said that increasing services and investment for 15 primary health conditions could reduce premature deaths by 50 percent by 2050. These include 8 infections and maternal health conditions and 7 non-communicable diseases and injury-related conditions. Finally, the report also suggested that policies such as taxing unhealthy food and drinks and removing fossil fuel subsidies would not only improve health but also generate more revenue for health services.