Inequality fuels pandemics and prolongs crises 

Why in News ?

• The UNAIDS Global Council on Inequality, AIDS and Pandemics released its report “Breaking the Inequality–Pandemic Cycle: Building True Health Security in a Global Age” on November 3, 2025, ahead of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.
• It warns that inequality within and between nations increases vulnerability to pandemics, worsens their impact, and prolongs global crises like COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS.

Relevance :

GS Paper II (International Relations & Governance):

• Global health governance and UN institutions (UNAIDS, WHO).
• Role of G20 in equitable health architecture.
• Public health equity and pandemic preparedness.

GS Paper III (Economy & Disaster Management):

• Pandemic management, inequality, and economic vulnerability.
• IP rights, access to health technologies, and vaccine equity.

GS Paper I (Society):

• Inequality as a structural determinant of health and vulnerability.

Key Findings of the Report

• Scope of Study:
  • Based on two years of research.
  • Data from 217 countries (HIV) and 151 countries (COVID-19) analyzed using regression models.
• Core Conclusion:
  • Higher inequality = higher infection and mortality rates.
  • More equal societies = better resilience and quicker recovery during pandemics.
• Examples:
  • Africa: Informal settlements show higher HIV prevalence than formal housing.
  • Namibia: Poorer, less-educated women have higher HIV rates.
  • England: Overcrowded housing linked to higher COVID-19 mortality.
  • Brazil: People without primary education had multiple times higher COVID-19 fatality.
  • Migrants: 84% higher COVID-19 infection risk than non-migrants (meta-analysis of 53 million).
  • South Africa: Unemployed individuals face higher HIV infection odds (2016 DHS data).

Major Causes Identified

1. Unequal access to healthcare, housing, education, and employment.
2. Limited access to vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics in low-income countries.
3. Weak global cooperation on intellectual property waivers and local manufacturing.
4. Socioeconomic exclusion of migrants and informal workers.

Global Inequality Dimensions

• Within countries – poverty, informal housing, unemployment, and poor education increase exposure and limit access to treatment.
• Between countries – wealthier nations corner medical innovations, leaving poorer nations vulnerable to prolonged outbreaks.
• Systemic gap – low-income countries depend on external supplies; global financing and IP regimes slow emergency responses.

Impacts Highlighted

• Health impact: Higher mortality, slower containment of epidemics.
• Economic impact: Extended recovery periods, deepened poverty cycles.
• Social impact: Widened distrust in governance and global health institutions.

Recommendations by UNAIDS

1. Equitable access to medicines and health technologies across nations.
2. Automatic IP waivers once a pandemic is declared.
3. Investment in local and regional manufacturing of health products.
4. Integrated pandemic preparedness linking health, housing, and employment policies.
5. Focus on prevention and equity, not only emergency response.

Broader Context

• The report builds on lessons from COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS—showing that structural inequality directly determines who lives and who dies in pandemics.
• Aligns with SDG-3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG-10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Comes as the G20 debates reforming global health architecture, financing, and technology-sharing frameworks.

India Relevance

• India’s health disparities (urban–rural divide, gendered access, digital inequality) mirror global findings.
• Strengthening domestic manufacturing (e.g., vaccines, diagnostics) and community-based health networks (ASHA, PHC) aligns with report’s equity vision.
• India’s role in G20 and Global South leadership positions it to advocate for equitable global health governance.

---