WHO Report Highlights Inequalities in Chronic Disease Prevention and Care
[ Back to News Page ] Dated: 21-Oct-2026
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Published: 21 October 2026 | WHO update: 20 October 2026
A new World Health Organization report examines why people within the same country can face different risks of chronic disease and different opportunities to receive care.
Who is being left behind?
Published on 20 October, the assessment covers cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes. It also examines risk factors including tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diets, insufficient physical activity and air pollution.
WHO reports that income, education, age, gender and place of residence can influence exposure to risk factors and access to prevention, diagnosis and treatment. In many low- and middle-income countries, rural communities have less access to hypertension diagnosis and treatment and cervical cancer screening than urban communities.
Better data can guide better services
The report calls for countries to use inequality data to identify gaps, target services and track whether improvements reach underserved groups. Its accompanying brief highlights financial and geographic barriers and the importance of involving people living with chronic conditions in shaping programmes.
These are global findings; they should not be read as new Malaysia-specific statistics.
Source: World Health Organization, 20 October 2026.
Health news for general information; not individual medical advice.
