Global population surpasses eight billion: Are we ready for the next billion?

Abstract

In November 2022, the global population had officially crossed eight billion. It has long been recognized that socioeconomic or health-related problems in the community always accompany an uncontrolled population expansion. International calls have been made regarding lack of universal health coverage, an insufficient supply of healthcare providers, the burden of noncommunicable disease, population aging and the difficulty in obtaining safe drinking water and food. The present health policy paper discusses how to conquer these crowded world issues, including (1) promoting government and international organization participation in providing appropriate infrastructure, funding and distribution to assist people's health and well-being; (2) shifting health program towards a more preventive approach and (3) reducing inequalities, particularly for the marginalized, isolated and underrepresented population. These fundamental principles of health policy delivery as a response to an increasingly crowded world and its challenges are crucial for reducing the burden associated with excessive healthcare costs, decreased productivity and deteriorating environmental quality.

Keywords: food; health policy; noncommunicable diseases; population; universal health coverage; water.

Figure 1.. Global universal healthcare coverage service index for essential health services (0–100), 2019 (left). The higher the index, the higher the universal healthcare coverage (data source: https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/uhc-index-of-service-coverage; Accessed 26^th November 2022). Countries that are part of WHO's Universal Health Care Partnership (right) – a platform that works to deliver WHO's support and technical expertise in advancing universal health coverage (data source: https://extranet.who.int/uhcpartnership/countries; Accessed 26^th November 2022).

Figure 2.. World population per country as of November 2022 (left; data source: Worldometer). Map depicting the number of doctors (generalists and specialists combined) per 1000 people per country as of 2019 (right; data source: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/physicians-per-1000-people; Accessed 09^th December 2022).

Figure 3.. WHO's Sodium Country Score Card to track countries' performance in implementing various measures for reducing salt intake (left). 1. National policy commitment to reduce sodium intake; 2. Voluntary measures to reduce sodium; 3. Mandatory measures adopted for sodium reduction; 4. Multiple mandatory measures adopted for sodium reduction, and implementation of all related WHO Best Buys for tackling NCDs; 5. Mandatory measures for sodium reduction adopted but not yet implemented (data source: https://extranet.who.int/nutrition/gina/en/scorecard/sodium). Global map depicting whether the country has implemented taxation on foods high in fat, sugars or salt (right; data source: https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/existence-of-tax-on-foods-high-in-fat--sugars-or-salt).

Figure 4.. Factors that led to the success of the Egyptian model of combating Hepatitis C infection in the country “100 million Healthy Lives Campaign”. The factors were analyzed and compiled in a white paper summary by the World Economic Forum (WEF).