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3 November 2025

Fight Inequality Alliance welcomes the new report from the Global Council on Inequality, AIDS and Pandemics, which provides clear evidence that high and rising inequality has left the world more vulnerable to disease outbreaks becoming pandemics and has weakened governments' ability to respond. The findings further show that inequality contributes to health crises becoming deadlier, deepens economic shocks, and leads to slower recovery.

The Fight Inequality Alliance General Secretary, Jenny Ricks , said:

“Inequality is a political choice. Evidence shows that underfunded health systems, crushing debt, and unequal access to medicines and vaccines directly cost lives.  If leaders want to prevent the next pandemic, they need to fund strong public health systems, and guarantee universal access to care. The solutions exist — but our leaders are choosing inaction and the rest of us are paying the price.”

“Wealthy countries must cancel unjust debt owed by developing nations and the super rich, the 1%, must pay what they owe in tax. This revenue must be directed towards strengthening healthcare systems in developing nations so they have the resources to handle pandemics and public health emergencies.”  

The report from the Council convened by UNAIDS sets out practical steps that governments can take to interrupt the inequality–pandemic cycle and the Fight Inequality Alliance is urging the G20 governments and international financial institutions to act on these recommendations. These align with the demands of social movements working to build fairer and more resilient societies. 

The recommendations include:

  1. Creating fiscal space for countries to strengthen public health and social protection systems, including through urgent debt relief.
  2. Investing in the social conditions that protect health, such as decent work, housing, and education.
  3. Sharing technologies and building regional manufacturing capacity so all countries can access essential vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics.
  4. Ensuring meaningful and sustained funding for community-led organisations, which have consistently played a central role in reaching those most at risk.

“A fairer and safer world is possible, but only if leaders choose to prioritise people’s lives over the interests of a wealthy few,” added Ricks.


 

For media enquiries contact Fight Inequality Alliance Media and Communications Officer through: daud.kayisi@fightinequality.org