Countries’ levels of inequality may be a stronger indicator of pandemic outcomes than the preparedness of their health systems, research presented at the AIDS 2026 conference suggests.
The Global Council on Inequality, AIDS and Pandemics found that countries with wider income gaps performed worse during both the HIV and COVID-19 crises. That pattern held even when nations recorded similar results on conventional health security measures.
Researchers said inequality accelerates disease transmission, restricts access to healthcare and medicines, weakens public trust and increases the risks faced by vulnerable communities during emergencies. The report urges governments to place inequality reduction, broader social protection, community-led action and fair access to health technologies at the heart of pandemic preparedness.
