According to the World Health Organisation, COVID will be responsible for almost 15 million excess deaths in the world by 2021.

Globally, it is estimated that 336.8 millions of life-years have been lost due to the pandemic declared in early 2020.

The average excess death results in a loss of 22 years, the greatest amount being for people aged between 55 and 64.

This report provides the most comprehensive picture yet of the global impact of the pandemic.

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In its assessment of global health, the WHO also urges a worldwide response against the growing threat of noncommunicable diseases such as cancers and heart conditions. It warns that if these diseases are not addressed they could be responsible for 86% all deaths in 2050.

In spite of advances in medicine, NCDs now account for nearly three-quarters of all deaths each year.

The WHO’s World Health Statistics Report warns that if this trend continues, NCDs will account for approximately 86% of 90 million deaths per year by the mid-century.

This means that 77 millions of deaths in the next decade will be caused by NCDs, a nearly 90 percent increase from 2019.

WHO urges “decisive, collective action” to combat what it calls “an increasing health threat for future generation”.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “The world needs to learn from the past two decades and the tragedies of these pandemics.”

“One of the most important is that we can prevent unnecessary deaths and illnesses and create stronger, equitable, and resilient health systems and society.”

The pandemic is also causing wider concern about the way it has exacerbated inequalities in health and slowed down progress in tackling Malaria and TB, as well as so-called neglected tropical disease.

The report for this year includes a section dedicated to climate change and its impact on health, and it calls for “a coordinated and strengthened response”.