Compared to the beginning of this century, contemporary health care services and continuing advances in medical technology have dramatically increased people's longevity and standards of health. At present, however, common and preventable infectious diseases kill millions of children each year, and parasitic infections such as malaria kill or weaken many adults and impose a heavy burden on society. Simple remedies and medicines could save many such lives, yet are not being made sufficiently available. Primary health care needs to be strengthened in many countries.
In the last 25 years, average life expectancy has risen from 51 to 63 years.