We’re investing in research to build a clearer picture of what’s holding people back from inclusive, better everyday health.

Health Inclusivity Index

Economist Impact, supported by Haleon, is gathering new evidence and insight to drive greater action on health inclusivity around the world. The Health Inclusivity Index is the world’s first global benchmark assessing government efforts to ensure good health is accessible to all.

  • Phase one of the Index (Oct 2022) analysed the policies, strategies, infrastructure and programmes of countries to determine the extent to which they deliver health inclusivity. ​

  • Phase two of the Index (Nov 2023) gathered the views of over 42,000 people to understand their experiences of inclusion and exclusion when accessing healthcare services.​ The addition of these insights helped identify gaps between health policy and practice, particularly among excluded and underserved population segments.​

  • Phase three (May 2025) examines the health and economic impacts of improving inclusivity for specific population segments that are at risk from health exclusion.​
  • Air Pollution: A significant finding from the Health Inclusivity Index is the enormous impact of air pollution, which drives chronic illness, undermines productivity, and strains healthcare systems, particularly in underserved communities least equipped to bear the costs. The Index found that reducing air pollution to meet the WHO air quality guidelines could save 4.5 million lives annually and generate $101 billion in annual economic benefits.
  • Health Literacy: Improving low levels of health literacy – the ability of people to understand and use health information to make decisions about their health - by just 25% could save $303 billion a year across 40 countries. People with low health literacy often struggle to understand medical information, navigate healthcare systems, and make informed decisions about their care resulting in greater healthcare costs.
  • Oral Health: Improving oral health among underserved communities presents another major opportunity. The Index countries lose almost $35 billion every year in productivity due to tooth decay, an issue that disproportionately affects people on lower incomes.

Visit the Health Inclusivity Hub to gain access to the full suite of data from all phases, take a deep dive into country specific stats, and discover more about the current global state of health inclusivity. 
 

Haleon Pain Index

For over a decade, The Haleon Pain Index has been exploring the real impact pain has on people’s lives and has surveyed over 80,000 people experiencing pain. But while pain is universal, its impact isn’t the same for everyone. 

The Haleon Pain Index interactive allows users to explore the data to see how trends shift year by year, compare different regions, and understand both the personal and societal impact of pain.  

As global leaders in everyday pain relief, our commitment is to understand the profound impact pain has on individuals and those around them, because understanding pain is the first step toward meaningful change. 


How do we use data and insights?

By harnessing the extensive insights from both the Health Inclusivity Index and the Haleon Pain Index, we are able to drive for change in how pain is managed and advocate for greater inclusivity and improved healthcare access worldwide.

Our research gives us a deep understanding of how and why people across the world experience barriers to health and helps inform the partnerships we forge with health professionals, academics and NGOs, technology companies, retailers and regulators so that together, we can truly deliver better everyday health with humanity.

 

Health inclusivity in action: a casebook

We have partnered with academics: Dr. Anna-Maria Volkmann, Senior Research Fellow, UCL and Elisa Duriavig and Emma Boxley from the UCL Department of Anthropology, to identify best-in-class global examples of health inclusivity.

Created to inspire action by and with policymakers, the case studies demonstrate the key elements for building effective programmes that promote inclusive health practices for the benefit of all.

Download report.

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