A new report by the World Health Organization has revealed that approximately 22.1 million excess deaths linked to the COVID-19 pandemic occurred worldwide between 2020 and 2023. These deaths were not limited to direct fatalities caused by the virus but were also largely driven by the collapse of healthcare systems, delays in treatment, and lack of medical facilities.
The report stated that “excess deaths” refer to deaths occurring during a crisis that exceed the number expected under normal circumstances. This includes direct COVID-19 fatalities, pressure on hospitals, disruptions in treatment for other diseases, and limited access to emergency healthcare services.
According to the World Health Organization, only one third of countries around the world were able to provide reliable mortality data, while many countries still lack proper systems for recording deaths accurately.
In 2023, around 61 million deaths were recorded globally, but only one third of them included details regarding the cause of death.
Experts said that during the early days of the pandemic, limited testing, deaths occurring outside hospitals, and varying reporting systems across countries prevented the true number of COVID-19 deaths from being fully identified.
The report also stated that cancer screening, vaccination, treatment for heart diseases, diabetes, and mental health services were severely affected during the pandemic, contributing to an increase in indirect deaths.
Experts said that excess mortality data can help improve preparedness for future pandemics, strengthen healthcare systems, and enhance emergency planning.
