The public health ethics and economics of prioritizing prevention and equity

Internationally there are significant challenges to improving and protecting population health through effective prevention. In this novel analysis, we integrate public health evidence, ethics, and economics to argue that current health resourcing strategies neglect prevention, underestimate the social determinants of health, and fail to engage with the ethical dimensions of economic decision-making. We highlight the risk that overreliance on economic evidence may marginalize underserved populations, where data are limited, thereby deepening health inequalities. We conclude that improving population health and reducing disparities requires reframing prevention through both ethical and economic lenses. Investing in community-based, equity-oriented interventions can deliver sustained health and economic gains and support a more inclusive and resilient health system.