Dear HIFA colleagues,
This major new global report is fascinating and disturbing. It reveals that:
- Globally, people are significantly less confident in making health decisions.
- Healthcare providers are competing with peers, creators, and artificial intelligence for attention and influence.
32% of people believe that Animal protein is healthier than plant-based
32% believe that Fluoride in water is harmful or unhelpful to health
31% believe that Risk of childhood vaccinations outweighs benefits
28% believe Raw milk is healthier than pasteurized
25% believe Acetaminophen/paracetamol use during pregnancy causes autism
25% believe Vaccines are used for population control
70% of people worldwide believe that at least one of the above false statements is true.
'The 5th annual Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Trust and Health reveals a fractured health landscape marked by division, declining trust, and widespread confusion. Across markets, most people believe at least one contested health claim, underscoring how uncertainty around health information has gone mainstream.'
https://www.edelman.com/trust/2026/trust-barometer/special-report-health
Best wishes, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org