Lancet Commission: Transforming Primary Care Post Covid-19

The Lancet Commission on Transforming Primary Health Care in the Post-COVID-19 Era was launched by Hong Kong University in 2025 to provide a global roadmap for strengthening primary health care after the pandemic. Bringing together leading experts in health systems, family medicine and policy, the Commission is structured around six themes. Michael Kidd is a co-chair of the commission. Luke Allen is the lead Commissioner for the Equity working group. The Commission will report in 2026.

The Problem

COVID-19 exposed and deepened long-standing inequities in primary care. Marginalised groups often faced the most severe disruption, reinforcing the inverse care law. Despite decades of research on inequalities, there remains little robust evidence on which interventions genuinely reduce access gaps. New digital models may help but also risk widening divides. The central challenge is not just to expand access, but to do so in ways that actively narrow disparities rather than exacerbate them.

Approach

Our team is leading a global evidence review with an explicit equity lens. We are mapping interventions across contexts, examining which mechanisms succeed in reducing gaps and under what conditions. This includes a scoping review and in-depth country case studies, working with international collaborators.

Impact

The Commission’s final report will provide governments, funders and practitioners with evidence-based recommendations for equity-focused reform of primary care. By clarifying what works where, the work will support better targeting of resources, stronger accountability through equity-sensitive metrics, and ultimately contribute to fairer health systems. Over time, the goal is to ensure that those with the greatest need are no longer those with the least access.