Indigenous health disparities rooted in systemic neglect demand structural solutions
Original framing: “[Perspectives] Donald Warne: redressing inequities in Indigenous health” — The Lancet
Indigenous health systems emphasize community-based care, cultural continuity, and land connection. Warne’s work reflects the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge into health policy, yet mainstream systems often marginalize these approaches in favor of Western medical models.
Indigenous health disparities are not the result of individual failure but of systemic neglect rooted in colonial history.
Donald Warne’s work exemplifies the need to integrate Indigenous knowledge into health systems, but this requires dismantling the power structures that marginalize Indigenous voices. By learning from cross-cultural health models and supporting Indigenous-led governance, we can create more equitable health outcomes. The future of global health depends on recognizing Indigenous sovereignty and the holistic, community-centered approaches that have sustained Indigenous peoples for centuries.