The 3.4 million deaths from Covid-19 currently reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) “are probably significantly underestimated. The real figures” could be “at least 2-3 times higher”. This is suggested by the WHO on the basis of the “excess mortality estimates for 2020”, calculated as part of the annual assessment on the state of health of the world, contained in the World Health Statistics report, published today. “As of December 31, 2020 – the UN health agency explains in a note – preliminary estimates suggest that the total number of deaths in the world attributable to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 is at least 3 million, that is 1.2 million in more than the 1.8 million officially reported “. Each country faces different challenges to complete and correct Covid deaths, argues WHO, which explains how it is “working with all interested parties to refine statistical models and obtain accurate counts”. the institution, “poses serious threats to the health and well-being of the population globally and hinders progress in achieving the sustainable development goals and the ‘triple billion’ goals set by the WHO. With 90% of countries having reported disruptions to essential health services and 3% of households spending more than 25% of their health care budget in 2015, “universal health coverage is most at risk of falling behind.”