In many countries, hard-won rights, gained through historic struggles, are being eroded: the rights of civilians during war, the right of asylum, undocumented migrants' right to health care, a woman's right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, and so on.

The environment? Timid advances, intended to make the world slightly more bearable, are under threat. Public health? It remains as difficult as ever to implement policies to protect citizens, especially the most vulnerable, from the damaging effects of alcohol, and foods that contain too much sugar, fat and salt, as short-term economic interests take precedence, considered more important by policy makers and those who lobby them.

Global public health? US aid, which enabled millions of people to access antiretroviral drugs and contraception, was cancelled with the click of a mouse. Funding for US public-sector research, a key component of the world's scientific research, especially in the field of infectious diseases and drugs, was abruptly withdrawn.

It is not only politicians who are to blame. For example, certain cynical influencers inflict widespread damage, whether by pushing the latest anti-obesity drugs or snake-oil treatments on social media, or by spreading health-harming conspiracy theories.

So what can be done? Give up? No, keep going – now more than ever! This may not be an era of grand ideals for the emancipation of humanity, but each one of us can do something to ease the suffering of our fellow human beings, whether near or far, similar to ourselves or different, out of solidarity: fighting against political and social regression, to limit the damage; taking a stand against obscurantism and attacks on science; protecting patients from false hope and adverse effects by informing ourselves from independent sources; etc.

Prescrire's French edition, La Revue Prescrire, published its 500th issue in June 2025. Let's keep this multidisciplinary evidence-based movement and its humanistic values alive and active. It takes all of us, in our own way, whether by being a subscriber, or talking about Prescrire with those around us, or championing independent information day in and day out. Let's stand strong together!

 ©Prescrire 1 December 2025

Source: "Stand strong together" Prescrire Int 2025; 34 (276): 283. FREE.