GITNUXREPORT 2026

Healthcare Access Statistics

Global health access is severely unequal, leaving billions without affordable and nearby care.

Alexander Schmidt

Research Analyst specializing in technology and digital transformation trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

In the U.S., 27% of adults skipped care due to cost in 2022.

Statistic 2

Globally, 2 billion people face catastrophic health spending >10% income in 2019.

Statistic 3

In EU, 11% postponed medical visit due to cost 2021.

Statistic 4

U.S. rural 19% transportation barrier to care 2022.

Statistic 5

In India, 55% out-of-pocket expenditure on health 2021.

Statistic 6

Canada wait times for specialists average 27.4 weeks in 2023.

Statistic 7

In low-income U.S. 41% delay care affordability 2022.

Statistic 8

Africa 100 million impoverished by health costs yearly 2019.

Statistic 9

UK 7.6% unmet needs due to waiting lists 2022.

Statistic 10

In Brazil, 25% forgo meds due to price 2022.

Statistic 11

U.S. 14 million underinsured facing high costs 2022.

Statistic 12

In China, migrant workers 30% lack local insurance reimbursement 2022.

Statistic 13

Australia 16% bulk-billed GP less in rural 2022.

Statistic 14

In Nigeria, 70% cite cost as care barrier 2021.

Statistic 15

U.S. dental care unaffordable for 30% adults 2022.

Statistic 16

In Germany, 5% unmet due to cost outlier 2022.

Statistic 17

Mexico 48% catastrophic expenditure households 2021.

Statistic 18

In South Africa, 20% transport barrier rural 2022.

Statistic 19

U.S. mental health 50% untreated due to access/cost 2022.

Statistic 20

In Pakistan, 65% out-of-pocket health spend 2021.

Statistic 21

France 8% forgo care financial reasons 2022.

Statistic 22

In Vietnam, 15% delay chronic care costs 2022.

Statistic 23

U.S. prescription drugs unaffordable 29% adults 2022.

Statistic 24

In Indonesia, 40% rural transport barrier 2022.

Statistic 25

Japan elderly 12% home care access issue 2022.

Statistic 26

In the U.S., 25% cite long wait times as barrier 2022.

Statistic 27

Turkey 18% unmet needs cost-related 2021.

Statistic 28

In the U.S., childcare conflicts prevent 10% medical visits 2022.

Statistic 29

In the U.S., Black Americans are 1.5 times more likely to be uninsured than whites in 2022.

Statistic 30

Low-income U.S. households (<100% FPL) have 25.3% uninsured rate in 2022.

Statistic 31

Women in U.S. uninsured at 8.9% vs men 8.3% in 2022.

Statistic 32

Hispanic U.S. children uninsured 7.7% vs 4.1% white in 2022.

Statistic 33

Elderly poor in EU 12% unmet needs vs 5% non-poor 2021.

Statistic 34

In India, scheduled castes 20% less likely to access hospital care 2021.

Statistic 35

U.S. AIAN population 19.1% uninsured rate 2022.

Statistic 36

Low SES in Brazil 30% higher unmet surgical needs 2022.

Statistic 37

LGBTQ+ youth 25% higher uninsured in U.S. 2022.

Statistic 38

In Canada, Indigenous 12% unmet needs vs 8% non-Indigenous 2021.

Statistic 39

U.S. immigrants 20.3% uninsured vs 7.3% native-born 2022.

Statistic 40

Rural poor in China 15% less outpatient visits 2022.

Statistic 41

In South Africa, black Africans 85% public care dependent, higher barriers 2022.

Statistic 42

U.S. disabled adults 13.7% uninsured 2022.

Statistic 43

In UK, ethnic minorities 1.5x emergency admissions 2022.

Statistic 44

Low-income Australian Indigenous 22% avoid care cost 2022.

Statistic 45

In Mexico, indigenous 40% higher unmet needs 2022.

Statistic 46

U.S. veterans rural 8% less VA access equity 2022.

Statistic 47

In Nigeria, women 25% less facility visits than men 2021.

Statistic 48

Elderly in Japan rural 30% homebound care need unmet 2022.

Statistic 49

U.S. low-education adults 15% higher uninsured 2022.

Statistic 50

In Pakistan, females rural 35% antenatal care gap 2021.

Statistic 51

Transgender U.S. 22% uninsured vs 9% cisgender 2022.

Statistic 52

In France, unemployed 20% more unmet dental care 2022.

Statistic 53

U.S. AIAN women 2x postpartum hospitalization disparity 2022.

Statistic 54

In the U.S., rural areas have 20% fewer specialists per capita than urban in 2022.

Statistic 55

Globally, 50% of the world's population lives more than 2 hours from the nearest health facility in 2021.

Statistic 56

In rural U.S., 15% report difficulty finding new primary care provider vs 10% urban in 2022.

Statistic 57

In India, 65% of rural population lacks access to a health facility within 5 km in 2021.

Statistic 58

Australia rural residents travel 80 km average to GP vs 5 km urban in 2022.

Statistic 59

In Canada, northern territories have 1 hospital bed per 1,000 vs 3.5 national average 2022.

Statistic 60

Brazil Amazon region has 0.9 doctors per 1,000 vs 2.7 national in 2022.

Statistic 61

In China, western rural provinces have 1.5 physicians per 1,000 vs 2.5 eastern urban 2022.

Statistic 62

UK rural areas 12% longer wait for specialist vs urban in 2022.

Statistic 63

In sub-Saharan Africa, 80% of rural dwellers >10 km from health post in 2020.

Statistic 64

U.S. Appalachia region uninsured rate 14% vs 9% national in 2022.

Statistic 65

In Russia, Siberian regions have 30% fewer clinics per capita than Moscow 2021.

Statistic 66

Mexico rural indigenous areas 40% lack nearby clinic access 2022.

Statistic 67

In Nigeria, northern rural states 70% >5 km to health facility 2021.

Statistic 68

France overseas territories 25% lower provider density than mainland 2022.

Statistic 69

In Pakistan, Balochistan rural 55% without facility within 10 km 2021.

Statistic 70

U.S. non-metro counties 28% no mental health provider 2023.

Statistic 71

Indonesia outer islands 60% >1 hour to hospital 2022.

Statistic 72

In South Africa, rural Eastern Cape 35% farther access than urban Gauteng 2022.

Statistic 73

Italy southern regions 20% fewer hospitals per 100,000 than north 2022.

Statistic 74

In the U.S., 46% of rural Medicare beneficiaries travel >15 miles for care vs 31% urban 2022.

Statistic 75

Thailand rural north 45% lack sub-district health center access 2021.

Statistic 76

In Egypt, Upper Egypt rural 50% >30 min to facility 2022.

Statistic 77

Germany east vs west 15% disparity in specialist access 2022.

Statistic 78

Vietnam highlands 40% remote from commune health stations 2022.

Statistic 79

In 2022, 8.6% of the U.S. population, or approximately 28.3 million people, remained uninsured, with rates highest among Hispanic adults at 24.1%.

Statistic 80

Globally, 4.5 billion people lacked full coverage of essential health services in 2019, representing 58% of the world population.

Statistic 81

In the EU, 6.3% of the population reported unmet medical care needs due to cost, distance, or waiting times in 2021.

Statistic 82

In India, only 37% of the population had any form of health insurance coverage as of 2021.

Statistic 83

In sub-Saharan Africa, health insurance coverage averages 11% across countries, with Ethiopia at just 1% in 2020.

Statistic 84

In the U.S., Medicaid coverage increased by 20.3 million people from 2013 to 2022 due to ACA expansion.

Statistic 85

In Brazil, 75% of the population relies on the public SUS system for healthcare access as of 2022.

Statistic 86

In Canada, 99.2% of the population has public health insurance coverage provincially in 2021.

Statistic 87

In South Africa, only 16% of the population had medical scheme coverage in 2022, leaving 84% reliant on public facilities.

Statistic 88

In Australia, 82% of the population had private hospital insurance in 2023.

Statistic 89

In the U.S., employer-sponsored insurance covered 153.5 million non-elderly people in 2022.

Statistic 90

In Nigeria, less than 5% of the population is covered by health insurance as per 2021 NHIS data.

Statistic 91

In Germany, 90% of the population is covered by statutory health insurance in 2022.

Statistic 92

In Mexico, Seguro Popular covered 52.7 million people before transitioning to INSABI in 2020.

Statistic 93

In the UK, the NHS provides universal coverage to 100% of the population free at point of use.

Statistic 94

In the U.S., children uninsured rate dropped to 5.4% in 2022 from 9.2% in 2019.

Statistic 95

In Indonesia, JKN covered 230 million people or 83.7% of the population in 2022.

Statistic 96

In France, 99.9% of residents have health insurance coverage through universal schemes.

Statistic 97

In Pakistan, less than 1% had private health insurance in 2021 rural areas.

Statistic 98

In Japan, 99.9% of the population is enrolled in public health insurance.

Statistic 99

In the U.S., Marketplace enrollment reached 16.3 million in 2023.

Statistic 100

In Egypt, 48% of the population covered by public health insurance in 2022.

Statistic 101

In Sweden, 100% universal coverage through regional public insurance.

Statistic 102

In the Philippines, PhilHealth covers 94% of the population nominally in 2023.

Statistic 103

In the U.S., uninsured rate for adults aged 18-64 was 10.6% in 2022.

Statistic 104

In Ghana, NHIS covers 40% of the population actively in 2021.

Statistic 105

In the Netherlands, 99.9% have basic health insurance mandatory coverage.

Statistic 106

In Turkey, universal health insurance covers 98% of citizens since 2003.

Statistic 107

In Vietnam, health insurance coverage reached 92% of population in 2022.

Statistic 108

In the U.S., Black non-elderly uninsured rate was 10.8% in 2022.

Statistic 109

The U.S. has 2.6 physicians per 1,000 people as of 2021 WHO data.

Statistic 110

Globally, there are 17.2 nurses per 10,000 people on average in 2020.

Statistic 111

In rural U.S. areas, primary care physician ratio is 39.8 per 100,000 vs 53.3 urban in 2021.

Statistic 112

Germany boasts 4.5 practicing physicians per 1,000 population in 2022.

Statistic 113

In India, doctor-to-patient ratio is 1:1,445 against WHO recommended 1:1,000 in 2022.

Statistic 114

Sub-Saharan Africa has only 1.3 physicians per 1,000 people average in 2020.

Statistic 115

U.S. nurse practitioner density is 11.2 per 10,000 in 2022.

Statistic 116

In Japan, 2.5 physicians per 1,000 population as per 2021 OECD.

Statistic 117

Brazil has 2.2 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants in 2022.

Statistic 118

In Canada, family physicians per 100,000 is 122 in 2022.

Statistic 119

Rural India has 1 doctor per 10,000 people in primary health centers 2022.

Statistic 120

UK has 3.2 general practitioners per 1,000 in 2022.

Statistic 121

In Ethiopia, physician density is 0.07 per 1,000 in 2021.

Statistic 122

U.S. projected primary care shortage of 17,800-48,000 by 2034.

Statistic 123

Australia has 4.2 doctors per 1,000 population in 2022.

Statistic 124

In Nigeria, doctors per 1,000 is 0.4 in 2022.

Statistic 125

France has 3.4 physicians per 1,000 in 2022 OECD data.

Statistic 126

Pakistan rural areas have 0.6 doctors per 10,000 in 2021.

Statistic 127

In South Korea, 2.4 doctors per 1,000 population 2022.

Statistic 128

U.S. dentists per 10,000 is 6.1 in 2021.

Statistic 129

China has 2.2 licensed physicians per 1,000 in 2022.

Statistic 130

In Mexico, physician density 2.4 per 1,000 in 2021.

Statistic 131

Italy 4.0 physicians per 1,000 population 2022.

Statistic 132

In the U.S., 20% of rural counties lack a single OB-GYN in 2022.

Statistic 133

Spain has 4.5 doctors per 1,000 in 2022.

Statistic 134

In Bangladesh, doctor ratio 0.5 per 1,000 in 2022.

Statistic 135

Switzerland 4.3 physicians per 1,000 2022.

Statistic 136

In the U.S., 60 million people live in primary care health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) in 2023.

Statistic 137

Russia has 4.7 doctors per 1,000 population in 2021.

1/137

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While universal health coverage is a goal for many nations, the stark reality is that access to care remains a profound and deeply uneven global challenge, from the 28.3 million uninsured Americans to the 4.5 billion people worldwide lacking essential services.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, 8.6% of the U.S. population, or approximately 28.3 million people, remained uninsured, with rates highest among Hispanic adults at 24.1%.
Globally, 4.5 billion people lacked full coverage of essential health services in 2019, representing 58% of the world population.
In the EU, 6.3% of the population reported unmet medical care needs due to cost, distance, or waiting times in 2021.
The U.S. has 2.6 physicians per 1,000 people as of 2021 WHO data.
Globally, there are 17.2 nurses per 10,000 people on average in 2020.
In rural U.S. areas, primary care physician ratio is 39.8 per 100,000 vs 53.3 urban in 2021.
In the U.S., rural areas have 20% fewer specialists per capita than urban in 2022.
Globally, 50% of the world's population lives more than 2 hours from the nearest health facility in 2021.
In rural U.S., 15% report difficulty finding new primary care provider vs 10% urban in 2022.
In the U.S., Black Americans are 1.5 times more likely to be uninsured than whites in 2022.
Low-income U.S. households (<100% FPL) have 25.3% uninsured rate in 2022.
Women in U.S. uninsured at 8.9% vs men 8.3% in 2022.
In the U.S., 27% of adults skipped care due to cost in 2022.
Globally, 2 billion people face catastrophic health spending >10% income in 2019.
In EU, 11% postponed medical visit due to cost 2021.

Global health access is severely unequal, leaving billions without affordable and nearby care.

Barriers to Access

In the U.S., 27% of adults skipped care due to cost in 2022.
Globally, 2 billion people face catastrophic health spending >10% income in 2019.
In EU, 11% postponed medical visit due to cost 2021.
U.S. rural 19% transportation barrier to care 2022.
In India, 55% out-of-pocket expenditure on health 2021.
Canada wait times for specialists average 27.4 weeks in 2023.
In low-income U.S. 41% delay care affordability 2022.
Africa 100 million impoverished by health costs yearly 2019.
UK 7.6% unmet needs due to waiting lists 2022.
In Brazil, 25% forgo meds due to price 2022.
U.S. 14 million underinsured facing high costs 2022.
In China, migrant workers 30% lack local insurance reimbursement 2022.
Australia 16% bulk-billed GP less in rural 2022.
In Nigeria, 70% cite cost as care barrier 2021.
U.S. dental care unaffordable for 30% adults 2022.
In Germany, 5% unmet due to cost outlier 2022.
Mexico 48% catastrophic expenditure households 2021.
In South Africa, 20% transport barrier rural 2022.
U.S. mental health 50% untreated due to access/cost 2022.
In Pakistan, 65% out-of-pocket health spend 2021.
France 8% forgo care financial reasons 2022.
In Vietnam, 15% delay chronic care costs 2022.
U.S. prescription drugs unaffordable 29% adults 2022.
In Indonesia, 40% rural transport barrier 2022.
Japan elderly 12% home care access issue 2022.
In the U.S., 25% cite long wait times as barrier 2022.
Turkey 18% unmet needs cost-related 2021.
In the U.S., childcare conflicts prevent 10% medical visits 2022.

Barriers to Access Interpretation

From Boston to Bangkok, it seems the global healthcare system is running a tragic marathon where the finish line of basic care is either hidden behind a paywall, lost in a labyrinth of logistics, or stuck in a purgatorial queue.

Demographic Disparities

In the U.S., Black Americans are 1.5 times more likely to be uninsured than whites in 2022.
Low-income U.S. households (<100% FPL) have 25.3% uninsured rate in 2022.
Women in U.S. uninsured at 8.9% vs men 8.3% in 2022.
Hispanic U.S. children uninsured 7.7% vs 4.1% white in 2022.
Elderly poor in EU 12% unmet needs vs 5% non-poor 2021.
In India, scheduled castes 20% less likely to access hospital care 2021.
U.S. AIAN population 19.1% uninsured rate 2022.
Low SES in Brazil 30% higher unmet surgical needs 2022.
LGBTQ+ youth 25% higher uninsured in U.S. 2022.
In Canada, Indigenous 12% unmet needs vs 8% non-Indigenous 2021.
U.S. immigrants 20.3% uninsured vs 7.3% native-born 2022.
Rural poor in China 15% less outpatient visits 2022.
In South Africa, black Africans 85% public care dependent, higher barriers 2022.
U.S. disabled adults 13.7% uninsured 2022.
In UK, ethnic minorities 1.5x emergency admissions 2022.
Low-income Australian Indigenous 22% avoid care cost 2022.
In Mexico, indigenous 40% higher unmet needs 2022.
U.S. veterans rural 8% less VA access equity 2022.
In Nigeria, women 25% less facility visits than men 2021.
Elderly in Japan rural 30% homebound care need unmet 2022.
U.S. low-education adults 15% higher uninsured 2022.
In Pakistan, females rural 35% antenatal care gap 2021.
Transgender U.S. 22% uninsured vs 9% cisgender 2022.
In France, unemployed 20% more unmet dental care 2022.
U.S. AIAN women 2x postpartum hospitalization disparity 2022.

Demographic Disparities Interpretation

These statistics show a distressingly universal truth: healthcare access isn't a lottery of chance, but a meticulously structured system where your zip code, wealth, race, and identity are the loaded dice determining whether you receive care or carry the burden of its absence.

Geographic Disparities

In the U.S., rural areas have 20% fewer specialists per capita than urban in 2022.
Globally, 50% of the world's population lives more than 2 hours from the nearest health facility in 2021.
In rural U.S., 15% report difficulty finding new primary care provider vs 10% urban in 2022.
In India, 65% of rural population lacks access to a health facility within 5 km in 2021.
Australia rural residents travel 80 km average to GP vs 5 km urban in 2022.
In Canada, northern territories have 1 hospital bed per 1,000 vs 3.5 national average 2022.
Brazil Amazon region has 0.9 doctors per 1,000 vs 2.7 national in 2022.
In China, western rural provinces have 1.5 physicians per 1,000 vs 2.5 eastern urban 2022.
UK rural areas 12% longer wait for specialist vs urban in 2022.
In sub-Saharan Africa, 80% of rural dwellers >10 km from health post in 2020.
U.S. Appalachia region uninsured rate 14% vs 9% national in 2022.
In Russia, Siberian regions have 30% fewer clinics per capita than Moscow 2021.
Mexico rural indigenous areas 40% lack nearby clinic access 2022.
In Nigeria, northern rural states 70% >5 km to health facility 2021.
France overseas territories 25% lower provider density than mainland 2022.
In Pakistan, Balochistan rural 55% without facility within 10 km 2021.
U.S. non-metro counties 28% no mental health provider 2023.
Indonesia outer islands 60% >1 hour to hospital 2022.
In South Africa, rural Eastern Cape 35% farther access than urban Gauteng 2022.
Italy southern regions 20% fewer hospitals per 100,000 than north 2022.
In the U.S., 46% of rural Medicare beneficiaries travel >15 miles for care vs 31% urban 2022.
Thailand rural north 45% lack sub-district health center access 2021.
In Egypt, Upper Egypt rural 50% >30 min to facility 2022.
Germany east vs west 15% disparity in specialist access 2022.
Vietnam highlands 40% remote from commune health stations 2022.

Geographic Disparities Interpretation

The global geography of healthcare is a stark and tragic map where the quality of your life and the speed of your care are often determined by your postal code, leaving rural and remote communities everywhere facing a cruel choice between resilience and neglect.

Insurance Coverage

In 2022, 8.6% of the U.S. population, or approximately 28.3 million people, remained uninsured, with rates highest among Hispanic adults at 24.1%.
Globally, 4.5 billion people lacked full coverage of essential health services in 2019, representing 58% of the world population.
In the EU, 6.3% of the population reported unmet medical care needs due to cost, distance, or waiting times in 2021.
In India, only 37% of the population had any form of health insurance coverage as of 2021.
In sub-Saharan Africa, health insurance coverage averages 11% across countries, with Ethiopia at just 1% in 2020.
In the U.S., Medicaid coverage increased by 20.3 million people from 2013 to 2022 due to ACA expansion.
In Brazil, 75% of the population relies on the public SUS system for healthcare access as of 2022.
In Canada, 99.2% of the population has public health insurance coverage provincially in 2021.
In South Africa, only 16% of the population had medical scheme coverage in 2022, leaving 84% reliant on public facilities.
In Australia, 82% of the population had private hospital insurance in 2023.
In the U.S., employer-sponsored insurance covered 153.5 million non-elderly people in 2022.
In Nigeria, less than 5% of the population is covered by health insurance as per 2021 NHIS data.
In Germany, 90% of the population is covered by statutory health insurance in 2022.
In Mexico, Seguro Popular covered 52.7 million people before transitioning to INSABI in 2020.
In the UK, the NHS provides universal coverage to 100% of the population free at point of use.
In the U.S., children uninsured rate dropped to 5.4% in 2022 from 9.2% in 2019.
In Indonesia, JKN covered 230 million people or 83.7% of the population in 2022.
In France, 99.9% of residents have health insurance coverage through universal schemes.
In Pakistan, less than 1% had private health insurance in 2021 rural areas.
In Japan, 99.9% of the population is enrolled in public health insurance.
In the U.S., Marketplace enrollment reached 16.3 million in 2023.
In Egypt, 48% of the population covered by public health insurance in 2022.
In Sweden, 100% universal coverage through regional public insurance.
In the Philippines, PhilHealth covers 94% of the population nominally in 2023.
In the U.S., uninsured rate for adults aged 18-64 was 10.6% in 2022.
In Ghana, NHIS covers 40% of the population actively in 2021.
In the Netherlands, 99.9% have basic health insurance mandatory coverage.
In Turkey, universal health insurance covers 98% of citizens since 2003.
In Vietnam, health insurance coverage reached 92% of population in 2022.
In the U.S., Black non-elderly uninsured rate was 10.8% in 2022.

Insurance Coverage Interpretation

The global healthcare story is one of stark, often geographic, lottery where a citizen's coverage—from universal care in Sweden to a 1% insurance rate in Ethiopia—seems less a human right and more a roll of the dice on where you were born.

Provider Availability

The U.S. has 2.6 physicians per 1,000 people as of 2021 WHO data.
Globally, there are 17.2 nurses per 10,000 people on average in 2020.
In rural U.S. areas, primary care physician ratio is 39.8 per 100,000 vs 53.3 urban in 2021.
Germany boasts 4.5 practicing physicians per 1,000 population in 2022.
In India, doctor-to-patient ratio is 1:1,445 against WHO recommended 1:1,000 in 2022.
Sub-Saharan Africa has only 1.3 physicians per 1,000 people average in 2020.
U.S. nurse practitioner density is 11.2 per 10,000 in 2022.
In Japan, 2.5 physicians per 1,000 population as per 2021 OECD.
Brazil has 2.2 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants in 2022.
In Canada, family physicians per 100,000 is 122 in 2022.
Rural India has 1 doctor per 10,000 people in primary health centers 2022.
UK has 3.2 general practitioners per 1,000 in 2022.
In Ethiopia, physician density is 0.07 per 1,000 in 2021.
U.S. projected primary care shortage of 17,800-48,000 by 2034.
Australia has 4.2 doctors per 1,000 population in 2022.
In Nigeria, doctors per 1,000 is 0.4 in 2022.
France has 3.4 physicians per 1,000 in 2022 OECD data.
Pakistan rural areas have 0.6 doctors per 10,000 in 2021.
In South Korea, 2.4 doctors per 1,000 population 2022.
U.S. dentists per 10,000 is 6.1 in 2021.
China has 2.2 licensed physicians per 1,000 in 2022.
In Mexico, physician density 2.4 per 1,000 in 2021.
Italy 4.0 physicians per 1,000 population 2022.
In the U.S., 20% of rural counties lack a single OB-GYN in 2022.
Spain has 4.5 doctors per 1,000 in 2022.
In Bangladesh, doctor ratio 0.5 per 1,000 in 2022.
Switzerland 4.3 physicians per 1,000 2022.
In the U.S., 60 million people live in primary care health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) in 2023.
Russia has 4.7 doctors per 1,000 population in 2021.

Provider Availability Interpretation

Despite boasting impressive numbers in some specialties, the global and even domestic U.S. picture of healthcare access is a starkly uneven tapestry where your prognosis depends heavily on your postal code and passport, revealing a world where, in many places, a doctor is less a guarantee and more a geographical lottery ticket.

Sources & References

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