Recent outbreaks of the Marburg virus, Mpox, Covid-19 and the latest strain of avian influenza (H5N1) highlight the world’s ongoing vulnerability to pandemics.
In 2024 alone, there have already been 17 outbreaks of dangerous diseases, exposing significant weaknesses in the existing pandemic prevention frameworks and global readiness to respond.
A newly released report from the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) underscores the urgent need to reassess global pandemic preparedness.
Launched at the 15th World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany, on October 15, 2024 the report identifies 15 key drivers of pandemic risk, categorized into five distinct groups: social, technological, environmental, economic, and political.
Supported by the World Health Organization and the World Bank, the GPMB monitors pandemic risk factors and evaluates global preparedness. The report stresses the importance of recognizing vulnerabilities and advocates for a radical overhaul of collective approaches to pandemic preparedness.
The GPMB, funded by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, monitors pandemic risks and assesses global preparedness for future health emergencies.
The report emphasizes the urgent need to understand the underlying issues that could trigger new pandemics and calls for coordinated global strategies to enhance preparedness.
Key contributors to the rise of epidemics include a lack of trust between and within nations, unequal access to healthcare services, intensive farming practices, and the increasing contact between humans and animals, making it easier for zoonotic diseases to spread. Additionally, the report highlights new risks that extend beyond traditional health concerns.
Joy Phumaphi, GPMB Vice-Chair and former Health Minister of Botswana, remarked, “The next pandemic won’t wait for us to perfect our systems.” She added, “We must invest in equitable and robust primary healthcare to address tomorrow’s challenges.”
Strategies to be taken
The report urges a comprehensive understanding of the key drivers of pandemics. It also stresses the importance of implementing robust measures to protect populations and invest in efforts to mitigate the impacts of future outbreaks while improving preparedness.
To effectively prevent future epidemics, countries must prioritize strengthening their healthcare systems, improving the overall well-being of their citizens, and ensuring that essential healthcare services are accessible to everyone, especially the most vulnerable.
Preparedness should also involve coordinated strategies addressing human, animal, and environmental health.
Furthermore, the report calls for collaboration across all sectors to reduce the impact of future pandemics.
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, GPMB Vice-Chair and former President of Croatia, emphasized that “our window of opportunity to prepare is shrinking. Vigilance and partnership will define our preparedness today.”
The GPMB report challenges policymakers to harmonize current healthcare strategies with strengthened pandemic prevention measures. Continuous assessment and alignment of prevention plans are crucial for maintaining readiness.
As the next pandemic will likely follow a different path than Covid-19, the lessons learned from that experience must inform future preparedness.
There is a clear need to build resilience through investments in research and development, advancements in technology, universal healthcare infrastructure, and a deeper understanding of the potential triggers for future outbreaks.
In today’s interconnected world, the report underscores that global citizens must collectively take responsibility for pandemic prevention. Preparedness should not be seen as the responsibility of a single nation or sector but a shared global duty.