World Leaders Warn: The Next Pandemic Is a Matter of When, Not If
Leaders reflected on lessons learned from the COVID-19 crisis, which the World Health Organization (WHO) says was associated with more than 20 million excess deaths between 2020 and 2023 and caused economic losses exceeding US$10 trillion worldwide. Delegates stressed that pandemic preparedness extends far beyond healthcare, noting that large-scale outbreaks can disrupt education, employment, social services and entire economies.
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Delegates, policymakers and health experts gather in a packed conference chamber during the Second United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response at UN Headquarters in New York. |
The meeting focused on advancing a multilateral and intergenerational approach to preventing, preparing for and responding to pandemics and public health emergencies. Discussions emphasised the principles of equity and solidarity, recognising that effective protection depends on coordinated action across nations and generations.
Since 2023, countries have strengthened international cooperation through the WHO Pandemic Agreement, amendments to the International Health Regulations and the establishment of new centres dedicated to disease surveillance, pathogen sharing and regional production of vaccines, treatments and diagnostic tests.
However, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that sustained political commitment and long-term investment will be essential to preserve and expand these gains.
A key priority remains the completion of negotiations on a global pathogen access and benefit-sharing system. The proposed framework would facilitate the rapid sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential for research purposes while helping ensure countries receive equitable access to the vaccines, medicines and tests developed from that research.
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Delegates also endorsed the One Health approach, which recognises the close connections between human, animal and environmental health and promotes cross-sector collaboration to identify and address emerging health threats before they escalate.
The High-level Meeting included two multi-stakeholder panel discussions focused on strengthening global pandemic prevention, preparedness and response efforts and on improving equitable access to critical medical tools through sustainable financing, stronger local capacity and predictable supply systems.
The Political Declaration under consideration is expected to be forwarded to the United Nations General Assembly for further consideration. Leaders concluded that while significant progress has been made since the COVID-19 pandemic, further cooperation, investment and global solidarity will be needed to ensure the world is better prepared for future health emergencies.
"Preparedness cannot begin when a crisis starts," delegates emphasised throughout the meeting. "Investing before the next outbreak emerges could save millions of lives, but no country can achieve that protection alone."..source.
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