Experts: The world would not be sufficiently prepared for a new pandemic Major operation underway: this is what awaits the Israelis in Gaza City

The world is still ill-prepared for a possible new health crisis or pandemic. This is the conclusion of the independent Observatory for Health Crisis Preparedness (GPMB) in a report on Monday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank established it in 2018 in response to a devastating Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The observatory is intended to analyze preparations in the world and make recommendations. Much has been done in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, she notes, but some countries have scaled back precautions to respond quickly to similar crises, and in others little progress has been made.

The organization makes several suggestions to improve crisis preparedness worldwide. Countries need to strengthen their surveillance to detect new diseases at an early stage. To achieve this, data collection and analysis capacity should be improved. Poorer countries needed financial support and debt deferrals to provide the resources. A planned $10 billion fund for pandemic prevention and preparedness needs urgent financing.

Involve civil society

Research and development of new medicines should not be concentrated in a few countries, as was the case during the corona pandemic. Civil society must be better involved in all preparations.

The organization’s co-chair, former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, said a lack of trust between countries and between citizens and authorities makes proper preparation for a pandemic difficult. “We call on leaders to overcome these divisions and chart a new path based on the shared recognition that our future security depends on meaningful reforms and the highest level of political commitment to health preparedness.” (sda/dpa)