Preparing for next pandemic

After three years of talks, countries at the World Health Organization have agreed  in principle on how to handle the next global health crisis. And that’s no small achievement. The reason that the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic quickly overwhelmed the world and claimed millions of lives is because the world was unprepared for it.  This agreement, while still awaiting formal approval, is a step in the right direction. Next time the pandemic strikes, the world will know what to do.

Looking back, the response to the COVID-19 was botched and uneven from the beginning.  One of the big issues was access. During COVID, wealthier countries quickly bought up vaccines and medicines, leaving poorer nations waiting. Its fallout was far-reaching. According to the latest data released by WHO, more than 776.8 million cases and 7 million deaths from COVID-19 were recorded globally since the pandemic began in early 2020. The weekly average rose from 414 000 in early 2020 to 9.9 million in early 2022, peaking at 21 million in January 2022. Similarly, anxiety and depression increased by 25% in the first year of the pandemic.

The new pact aims to avoid that by encouraging the sharing of data, technology, and supplies during a pandemic. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s better than starting from scratch every time. The deal is not perfect. For example, sharing technology remains voluntary rather than required. But even a limited agreement can make a difference if countries take it seriously and build on it. It will ensure that global cooperation, not competition, shapes how we prepare for the next big outbreak. If COVID taught us anything, it’s that viruses don’t care about borders. Our response shouldn’t either.

The takeaway from the horrific COVID-19 experience is that we can’t ignore the advent of any new infection. In January, we had a brief brush with the HMPV outbreak in January. Associated with respiratory symptoms like cough, fever, and shortness of breath, the infection overwhelmed hospitals in China and elsewhere. But a quick and concerted response ensured that the world overcame the challenge very soon. The new pandemic deal enables the world to act more decisively as and when the next strikes.