Six Years After COVID-19: Global Health Experts Assess World's Pandemic Preparedness

As the world marks six years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global health emergency, health experts and policymakers are evaluating whether humanity is better prepared for the next pandemic threat.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed millions of lives and disrupted economies worldwide, exposed critical weaknesses in global health infrastructure, supply chains, and international coordination. The question now is whether those lessons have been translated into meaningful improvements.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, has repeatedly emphasised the importance of the Pandemic Agreement currently under negotiation. This legally binding international instrument aims to strengthen global cooperation and ensure more equitable responses to future health emergencies.

"The next pandemic is not a question of if, but when," Dr Ghebreyesus warned in recent statements. "We must use the limited time we have to build the systems and agreements needed to protect future generations."

Key areas of focus include pathogen surveillance, rapid information sharing, and equitable distribution of medical countermeasures such as vaccines and treatments. The COVID-19 experience demonstrated that vaccine nationalism and supply hoarding by wealthy nations left poorer countries vulnerable, prolonging the pandemic globally.

Progress has been made in some areas. Many countries have strengthened their disease surveillance systems, expanded laboratory capacity, and stockpiled essential medical supplies. The WHO's Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, established in Berlin, represents a significant investment in early detection capabilities.

However, challenges remain. Global vaccine equity remains elusive, with many low-income countries still struggling to access life-saving immunisations even for routine diseases. Health workforce shortages, particularly in Africa and South Asia, continue to limit response capabilities.

The Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex, currently being negotiated by WHO Member States, represents a critical component of pandemic preparedness. This framework aims to ensure that when pathogens with pandemic potential are identified, their genetic information and benefits derived from them are shared fairly among nations.

Negotiators face the challenge of balancing rapid information sharing with equitable benefit distribution. Countries that discover new pathogens must be willing to share data promptly, while nations with advanced pharmaceutical capabilities must commit to ensuring access to resulting vaccines and treatments for all.

Beyond international agreements, individual countries are assessing their domestic preparedness. Hospital capacity, supply chain resilience, and public health communication systems all came under strain during COVID-19 and require ongoing investment.

The economic lessons of the pandemic are also shaping preparedness strategies. Governments now recognise that investing in health infrastructure before crises emerge is far more cost-effective than responding after outbreaks have spiralled out of control.

Climate change adds another layer of complexity to pandemic preparedness. As habitats shift and human-wildlife interactions increase, the risk of zoonotic disease transmission grows. Health systems must adapt to these evolving threats while also addressing the health impacts of a warming planet.

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated both the vulnerability of interconnected global systems and the remarkable capacity of scientists and healthcare workers to develop solutions under pressure. Maintaining that spirit of innovation and cooperation will be essential when the next pandemic threat inevitably emerges.

Six years on, the world has learned hard lessons about pandemic preparedness. Whether those lessons have been sufficiently implemented will only be tested when the next global health crisis arrives.