Global Health Advances Give Us a Choice: Pandemics No Longer Inevitable

Shares of global health security have been rising in recent years, with scientists and medical professionals making significant strides in detecting, treating, and stopping pathogens that could cause widespread illness. According to Stephanie Psaki, a distinguished senior fellow at the Brown University School of Public Health and former special assistant to the president, the world has an unprecedented opportunity to prevent the next pandemic. Psaki emphasized that for the first time in history, the tools and knowledge exist to stop pandemics, citing advances in scientific and medical research that have made it possible to identify and combat pathogens before they spread. "We have the capacity to detect and respond to outbreaks in real-time, and to develop and distribute vaccines and treatments that can prevent illness and save lives," she said. "The question now is not whether we can prevent the next pandemic, but whether we will." The shift in perspective is significant, as it marks a departure from the past, when pandemics were seen as uncontrollable and unpredictable forces of nature. Historically, humans have struggled to contain and prevent the spread of diseases, with devastating consequences. However, with the advent of modern medicine and scientific research, the tide is turning. According to Psaki, the turning point came in the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, when scientists and policymakers began to recognize the importance of global health security and the need for coordinated international responses to outbreaks. Since then, significant progress has been made in developing and distributing vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic tools, as well as in building global health infrastructure and capacity. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also played a critical role in promoting global health security and coordinating international responses to outbreaks. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, has emphasized the importance of investing in global health security and building resilient health systems that can detect and respond to outbreaks quickly and effectively. As the world moves forward, Psaki urged policymakers and leaders to prioritize global health security and invest in the tools and infrastructure needed to prevent and respond to pandemics. "We have the knowledge, the tools, and the capacity to prevent the next pandemic," she said. "Now, it's up to us to act on that knowledge and make it a reality." The global health community is currently working on several initiatives to strengthen health systems and improve pandemic preparedness, including the development of new vaccines and treatments, as well as the expansion of global health infrastructure and capacity. The WHO has also launched several initiatives to promote global health security, including the Global Health Security Index, which assesses the health security risks and capacities of countries around the world. As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of global health security, Psaki's message is clear: the end of pandemics is within reach, but it will require concerted action and investment from policymakers, leaders, and the global health community.