Context:

• A Fragile State of Preparedness: 2023 Report on the State of the World’s Preparedness  was released by Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB).

Key Findings of the Report

• Global preparedness for pandemics and other disease outbreaks remains inadequate. 
  • There have been some areas of progress since COVID-19 but this progress remains fragile, and some areas have declined, highlighting an urgent need for political commitment and increased resources.
• The trust deficit between countries and between communities is a significant impediment to progress in strengthening preparedness. 
• Evidence-based monitoring, including independent monitoring, is essential to increase effectiveness, ensure accountability, and build trust.

Recommendations

• Strengthening regional capacities for R&D, manufacturing and supply will help to address the inequities in global access to medical countermeasures.
• There is a need to strengthen mechanisms for coordination across the many sectors that play a key role in PPPR, nationally, regionally and globally.
• Pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPPR): PPPR financing requires fundamental reform to free it from the limitations of development assistance and place it on a sustainable footing, based on burden-sharing. 
  • Strengthening PPPR requires ensuring sustainable financing for WHO and other international organizations working on PPPR.

News Source: /reliefweb.int/report