Global health : after the panic, can we avoid the neglect?

Abstract

Over three years of COVID-19 pandemic have left deep scars in the economy and society, with mid- to long-term impacts that scholars and policymakers are only starting to identify and measure. Experts agree that February 2020 was a “lost month” due to hesitancy in declaring SARS-COV-2 a pandemic; 2021 was a “lost year” in the quest for more equitable access to knowledge and technology for more decentralised vaccine production, and we now face a “lost decade” for sustainable development. Yet, global priorities have already shifted towards new challenges, from inflation to the looming recession, the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis, while proposed reforms in global health governance appear to be unlikely to fix the root causes of the deadliest pandemic of the past century. This panel will discuss the main lessons the world can learn from COVID-19, as well as actions that are needed today to strengthen global resilience in the face of ongoing and future health emergencies. The panel will also discuss Europe’s new global health strategy (adopted by the end of 2022), and whether its ambition to become a leading actor in global health is matched by current reforms, governance and resources.