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The chief scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO) has called on countries to collaborate on vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments for the 20 most dangerous pathogens. This cooperation is necessary to avoid the inequitable access to countermeasures experienced during the Covid-19 crisis, which could leave deep scars. Jeremy Farrar emphasizes the need for a mutual understanding between nations to ensure better preparedness for future pandemics. Waiting until a crisis occurs to establish effective systems is simply too late.
Farrar stresses the importance of not neglecting known pathogens in favor of the potential emergence of new infectious diseases. The WHO has already developed a research and development roadmap for certain diseases, such as Ebola and Marburg. However, more work is required for diseases like Zika, Rift Valley Fever, and “Pathogen X,” an unidentified infectious disease with pandemic potential.
In addition, Farrar suggests shifting pharmaceutical manufacturing away from heavily populated countries that prioritize their own citizens. Smaller countries like Denmark, Rwanda, and Senegal have the capability to meet the needs of their citizens and could even export surplus output during times of crisis.
In an interview, Farrar highlights several health challenges the world currently faces, including an aging population, declining health workers, climate change, biodiversity loss, and health crises resulting from economic trends like youth unemployment and inequality. Failure to address these key drivers could lead to more challenges in the 21st century.
Farrar also expresses concerns about the potential collapse of health workforces, citing the UK’s National Health Service as an example. He believes that operational weaknesses have been covered up by health workers going above and beyond. The global health workforce is close to reaching its breaking point.
Regarding the origins of Covid-19, Farrar remains open to all hypotheses, including the possibility of a laboratory leak or transmission from animals sold in Wuhan’s wet markets. While he believes that the natural origin is more likely based on accumulated evidence, he acknowledges the importance of considering the geography and potential laboratory leaks in Wuhan.
Farrar suggests that the WHO should take on the role of a public conductor of initiatives to improve global health, rather than solely running such initiatives within the organization. He believes that the world is converging in many aspects, and issues affecting one country will increasingly impact every country.
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