The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, says the world must urgently strengthen financing mechanisms for pandemic preparedness and response, warning that existing resources must be ready to move quickly when the next health emergency occurs.
Speaking during a panel discussion on “Surge and At-Risk Financing for Medical Countermeasures: Ebola and Beyond Immediate Response,” at the G-20 High-Level Independent Panel event, “It’s Time to Close the Deal: Tracking and Unlocking Investments in Pandemic Preparedness and Response,” held in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Prof. Pate stressed the need for financing that can be deployed when and where it is needed.
The Coordinating Minister highlighted mechanisms including the Global Fund, Gavi and the Pandemic Fund, while calling for existing financing tools to be better prepared and coordinated to support countries with diagnostics, test kits, therapeutics and other medical countermeasures during outbreaks.
He also called for greater use of private capital and insurance mechanisms to mobilise resources, noting that pandemic financing should not depend solely on public funds, particularly at a time when many countries are facing fiscal constraints.
Prof. Pate further emphasized that pandemic preparedness cannot be separated from resilient health systems, universal health coverage and strong primary healthcare.
He said public trust is closely linked to the ability of health systems to prevent and respond to everyday health threats, adding that finance ministers, treasuries and heads of government must take greater ownership of pandemic preparedness alongside health authorities.
He called for lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Ebola and other recent outbreaks to guide a stronger and more coordinated global financing architecture.
Also speaking at the event, WTO Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, called for sustainable financing to strengthen regional manufacturing capacity and resilient global supply chains, so countries can access essential medical products when global demand surges.
She advocated financing that can be deployed before crises escalate, including at-risk financing for advance purchases of medical countermeasures, as well as a sustainably financed Pandemic Fund capable of operating at the scale and speed required.
She stressed that while the recommendations are achievable, they ultimately require sustained political commitment.
