Preparing for pandemics
NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan was one of 12 eminent global experts of an Independent Oversight Group (IOG), tasked with steering the Global Health Risk Framework (GHRF) Commission to look at gaps concerning preparedness, response and leadership with regard to the rising threat of infectious diseases. The IOG guided the Commission on the scope of the study, addressed conflict-of-interest concerns, informed the peer-review process and assisted in the dissemination process.
The independent GHRF Commission was convened by the US National Academy of Medicine (NAM) and funded by agencies such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the Wellcome Trust among others.
As part of the study, the IOG drew on insights and expertise across the globe through 11 days of public meetings and more than 250 presentations, while ensuring independence and objectivity of the Commission.
Together with other notable IOG global leaders including President of the Japan Community Health Care Organization Dr Shigeru Omi, former Director-General of the Pan American Health Organization Dr Mirta Roses, and Head of Global Health and Healthcare Industries at the World Economic Forum Dr Arnaud Bernaert, Prof Tan’s prior experience with the SARS epidemic in Singapore served the Group well. As then Director of Medical Services with the Ministry of Health, Prof Tan led the public health response to the crisis in 2003, for which he was awarded the Public Service Star.
“We learnt many lessons from SARS…we didn’t have protocols for many things, we didn’t have the type of organisational structures to make decisions quickly across agencies, we didn’t have adequate stockpiles of protective gear, so one very important lesson is that preparedness is really very critical…,” said Prof Tan.
Prof Tan (4th from right) at the Asia Launch cum Seminar of the Report Recommendations held at The University of Hong Kong on 13 March
The last few decades have seen an increasing rate of pandemics, notably from the spread of SARS in 2003 to the Ebola crisis in 2014. Despite the tremendous threat to global security, countries are grossly underinvested and underprepared to protect populations from the threat of pandemics, which is often overshadowed by other more visible and immediate priorities.
It is against this backdrop that the Commission has produced a report titled The Neglected Dimension of Global Security: A Framework to Counter Infectious Disease Crises, which was published in January. The report highlights the necessity of pandemic preparedness in national security and economic stability; more importantly, it reveals that the impact of the crises is beyond human health, and mobilisation and long-term commitment of multiple sectors are essential to alleviate the situation.
The report also put forth a comprehensive framework of institutions, policy and finance that would be resilient to a wide range of such potential threats. The framework adopts three main recommendations — strengthening public health as the foundation of the health system and first line of defence, bolstering global and regional coordination and capabilities, and accelerating R&D to counter the threat. It also recommends that US$4.5 billion (S$6.1 billion) be set aside each year to strengthen public health systems across the globe.
“This report serves as a catalyst; an evidence-based, objective set of recommendations that could provide the basis for coordinated action by the many stakeholders involved,” said Prof Tan. He stressed that a significant level of preparedness needs to be maintained because “the threat is always there…even when there is no outbreak.”
NAM President Dr Victor J Dzau commended the report on being “independent, forward-looking, comprehensive and timely” and said that it is “exactly what is needed to drive progress in this critical issue of global health and security”.
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