At the World Health Summit in Berlin on 17 October 2022, the GPMB new co-Chairs, Joy Phumaphi and Jeremy Farrar (acting on an interim basis), set out the Board’s priorities for preparedness at the World Health Summit keynote session “Game Changer: Architecture for Pandemic Preparedness” in Berlin. The session was an opportunity for experts in global health preparedness to discuss the global reforms that are needed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discussion areas focused on surveillance, community involvement, One Health, and investment—all topics that the GPMB has long recognised are crucial for the advancement of resilient pandemic preparedness mechanisms.
Joy Phumaphi and Jeremy Farrar focused on the lessons learned about global preparedness during COVID-19, and how the world must learn from the past and focus on key reforms, both to continue to manage the current pandemic, as well to prepare for future health emergencies. They also outlined how the GPMB can assist in this process.
Ms Phumaphi and Sir Jeremy paid tribute to the GPMB’s former co-Chairs, Elhadj As Sy and Gro Brundtland. Ms Phumaphi announced the GPMB’s upcoming manifesto, which will aim to guide the monitoring of the current global health landscape and to review existing structures and recommendations. She also spoke of the importance of strong accountability mechanisms and introduced the GPMB’s Monitoring Framework, which she noted will help to hold all concerned parties mutually accountable in their work toward stronger preparedness. Ms Phumaphi emphasised that “information is power” and, therefore it is critical to equip everyone with accessible and relevant information and tools in order to effect change to our existing structures.
Sir Jeremy highlighted the importance of the GPMB’s independence and role in holding the world to account. Sir Jeremy made it clear that, to truly learn the lessons of the last twenty years, we must take warnings seriously and take action. Action is not limited to governments however, “it all starts and finishes with communities”, and strong health systems must underpin all structures to better equip us for the challenges of today and tomorrow.
The GPMB’s contribution formed the concluding segment of the Game Changer keynote, chaired by WHO Assistant Director-General of Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance Systems, Chikwe Ihekweazu. Additional contributions were from multisectoral experts including Karl Lauterbach, the German Federal Health Minister; Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme; Marion Koopmans, a leading virologist; Sandra Gallina, Director-General for Health and Food Safety at the European Commission; Elsie Ilori, Director at Nigeria Center for Disease Control; Jaouad Mahjour, Assistant Director-General of the WHO Emergency Preparedness Division; alongside a virtual statement by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former president of Liberia and Co-Chair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
These experts spoke on further urgent matters surrounding preparedness, including surveillance, investment, and education.
Other GPMB Board members were also involved in key events at this year’s World Health Summit, including Palitha Abeykoon, Maha El Rabbat, Chris Elias, and Ilona Kickbusch.
Ms Phumaphi and Sir Jeremy’s part of the session can be viewed from 01:05:10 to 01:23:10.