Preparing for future pandemics in the Eastern Mediterranean region

The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPPR) report provides a wake-up call and action agenda to ensure that future outbreaks do not become pandemics.1 A key recommendation is urgent adoption of a stronger international regime to confront pandemics as the International Health Regulations (IHR)—the bedrock international agreement to protect global health security—have proven necessary, but not sufficient to ensure effective pandemic preparedness and response.2 Great economic disparities, political instability, and insecurity characterise WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region. To optimally benefit from this prospect, leadership capacity needs to be enhanced in evidence-driven decision making, linkages between health and economy, significance of global cooperation, and sense of shared responsibility.6 Resilience of health systems is central to pandemic response. In fragile contexts, sustained commitment by the international community on building and maintaining functional health systems is crucial for preparedness, and to avoid a situation being witnessed in Afghanistan now where the health system has been substantially impacted as donors withdrew.8 However, financing of preparedness is the responsibility of all countries and cannot rely upon development assistance alone.9 Innovative approaches to financing preparedness are desperately needed, particularly in resource-constrained regions such as the Eastern Mediterranean region.