Multi-country collaboration in responding to global infectious disease threats: lessons for Europe from the COVID-19 pandemic

Jit, Mark, Ananthakrishnan, Aparna, McKee, Martin, Wouters, Olivier J. ORCID: 0000-0002-2514-476X, Beutels, Philippe and Teerawattananon, Yot (2021) Multi-country collaboration in responding to global infectious disease threats: lessons for Europe from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, 9. ISSN 2666-7762

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Abstract

Since 2005, the world has faced several public health emergencies of international concern arising from infectious disease outbreaks. Of these, the COVID-19 pandemic has had by far the greatest health and economic consequences. During these emergencies, responses taken by one country often have an impact on other countries. The implication is that coordination between countries is likely to achieve better outcomes, individually and collectively, than each country independently pursuing its own self-interest. During the COVID-19 pandemic, gaps in multilateral cooperation on research and information sharing, vaccine development and deployment, and travel policies have hampered the speed and equity of global recovery. In this Health Policy article, we explore how multilateral collaboration between countries is crucial to successful responses to public health emergencies linked to infectious disease outbreaks. Responding to future global infectious disease threats and other health emergencies will require the creation of stronger mechanisms for multilateral collaboration before they arise. A change to the governance of multilateral institutions is a logical next step, with a focus on providing equal ownership and leadership opportunities to all member countries. Europe can be an example and advocate for stronger and better governed multilateral institutions.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/home
Additional Information:	© 2021 The Authors
Divisions:	Health Policy
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology J Political Science > JZ International relations
Date Deposited:	08 Oct 2021 10:27
Last Modified:	16 Nov 2024 05:57
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/112208

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