Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound economic, societal, and health consequences across all regions and income groups. Although medical advancements have reduced mortality, the broader systemic disruptions—economic instability, labor market shocks, inflation, and long-term development setbacks—have been significant. Moreover, new vulnerabilities have emerged in a hyper connected, rapidly changing world, including digital dependencies, misinformation, and sociopolitical polarization.
The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) is preparing its 2025 report under the theme “The New Face of Pandemic Preparedness” that will address the three following questions:
1. What are the various impact of pandemics we need to prepare for?
2. After COVID-19, what can we anticipate for the next crisis?
3. What insights can be drawn to improve preparedness in a fragmented world?
Objectives
The EPI-WIN consultation aims to:
• Highlight the salient impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on short- and long-term consequences across sectors and regions,
• Explore how these impacts are driving revisions of pandemic preparedness strategies and National Action Plans for Health Security,
• Identify key lessons, policy gaps, and forward-looking strategies to build more resilient preparedness systems.
Speakers
- Dr Maha El Rabbat, Former Minister of Health and Population of Egypt
- Prof Mika Salminen, Director General, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland
- Dr Palitha Karunapema, Director, Health Information Unit, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
- Dr Lisa Indar, Executive Director, Caribbean Public Health Agency, Trinidad and Tobago
- Dr Abdou Salam Gueye, Regional Emergency Director, WHO African Regional Office (AFRO)
- Prof Victor J. Dzau, President, United States National Academy of Medicine
Moderators (GPMB Secretariat)
- Dr Sylvie Briand, Director
- Dr Maaya Kita, Technical Officer