Nus-Lancet Commission warns of global pandemic unreadiness

A report by the Nus-Lancet Commission and the medical journal The Lancet warns that the world remains unprepared for future pandemics. Experts note that the collective memory of the COVID-19 crisis, which caused over 7 million confirmed deaths and an estimated 28 million excess deaths, is fading despite the increasing risk of new health emergencies.

The report, released during the 81st United Nations General Assembly, highlights significant gaps in pandemic readiness and weaknesses in social and healthcare systems. The authors advocate for a strategic shift toward person-centered protection, focusing on the specific needs of individuals and communities to ensure better access to care and tools for self-protection.

This warning aligns with statements from the World Health Organization, which has emphasized that the occurrence of a future pandemic is not a matter of 'if' but 'when'.