World Health Summit: Axel R. Pries calls for multilateralism

At the World Health Summit in Berlin, Professor Axel R. Pries, president of the summit, emphasized that global health must be treated as a “team sport” through multilateral cooperation. Pries warned of a “political virus” spreading globally, characterized by countries adopting increasingly nationalistic views toward health policy.

He noted that while local solutions are necessary to address specific community needs, global coordination is essential to manage issues such as mental health, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and future pandemics. Pries cited the COVID-19 pandemic as evidence that health crises cannot be managed solely at a local level. He also addressed the impact of the United States' withdrawal from certain health policy roles, suggesting that Europe should assume a leading role in revitalizing multilateral mechanisms.