Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar, professor of infectious diseases at University College London, warned at a UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) meeting in New York (date not specified) that another pandemic is inevitable, emphasizing that the global healthcare system's siloed nature hinders effective prevention. He stressed that infectious diseases disregard borders, necessitating agile, cross-border health policies and robust partnerships. Lok Bahadur Thapa, ECOSOC vice president, highlighted the need to reimagine cooperation for achieving the 2030 Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the 17th SDG focused on global partnerships. A significant annual financing gap exceeding $4 trillion hinders progress toward these goals.

Dima Al-Khatib, director of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), underscored the crucial role of transformative partnerships involving governments, civil society, the private sector, and multilateral institutions. Experts like Mandeep Dhaliwal, Director of Health at the UN Development Programme (UNDP), advocate for prioritizing preventive care over reactive medicine, citing cost-effectiveness and holistic health system support. Tony Ott, a professor of agricultural sciences at Pennsylvania State University, emphasized that health is not a downstream issue but a starting point for overall development. Dr. Abubakar highlighted the vulnerability of migrants and displaced people, with 123.2 million forcibly displaced worldwide by the end of 2024, emphasizing the need for cross-border access to essential health services. He stressed that all health policies must be culturally appropriate and community-centered.

Impact Statement: The warning of an impending pandemic underscores the urgent need for global cooperation and investment in preventive healthcare, particularly addressing the health disparities faced by vulnerable populations.