Former Prime Minister Helen Clark is urging global leaders to act urgently on pandemic preparedness, warning the world cannot afford to delay in the face of future health threats.
In a new international statement, Clark and fellow global leaders say progress since COVID-19 has been too slow, leaving dangerous gaps in the systems needed to detect and respond to outbreaks.
The warning highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in global health infrastructure, including weak surveillance systems, limited access to vaccines and treatments, and insufficient international coordination. Experts say these gaps could leave billions of people exposed if another pandemic emerges.
Clark, who co-chaired the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, has consistently pushed for stronger global cooperation, stressing that complacency risks repeating the failures seen during COVID-19.
The statement calls for urgent political leadership, increased investment, and binding international agreements to ensure countries are better prepared for future crises. It also emphasises the need for equitable access to healthcare resources, particularly for lower-income nations.
Global health leaders say the next pandemic is not a matter of if, but when, and that early preparation is critical to avoid widespread loss of life and economic disruption.
The renewed call comes as governments worldwide continue to balance competing priorities, raising concerns that pandemic readiness may again be sidelined until another crisis hits.
Clark and her colleagues say the lessons of COVID-19 must be acted on now, warning that failure to prepare could have devastating consequences for future generations.
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