February 10, 2026 11:43 am (IST)
Follow us:
Dealing with epidemics presents growth: WHO
Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, Jan 22 (IBNS): The recent Ebola epidemic challenged leaders of all nations and sectors and brought to light the need for resiliency and infrastructure to prevent and mitigate risks of future outbreaks.
“Dealing with epidemics presents growth, economic and stability issues,” said Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva. “The world is ill prepared. We need national and local capacity,” she added.
Strengthening surveillance and primary care are critical to building resiliency, said William H. Gates III, Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA.
He pointed to the insights that technology can provide: “If we are serious about dealing with future epidemics, we must do simulations. Primary healthcare will be digitized in the next 10 years. This will be a huge benefit.”
There is shared recognition that slow action will not be an option moving forward.
“The Ebola epidemic was difficult and complicated, but it was slow moving,” said Jim Yong Kim, President of The World Bank, Washington DC. “It is much more difficult to deal with fast-moving epidemics.”
“The motivation of fear that brought us together should not be our motivation in the future,” said Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Rome.
Addressing these issues will stretch beyond these discussions at the Annual Meeting 2016.
The World Economic Forum is launching a two-year initiative to manage the risk and impact of future epidemics through optimized public-private cooperation under its newly formed Global Challenge Initiative on the Future of Health.
The initiative’s efforts will harness the capabilities of the healthcare, mining, telecommunications and mobility industries, among others, to work with national governments, international organizations and civil society to create solid, preventative action plans for emerging outbreaks.
“The Forum’s new Global Challenge Initiative on the Future of Health seeks to drive forward a critical transformation, putting health at the centre before healthcare is needed, with two pillars focused on health promotion and disease prevention. It’s imperative that across all sectors, stakeholders and nations, we find ways to allow healthy lives and health security for all,” said Arnaud Bernaert, Head of Global Health and Healthcare Industries at the World Economic Forum.
Ensuring healthy populations, and specifically addressing the challenge of epidemics, is a key topic explored at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting as part of a practical but ambitious agenda on health, growth and development for business leaders and policy-makers in 2016.
“As the international institution for public-private cooperation, the World Economic Forum is well positioned to mobilize change in resiliency planning for pandemics. Traditional preparedness and response measures have proven to be insufficient; mitigating the risk of outbreaks requires novel approaches and cross-sectoral solutions,” said Dominic Waughray, Head of Public-Private Partnership at the Forum.
Over 2,500 leaders from business, government, international organizations, civil society, academia, media and the arts are participating in the 46th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, on 20-23 January.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Happy Chocolate Day: Your favourite treat comes with surprising health benefits, reveals study
Mon, Feb 09 2026
Grey matter decline, anxiety, sleep issues: What Menopause really does to your brain, study gives you the answer
Sun, Feb 08 2026
Men at risk by 35? Major study reveals early heart disease warning
Wed, Feb 04 2026
Your bedtime could be putting your heart in danger, scientists warn
Mon, Feb 02 2026