While the COVID-19 pandemic has declined significantly in 2022, there are still many gaps and uncertainties that prevent the World Health Organization (WHO) from declaring the pandemic over. Addressing journalists recently, WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted that gaps in surveillance, testing, vaccination, treatment, and health systems are preventing the ending of the pandemic.
Gaps in surveillance, testing and sequencing mean we do not understand well enough how the virus is changing; Gaps in vaccination mean that millions of people – especially health workers and older people – remain at high-risk of severe disease and death; Gaps in treatment mean people are dying needlessly; Gaps in health systems leave them unable to cope with surges in patients with COVID-19, flu and other diseases; Gaps in our understanding of post-COVID-19 condition mean we do not understand how best to treat people suffering with the long-term consequences of infection; And gaps in our understanding of how this pandemic began compromise our ability to prevent future pandemics.
In China where the first case was first reported, the DG said WHO is very concerned about the evolving situation, adding that there have been increasing reports of severe disease.
In order to make a comprehensive risk assessment of the situation on the ground in China, the DG said WHO needs more detailed information on disease severity, hospital admissions and requirements for ICU support.
WHO is supporting China to focus its efforts on vaccinating people at the highest risk across the country, and we continue to offer our support for clinical care and protecting its health system.
But despite the numerous challenges in global health in 2022, the WHO DG said there are reasons for hope and progress has been made towards making the changes needed to keep future generations safer, including the creation of a Pandemic Fund, a commitment to negotiating a legally-binding accord on pandemic preparedness and response, and the establishment of an mRNA Technology Transfer Hub.
2022 was also a landmark year for the future of WHO, with our Member States committing to increase their assessed contributions – or membership fees – to 50% of our base budget over the next decade, from just 16% now. This will give WHO much more predictable and sustainable funding, enabling us to deliver long-term programming in countries, and to attract and retain the world-class experts we need.