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Phelan AL, Carlson CJ. A treaty to break the pandemic cycle. Science 2022; 377:475-477. [DOI: 10.1126/science.abq5917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
An evidence-based treaty must balance prevention, preparedness, response, and repair
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L. Phelan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
- Center for Global Health Science & Security, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
- O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Colin J. Carlson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
- Center for Global Health Science & Security, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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2
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Singh S, McNab C, Olson RM, Bristol N, Nolan C, Bergstrøm E, Bartos M, Mabuchi S, Panjabi R, Karan A, Abdalla SM, Bonk M, Jamieson M, Werner GK, Nordström A, Legido-Quigley H, Phelan A. How an outbreak became a pandemic: a chronological analysis of crucial junctures and international obligations in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet 2021; 398:2109-2124. [PMID: 34762857 PMCID: PMC8575464 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)01897-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the spread of SARS-CoV-2, how and when evidence emerged, and the timing of local, national, regional, and global responses is essential to establish how an outbreak became a pandemic and to prepare for future health threats. With that aim, the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response has developed a chronology of events, actions, and recommendations, from December, 2019, when the first cases of COVID-19 were identified in China, to the end of March, 2020, by which time the outbreak had spread extensively worldwide and had been characterised as a pandemic. Datapoints are based on two literature reviews, WHO documents and correspondence, submissions to the Panel, and an expert verification process. The retrospective analysis of the chronology shows a dedicated initial response by WHO and some national governments, but also aspects of the response that could have been quicker, including outbreak notifications under the International Health Regulations (IHR), presumption and confirmation of human-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2, declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and, most importantly, the public health response of many national governments. The chronology also shows that some countries, largely those with previous experience with similar outbreaks, reacted quickly, even ahead of WHO alerts, and were more successful in initially containing the virus. Mapping actions against IHR obligations, the chronology shows where efficiency and accountability could be improved at local, national, and international levels to more quickly alert and contain health threats in the future. In particular, these improvements include necessary reforms to international law and governance for pandemic preparedness and response, including the IHR and a potential framework convention on pandemic preparedness and response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhvir Singh
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland; Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Christine McNab
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Rose McKeon Olson
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nellie Bristol
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Cody Nolan
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elin Bergstrøm
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Michael Bartos
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland; School of Sociology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Shunsuke Mabuchi
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Raj Panjabi
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Abraar Karan
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Salma M Abdalla
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland; Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mathias Bonk
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Margaret Jamieson
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - George K Werner
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anders Nordström
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Helena Legido-Quigley
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Singapore
| | - Alexandra Phelan
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland; Center for Global Health Science & Security, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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Ip EC. The constitutional economics of the World Health Organization. HEALTH ECONOMICS, POLICY, AND LAW 2021; 16:325-339. [PMID: 32744214 DOI: 10.1017/s1744133120000249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This paper brings a constitutional economics perspective to bear on the World Health Organization (WHO), the flagship United Nations intergovernmental health organisation, which is obligated by its Constitution to achieve 'the highest possible level of health' for the world's peoples. The WHO has in the seven decades of its existence used its formidable legislative powers only sparingly. It has been widely chided for being weak in regional coordination and unresponsive to transnational emergencies like the West African Ebola outbreak of 2014-2016. In 2020, it found itself at the centre of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the middle of the Sino-American geopolitical tug-of-war. This paper traces the discordance between the Constitution's stated purposes and the actual track record of the WHO not back to its organisational culture nor to weak leadership but to the design of the Constitution itself. It analytically distinguishes the Constitution's expressive from its instrumental halves, and shows that, whilst the former embodies a 'constitutional moment' of international health solidarity right after the Second World War, the latter embodies a reserved and limited delegation from member-states that are jealous of their sovereignty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric C Ip
- Centre for Medical Ethics and Law, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Lee S. Steering the Private Sector in COVID-19 Diagnostic Test Kit Development in South Korea. Front Public Health 2020; 8:563525. [PMID: 33282810 PMCID: PMC7705236 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.563525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Responsive private sector engagement in developing test kits for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in South Korea offers a valuable case study in public-private partnership and infectious disease governance. Korean biotech firms promptly developed diagnostic test kits, and the nation achieved capacity to test more than 20,000 people daily. This was a direct result of the continuous application of lessons learned from the Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2015. South Korea had been strengthening the private sectors' infectious disease governance and response capacity, creating various new constructive pathways toward public-private partnership. Regulatory amendments were made to better liaise with the private sector. Government-led investment had increased in the research and development of testing technologies over the past 5 years. Furthermore, the Korean government had introduced fast-tracking approval, allowing open competition for more than 20 domestic biotech companies to develop test kits. An overview of test kit governance informs us of the importance of public-private partnership for pandemic threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sora Lee
- Menzies Centre for Health Governance, School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet), ANU College of Asia & the Pacific, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Sinclair C, Nolte L, White BP, M. Detering K. Advance care planning in Australia during the COVID-19 outbreak: now more important than ever. Intern Med J 2020; 50:918-923. [PMID: 32881275 PMCID: PMC7436410 DOI: 10.1111/imj.14937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has led to rapid and profound changes in healthcare system delivery and society more broadly. Older adults, and those living with chronic or life-limiting conditions, are at increased risk of experiencing severe or critical symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection and are more likely to die. They may also experience non-COVID-19 related deterioration in their health status during this period. Advance care planning (ACP) is critical for this cohort, yet there is no coordinated strategy for increasing the low rates of ACP uptake in these groups, or more broadly. This paper outlines a number of key reasons why ACP is an urgent priority, and should form a part of the health system's COVID-19 response strategy. These include reducing the need for rationing, planning for surges in healthcare demand, respecting human rights, enabling proactive care coordination and leveraging societal change. We conclude with key recommendations for policy and practice in the system-wide implementation of ACP, to enable a more ethical, coordinated and person-centred response in the COVID-19 context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Sinclair
- Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing ResearchUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA)SydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Linda Nolte
- Advance Care Planning AustraliaAustin HealthMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Ben P. White
- Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Faculty of LawQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Karen M. Detering
- Advance Care Planning AustraliaAustin HealthMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health SciencesUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Faculty of Health, Arts and DesignSwinburne University of TechnologyMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
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Nasir A, Shaukat K, Hameed IA, Luo S, Alam TM, Iqbal F. A Bibliometric Analysis of Corona Pandemic in Social Sciences: A Review of Influential Aspects and Conceptual Structure. IEEE ACCESS : PRACTICAL INNOVATIONS, OPEN SOLUTIONS 2020; 8:133377-133402. [PMID: 34812340 PMCID: PMC8545329 DOI: 10.1109/access.2020.3008733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Corona pandemic has affected the whole world, and it is a highly researched area in biological sciences. As the current pandemic has affected countries socially and economically, the purpose of this bibliometric analysis is to provide a holistic review of the corona pandemic in the field of social sciences. This study aims to highlight significant, influential aspects, research streams, and themes. We have reviewed 395 journal articles related to coronavirus in the field of social sciences from 2003 to 2020. We have deployed 'biblioshiny' a web-interface of the 'bibliometrix 3.0' package of R-studio to conduct bibliometric analysis and visualization. In the field of social sciences, we have reported influential aspects of coronavirus literature. We have found that the 'Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report' is the top journal. The core article of coronavirus literature is 'Guidelines for preventing health-care-associated pneumonia'. The most commonly used word, in titles, abstracts, author's keywords, and keywords plus, is 'SARS'. Top affiliation is 'The University of Hong Kong'. Hong Kong is a leading country based on citations, and the USA is on top based on total publications. We have used a conceptual framework to identify potential research streams and themes in coronavirus literature. Four research streams are found by deploying a co-occurrence network. These research streams are 'Social and economic effects of epidemic disease', 'Infectious disease calamities and control', 'Outbreak of COVID 19,' and 'Infectious diseases and the role of international organizations'. Finally, a thematic map is used to provide a holistic understanding by dividing significant themes into basic or transversal, emerging or declining, motor, highly developed, but isolated themes. These themes and subthemes have proposed future directions and critical areas of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeel Nasir
- Department of Management SciencesLahore College for Women UniversityLahore54000Pakistan
| | - Kamran Shaukat
- School of Electrical Engineering and ComputingThe University of NewcastleCallaghanNSW2308Australia
- Punjab University College of Information Technology, University of the PunjabLahore54590Pakistan
| | - Ibrahim A. Hameed
- Department of ICT and Natural SciencesNorwegian University of Science and Technology7491TrondheimNorway
| | - Suhuai Luo
- School of Electrical Engineering and ComputingThe University of NewcastleCallaghanNSW2308Australia
| | - Talha Mahboob Alam
- Department of Computer ScienceUniversity of Engineering and TechnologyLahore54890Pakistan
| | - Farhat Iqbal
- Punjab University College of Information Technology, University of the PunjabLahore54590Pakistan
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Eccleston-Turner M, Brassington I. Rights-Based Approaches to Preventing, Detecting, and Responding to Infectious Disease. INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM 2020; 82. [PMCID: PMC7226904 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-39819-4_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Policymakers have come to look to human rights law in framing national health policy and global health governance. Human rights law offers universal frameworks to advance justice in public health, codifying international standards to frame government obligations and facilitate accountability for realising the highest attainable standard of health. Addressing threats to individual dignity as ‘rights violations’ under international law, health-related human rights have evolved dramatically to offer a normative framework for public health.
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Abstract
As the United Kingdom (UK) negotiates its separation from the European Union (EU), it is important to remember the public health mechanisms that are directly facilitated via our relationship with the EU. One such mechanism is the UK’s role within the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Global health protection is an area that is currently experiencing an unprecedented wave of innovation, both technologically and ideologically, and we must therefore ensure that our future relationship with ECDC is one that facilitates full involvement with the global health security systems of the future.
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Palagyi A, Marais BJ, Abimbola S, Topp SM, McBryde ES, Negin J. Health system preparedness for emerging infectious diseases: A synthesis of the literature. Glob Public Health 2019; 14:1847-1868. [PMID: 31084412 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2019.1614645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
This review reflects on what the literature to date has taught us about how health systems of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) respond to emerging infectious disease (EID) outbreaks. These findings are then applied to propose a conceptual framework characterising an EID prepared health system. A narrative synthesis approach was adopted to explore the key elements of LMIC health systems during an EID outbreak. Overarching themes ('core health system constructs') and sub-themes ('elements') relevant to EID preparedness were extracted from 49 peer-reviewed articles. The resulting conceptual framework recognised six core constructs: four focused on material resources and structures (i.e. system 'hardware'), including (i) Surveillance, (ii) Infrastructure and medical supplies, (iii) Workforce, and (iv) Communication mechanisms; and two focused on human and institutional relationships, values and norms (i.e. system 'software'), including (i) Governance, and (ii) Trust. The article reinforces the interconnectedness of the traditional health system building blocks to EID detection, prevention and response, and highlights the critical role of system 'software' (i.e. governance and trust) in enabling LMIC health systems to achieve and maintain EID preparedness. The review provides recommendations for refining a set of indicators for an 'optimised' health system EID preparedness tool to aid health system strengthening efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Palagyi
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney School of Public Health , Sydney , Australia.,The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales , Sydney , Australia
| | - Ben J Marais
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity and the Children's Hospital at Westmead, University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia
| | - Seye Abimbola
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney School of Public Health , Sydney , Australia.,The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales , Sydney , Australia
| | - Stephanie M Topp
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University , Townsville , Australia.,Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne , Melbourne , Australia
| | - Emma S McBryde
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, James Cook University , Townsville , Australia
| | - Joel Negin
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney School of Public Health , Sydney , Australia
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