At a time when global attention is shifting towards improving the way we prevent and respond to future pandemics, this session will focus on the key role that multilateral actors like Gavi and the Global Fund can play to support health systems strengthening through their respective but complementary mandates and joint efforts. By leveraging the interconnectedness between fighting existing diseases and preparing for new ones, these partnerships can maximize national impact, and support countries in building pandemic preparedness efforts in an integrated, people-centered and cost-effective way. Even though COVID-19 challenged the most advanced health systems in the world and multilateral agencies were not set up nor mandated to respond to a global health crisis of this scale, the unprecedented global collaboration under the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) demonstrated that, in fact, we do already have in place the structure, network and systems needed to mount a global response. Through first-hand testimonies from partner countries and with the COVID-19 response as an example, panelists will discuss how strong and coordinated collaboration among global health organizations with the support of global health leaders like Germany can stand up to overcome unprecedented challenges. The session will highlight how we leveraged existing expertise, resources, and infrastructures, how we can build on the investments made in the last two decades and continue strengthening surveillance and laboratory capacity, ensuring supply chains and cold storage facilities, training health and community workers and reinforcing data and monitoring systems. By reinforcing resilient and inclusive health systems we can ensure early detection and control of outbreaks and the deployment of vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics. Further, by creating an enabling environment at a global and regional levels, for example in rapid and risk-tolerant financing, resilient formal and community health systems, strong regulatory systems, and diversified manufacturing, we can further ensure these systems can mobilize to rapidly respond to emerging threats.
