#13 | Six Years After COVID-19: Is the World Better Prepared for the Next Pandemic?

In this episode of the GMJ Podcast — the official podcast of the Georgian Medical Journal, we examine a World Health Organization reflection published six years after the global alarm raised during the COVID-19 pandemic.In January 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the highest level of global alert under international health regulations. Six years later, global health leaders are asking a crucial question: is the world better prepared for the next pandemic? The WHO assessment highlights that progress has been made in several areas of pandemic preparedness. Countries have strengthened surveillance systems, expanded laboratory capacity and improved international cooperation on outbreak detection and response. One of the most important developments is the WHO Pandemic Agreement adopted in 2025, which aims to improve global coordination for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. However, the WHO also warns that global preparedness remains fragile and uneven. Significant gaps persist in financing, health system resilience, equitable access to medical countermeasures and international collaboration.The episode explores several key themes raised by the WHO:• Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic• Global progress in pandemic surveillance and preparedness• The importance of the WHO Pandemic Agreement• Persistent gaps in health system resilience and emergency financing• The role of international cooperation in preventing future pandemicsThe WHO emphasizes that pandemics remain inevitable, and that continued investment in preparedness, early detection and global solidarity will determine how effectively the world responds to the next global health emergency.Original WHO source discussed in this episode:https://www.who.int/news/item/02-02-2026-six-years-after-covid-19-s-global-alarm-is-the-world-better-prepared-for-the-next-pandemicThe GMJ Podcast accompanies peer-reviewed publications and global health policy discussions presented in the Georgian Medical Journal, supporting structured academic dialogue on emerging challenges in medicine and public health.#გიორგიფხაკაძე #drpkhakadze #sheniekimi