This archive report was first published on 20 May 2020.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become clear that the crisis is not just a health issue, but also an economic and social one.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), five of the six most-affected countries by COVID-19 are in Europe, yet Europe is playing a leading role in building global solidarity.
On May 4, the European Commission hosted a pledging event, where more than 40 countries pledged €7.4 billion to support the WHO's Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan.
The European Union and WHO share a commitment to supporting the vulnerable, and the disease knows no borders.
The EU's Team Europe package, worth over €23 billion, will deliver parts of its response with the United Nations.
During a crisis, the most vulnerable suffer the most, and they must be our focus. The EU is supporting the WHO Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan with €30 million in new funding to strengthen emergency preparedness and response in countries with weak health systems or humanitarian crises.
Strong health systems are the best prevention not only against outbreaks and pandemics but also the multiple threats people face every day.
However, more than five billion people will lack access to essential health services by 2030, including the ability to see a health worker, access to essential medicines, and running water in hospitals.
The world spends around $7.5 trillion on health each year, but too many countries spend too much of their health budget on managing diseases in hospitals instead of promoting health and preventing disease at the primary health care level.
As we work on responding to this pandemic, we must also prepare for the next one. Now is an opportunity to lay the foundations for resilient health systems around the world.
Investments to strengthen health infrastructure and workforce are the only way to avoid global health crises.
Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, and Ms. Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships of the European Commission, emphasize that investing in health now will save lives later.
