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In an opinion piece in the British Medical Journal, Senior Scholar Dave Chokshi and colleagues address the need for the United States to learn from past public health emergencies and improve its preparedness for future pandemics.
The U.S. has a history of forgetting the lessons from public health crises, instead of taking proactive steps to prevent future ones. The article argues for an end to this “collective amnesia” and calls for collaborative efforts to strengthen public health services.
The authors note that while America has responded well to other types of disasters by improving systems and creating partnerships, it has failed to do the same for public health. However, the COVID-19 pandemic showed the potential of the U.S. health system when there is coordinated action, like the partnerships between different sectors that emerged during the crisis. These partnerships led to innovations in data sharing, resource allocation, and the rapid deployment of telehealth services.
The improvements seen during the pandemic could be lost unless they are actively integrated into a long-term strategy for health system transformation. Addressing social determinants of health and improving everyday health are key to pandemic preparedness.
“Only by weaving together healthcare delivery and public health — using the shared experiences of COVID-19 as our stitching — will we ensure that our health system is ready to confront the next crisis,” says Chokshi, who also serves as chair of the Common Heath Coalition.
