Global Preparedness Monitoring Board

This organization, run jointly by the WHO and World Bank, is one way the WHO plans to "hold the world to account" once its binding treaty and/or Amenments to the IHR are in place

Global Preparedness Monitoring Board

The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) is an independent [ho ho ho!] monitoring and accountability body to ensure preparedness for global health crises. Co-convened by the Director-General of the World Health Organization and the President of the World Bank,the GPMB is comprised of globally-recognized leaders and experts from a wide range of sectors, including medicine, global health, veterinary epidemiology, environment, human rights, economics, law, gender, and development. It is tasked with providing an independent and comprehensive appraisal for policy makers and the world about progress towards increased preparedness and response capacity for disease outbreaks and other emergencies with health consequences. In short, the work of the GPMB is to chart a roadmap for a safer world.

https://www.gpmb.org/news/news/item/21-10-2022-accountability-coherence-engagement-gpmb-shares-priorities-for-preparedness-at-the-world-health-summit

At the World Health Summit in Berlin on 17 October 2022, the GPMB new co-Chairs, Joy Phumaphi and Jeremy Farrar (acting on an interim basis), set out the Board’s priorities for preparedness at the World Health Summit keynote session “Game Changer: Architecture for Pandemic Preparedness” in Berlin. The session was an opportunity for experts in global health preparedness to discuss the global reforms that are needed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Discussion areas focused on surveillance, community involvement, One Health, and investment—all topics that the GPMB has long recognised are crucial for the advancement of resilient pandemic preparedness mechanisms. 

Joy Phumaphi and Jeremy Farrar focused on the lessons learned about global preparedness during COVID-19, and how the world must learn from the past and focus on key reforms, both to continue to manage the current pandemic, as well to prepare for future health emergencies. They also outlined how the GPMB can assist in this process. 

Ms Phumaphi and Sir Jeremy paid tribute to the GPMB’s former co-Chairs, Elhadj As Sy and Gro Brundtland. Ms Phumaphi announced the GPMB’s upcoming manifesto, which will aim to guide the monitoring of the current global health landscape and to review existing structures and recommendations. She also spoke of the importance of strong accountability mechanisms and introduced the GPMB’s Monitoring Framework, which she noted will help to hold all concerned parties mutually accountable in their work toward stronger preparedness. Ms Phumaphi emphasised that “information is power” and, therefore it is critical to equip everyone with accessible and relevant information and tools in order to effect change to our existing structures. 

Sir Jeremy highlighted the importance of the GPMB’s independence and role in holding the world to account. Sir Jeremy made it clear that, to truly learn the lessons of the last twenty years, we must take warnings seriously and take action. Action is not limited to governments however, “it all starts and finishes with communities”, and strong health systems must underpin all structures to better equip us for the challenges of today and tomorrow.