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Gates Package, p.1108 · gates:exh:00518
Page text: p.1108 · original PDF
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s stop arisingdon-tstep-coming
can encourage governments to be more open about potential outbreaks within their borders, and
member countries of the WHO can hold each other accountable for doing so--while recognizing
that there are incentives to do to just the opposite. If sharing news of a possible outbreak means
that a country will be singled out for travel restrictions, it could hurt the economy, which is a
strong reason not to do it. But the global community has an interest in getting this information
and has committed to sharing it as part of the International Health Regulations under the WHO's
constitution. The WHO should work with its member states to strengthen the IHR and its
implementation.
A few other groups have important roles to play. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies, for example, can commit to more tiered pricing and second-source deals to make
sure that even their most advanced products are available to people in developing countries.
Technology companies can develop new digital tools, such as ways to make it easier and cheaper
to collect samples for diagnostic tests, or software that monitors the internet for signs of an
outbreak.
More broadly, foundations and other nonprofits should support research on better tools
that can be used both for today's infectious diseases and future pandemic threats. And because
other ongoing global problems do not pause nor do new ones stop arisingdon't stop coming
during a pandemic, philanthropy also needs to keep supporting efforts to avoid a climate disaster,
help low-income farmers grow more food, and improve education around the world.
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