The neglected dimension of global security: a framework to counter infectious disease crises
This report highlights the essential role of pandemic preparedness in national security and economic stability, a critical but often under-examined dimension of the global conversation post-Ebola. Importantly, the report demonstrates that the impact of infectious disease crises goes far beyond human health alone and that mitigation, likewise, requires the mobilization and long-term commitment of multiple sectors. The Ebola crisis in West Africa was both a tragedy and a wakeup call, revealing dangerous deficiencies across global systems to prevent, prepare, and respond to infectious disease crises. To address these shortcomings and inform a more effective response in the future, the National Academy of Medicine convened the Commission on a Global Health Risk Framework for the Future (GHRF Commission), an independent, international group of experts in finance, governance, R&D, health systems, and the social sciences.