POLITICO: Global health security: Let’s prove Camus wrong on plagues
Stefan Oschmann, chair of the executive board and chief executive of Merck

“…Health is a precondition for social and economic development and, ultimately, for international security. It is therefore more than justified that health security is now firmly anchored on the agenda of the Munich Security Conference … The next health security challenge is a known unknown. While it is impossible to predict exactly what it will be, we do know that it will come. And we need to be prepared. In my view, there are three crucial topics that we must address. First and foremost, we have to strengthen health systems in low- and middle-income countries. … [S]econdly, we need an approach involving stakeholders from all sectors. … Thirdly, an effective global governance framework is critical for cross-sectoral collaboration to yield the best possible results. … By strengthening health systems, intensifying cross-sectoral collaboration, and improving the WHO’s effectiveness, we can make sure that the next plague does not catch us completely off-guard. … The time to act is now” (2/16).