The climate after the pandemic

Kofi Annan, the former U.N. Secretary General, once referred to certain global issues like climate change, terrorism and disease as ‘problems without passports’ that ignore man-made borders to effect all in one way or another.

With a few exceptions, many countries are striving to put the coronavirus pandemic behind them and get along with the ‘new normal ‘ even if the virus is not yet eliminated.

Although the full human impact and economic cost of the pandemic has not been quantified, it is is difficult to underestimate the effects of the virus on health care systems around the globe.

The crisis has brought to light the limitations and shortcomings of domestic and global medical supply production and distribution systems while piling strain on the physician workforce, hospitals, and health care systems in many countries.

More importantly, it made clear human vulnerabilities, showcasing the importance of good leadership and wellfunctioning, universal social and health care systems.

At the same time, bigger and more complex issues for which no straightforward solutions are found emerge more prominently. Choices must be made that turn out positively for one group of people and negatively for another.

Various medical experts warned that, even if this coronavirus can be controlled, it is not going be the last pandemic the world will see. Scientists have long warned about infectious diseases, particularly following the recent outbreaks of Ebola, SARS and the bird flu.