Strengthening regulatory systems globally: a crucial step towards pandemic preparedness and response

Abstract

The focal point of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 3 is Universal Health Coverage (UHC), meaning all people should have access to quality health services, including access to safe, effective and quality assured medical products, without facing any financial hardship.1 However, the WHO estimates a 10% prevalence of poor-quality medicines in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) which can be partly attributed to a lack of stringent oversight by weak or absent regulatory authorities.2 With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, several countries reported significant disruptions to essential health services, including access to medical countermeasures (MCMs). Lessons learnt from the pandemic have highlighted the need to enhance regulatory preparedness for public health emergencies, as part of overall UHC strengthening efforts, to ensure timely access to quality medical products. The cohesion between UHC and pandemic preparedness is embedded in the fact that pandemics do not discriminate, affecting all geographies and socioeconomic statuses.