Statement to the press by Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe
10 September 2021
Twelve months ago, WHO/Europe tasked 18 European political, academic and scientific heavyweights and international leaders, with rethinking health and policy in the light of pandemics. Today marks the culmination of their work – and the beginning of our work.
The recommendations of the Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development, made public today – shaped by the vision of Professor Mario Monti – are nothing short of groundbreaking. This is an ambitious but realistic agenda for a healthier, safer future. These are actionable recommendations that give governments and decision-makers tools to prevent and better handle future health threats – recommendations that save lives and livelihoods, trigger innovation, empower people, protect the planet.
Identifying strategies for success is not the hard part – we know where we as a society fell short, what needs to be done. What is hard is to break the cycle of frenzied action followed by neglectful underinvestment, to act and prepare for tomorrow’s threats, adapt to new ways of thinking and think long-term, to make the tough decisions to invest in our futures now without seeing immediate rewards.
We have already paid a colossal price, but there is an even higher price to be paid if we turn a blind eye and don’t learn from our mistakes.
In a few days’ time, the Region’s health ministers will be gathering for the 71st Regional Committee session. Today’s report, a roadmap on navigating the future, will dominate the agenda. This report, this blueprint, is an opportunity of learning from history, an opportunity to not repeat it. To the 53 governments in the WHO European Region I say, grasp it and run with it.
It is now up to Member States and international organizations, to show the political courage to keep health at the top of the international agenda, to take up the Commission’s cross-cutting recommendations and implement them.
