London, UK

Patrick Vallance, the former chief scientific adviser to the United Kingdom government, said that the nation is not ready for another pandemic, which is "absolutely inevitable". 

Advertisment

While speaking during a conference, Patrick said, "Are we ready for another pandemic? The answer is no. We need better surveillance to be able to pick these things up." 

"We need to be much faster, much more aligned. And there are ways to do this – getting rapid diagnostic tests, rapid vaccines, rapid treatments – so that you don't have to go into the extreme measures that took place last time," he added while talking about key improvement areas. 

Also read: Britain's Thames Water tests samples amid contamination fears and reported illnesses 

Advertisment

The future pandemics need "continual government focus and attention" and yet "by 2023 the G7 had sort of forgotten about it," he said at the Hay Festival. He also said, "You can't forget about it in two years." 

His comments came just a day after negotiations on a landmark global agreement on handling future pandemics ended without a deal. 

In the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, countries have spent two years for commitments on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. But there was no deal. However, the nations have said that they wanted to keep pushing for an accord. 

Advertisment

"This is not a failure," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He urged countries to see it as a "good opportunity to re-energise" after talks ended at the UN health agency's headquarters in Geneva. 

"The world still needs a pandemic treaty and the world needs to be prepared," he commented. 

Also read: World's life expectancy is lowest in over a decade due to Covid: WHO 

Watch: Keir Starmer 'would lower voting age in one of Labour's first acts'

×

UK Elections 2024

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a general election for July 4 ending months of speculations with people saying that health should be a top priority for all parties.  

The health sector in the UK is in dire straits. Hospitals need repair, employees are overworked and waiting lines are breaking records. Junior doctor strikes emerged as a massive issue for the healthcare system and the government as well. 

(With inputs from agencies)