Shark Radar

Broader review of the most significant events worldwide
Apr 13, 2020, 8:51 AM GMT
#Politics

The Problems of Today Are Also the Problems of Tomorrow

The coronavirus outbreak represents a healthcare crisis that is unprecedented in recent times. The human cost, as well as the risk of a new deep recession, are the major impediments to our modern society that we, as a species, need to overcome together, and we need to do it now. Pernicious as SARS-Cov-2 may be the current crisis underpins an even bigger and potentially much more destructive healthcare emergency of tomorrow.

The world is running out of novel antibiotics to combat the constantly evolving bacteria, which are becoming increasingly more resistant to our available medications. Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant near-future threat for the time when we run out of our weapons in the perpetual war against infectious diseases.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, cautioned in a 2017 report for the Organisation that:

“Antimicrobial resistance is a global health emergency that will seriously jeopardize progress in modern medicine. There is an urgent need for more investment in research and development for antibiotic-resistant infections including TB; otherwise we will be forced back to a time when people feared common infections and risked their lives from minor surgery.”

After due consideration, the word ‘war’ was chosen instead of ‘struggle’ specifically to indicate humanity's ongoing effort to combat the constant threat of antimicrobial resistance. The word war underscores our chance to take charge in this endeavour if we were to act fast.

The current crisis has highlighted the fragility of the global healthcare systems, and the apparent lack of readiness on the part of states to respond promptly to pandemics and other such threats.

Nevertheless, there is a silver lining to the current predicament. Knowing the weak links in our healthcare systems, which are currently being exposed by the pandemic, can raise social and political awareness, allowing us to be better prepared for the next ‘big one’.

Investing in antiviral Research and Development should become a top priority for governments in a post-coronavirus world, which would protect us from the considerably more damaging threats that are posed by antibiotic-resistant infectious diseases.