A Short Speech by Yasuhisa Shiozaki
The Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit 2024
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Session title: Financing the future of pandemic preparedness and response
July 30th, 2024
QUESTION TO Mr. Yasuhisa Shiozaki:
Mr Shiozaki, as Japan’s former Minister of Health, you will have inevitably
experienced the sort of complex, often competing, economic and politicalchallenges that governments must weigh when it comes to investments in PPR.
In your opinion, what more needs to be done to sharpen the focus of world
leaders so that they continue to prioritise pandemic financing?

Thank you for your question.
Since the start of the 21st century, we have witnessed large-scale outbreaks,
including the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, occurring approximately every
three years.

This unsettling trend underscores the critical need to break thecycle of "panic and neglect" that has historically plagued our global healthresponse.

To safeguard our future, we must ensure consistent investments onPrevention, Preparedness, and Response (PPR) by all countries, aimed atminimizing pandemic risks and fostering global resilience.
The most important step in this endeavor will surely be the succesful
finalization of the Pandemic Preparedness Treaty by next May, accompanied by
securing the necessary funds to promote PPR following a comprehensive“playbook” currently being prepared by the G20 Task Force.

However, intoday’s global political climate, characterized by increasing social
fragmentation and the rise of populism, achieving global consensus on PPR is a1

formidable challenge. In order to overcome

theseuncertainties, I would liketo propose following three critical points for consideration.
First, we must redefine "pandemics" not merely as “health crisis” but assignificant issues of "national security" and "economic security." It is imperativethat global leaders internalize this perspective, recognizing that PPR(pandemicpreparedness and response) is fundamental to the stability and security of theirown nations.

Backing up the establishment of CEPI in 2017 through Ise-Shima

Summit process in 2016 is a good example of successful financing by redefining health crisis as“security agenda”

responding to Ebola outbreak.

Second, I would like re-emphasize that the effective allocation of PPR budgets
requires a deep mutual understanding between the Ministry of Finance and theMinistry of Health, established from peacetime.

This collaboration is essentialthat emergency funds are readily available when crisis strikes, allowing for swift
and effective action.

A good example of this is “UHC Knowledge Hub”

tobe established next year near Tokyo by World Bank and WHO for human resource
development for UHC financing which is, in the end, an integral part of PPR
financing.
Third, while traditional top-down PPR approaches by tax-payers’ money
remain vital, but it is not enough. So, we must innovate and build a “new PPRecosystem.” This ecosystem should leverage private sector funds throughinnovative financing, human resources, and expertise, drawing inspiration fromdecentralized, collaborative nature of WEB3 technologies.

By doing so, we canenhance our agility and responsiveness to emerging threats.
So, with these three critical points implemented, I believe we should securely
strengthen PPR financing.

Thank you.
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Final question for all:In general, Finance ministries are very interested in how to prioritise spending
and maximising effectiveness. What would be your one message to financeministries about what more is needed to reduce pandemic risk and improving
response both collectively and through your organisation?

Answer:To truly maximize your investment profits, let AI handle the heavy lifting.
However, we are dealing with “life-and-death decisions” in an unprecedentedworld.

Finance ministries are not machines; they are human institutions.

So, we must,with patience, communicate, negotiate, empathize, and build consensus withthem—tasks that AI cannot accomplish.

This is our responsibility, and it is essential for us to embrace it together
globally.

Thank you.

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