The future of pandemic responses: shared decision-making and resilient communities

For instance, countries where the lowest COVID-19 infection rates were observed were also those with the highest levels of community cohesion. One study found that in Denmark and Switzerland, where community trust is among the highest in the world, there were up to 17% fewer infections than in other countries – and that there could have been up to 40% fewer infections globally if people elsewhere had the same level of confidence in their communities as seen in Denmark and Switzerland. Trust among people directly affects general agreement on essential public health guidance.

So how can we ensure future pandemics are met with unity, cooperation and collective action?

Ensuring effective delivery of health information

Efficient shared decision-making centres on transparent and personalised communication of health risks and their implications. Likewise, sharing information that is understandable and accessible remains crucial to making informed decisions during times of uncertainty. Health system leaders must ensure community members are engaged during public health responses, allowing them to ask questions, express concerns and seek clarification when needed.

During the Ebola outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and 2016, trusted figures in Liberian communities – such as pastors, imams and youth leaders – were trained to go door-to-door and conduct testing to identify infected people, boosting confidence in the government response. The inclusion of local leaders is crucial to guarantee transparent governance and strengthen communities.

In comparison, during the COVID-19 pandemic, governments in some countries with historically low levels of confidence in the government (such as the US and the UK) preferred to endorse politicians for risk communications, rather than health experts or community leaders. This may have contributed to disorganised health responses, worse health outcomes and increased misinformation.

Embracing digital innovation in healthcare

Technology will continue to play a key role in facilitating shared decision-making and forming resilient communities. The application of AI-powered tools in healthcare and the mass adoption of telehealth constitute an exceptional opportunity.

Previous outbreaks, including influenza A (H1N1) in 2009, have indicated that AI-based systems (such as HealthMap) could be used in the initial stages of pandemics as early-warning systems. HealthMap integrates data from a variety of sources and aggregators, including World Health Organization (WHO) databases and Google News. This allows its algorithms to classify alerts by location and disease in an interactive geographical map.

Telehealth and AI-based technologies have the potential to facilitate disease-trend forecasting and the detection of new outbreaks, and to obtain real-time data on diseases and treatments. This could provide communities with access to the latest public health recommendations and the opportunity to allocate healthcare resources more efficiently. The merging of AI, shared decision-making and pandemic response plans represents a paradigm shift in global public health interventions that policymakers need to take into account.

How prepared is the world for the next pandemic?

Public health authorities can increase transparency, integrate digital innovation and foster efficient collaborations in the face of pandemics by involving communities in decision-making processes. But the world will remain vulnerable to future health threats unless steps are taken to include communities in shared decision-making. In 2023, the World Health Organization highlighted the significant role of resilient communities when discussing reforms to international health regulations and agreements around pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. As we navigate the challenges of the present and prepare for the uncertainties of the future, robust and engaged communities are key to achieving successful health responses that leave no one behind.

The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of The Health Policy Partnership.