COVID-19 pandemic showed consequences of health underinvestment: WHO

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The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the consequences of chronic under-investment in public health, according to the World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom.

Tedros made the remark on Friday while addressing the World Health Assembly.

"Returning to the status quo is not an option," he said.

"We don't just need more investment in public health. We must also rethink how we value health."

The WHO chief's remarks came as the number of COVID-19 infections globally topped the 52.86 million mark with a death toll exceeding 12.95 million.

In efforts to enable the world better prepare for any future health crises, Tedros announced the establishment of "a new Council on the Economics of Health for All, to focus on the links between health and sustainable, inclusive and innovation-led economic growth."

WHO has said in the past that the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world in the manner that it did because of ill-preparedness by many countries

"Returning to the status quo is not an option," Tedros reiterated.