Online meeting of The NUS-Lancet PRIME Commission, 15th April 2025
The NUS-Lancet PRIME Commission held a virtual update meeting on 15 April 2025, bringing together Co-Chairs, Commissioners, the Scientific Team, The Lancet team and Country Case Coordinators. The meeting marked an important milestone in refining the Commission’s strategic direction in response to the evolving global landscape. Commissioners welcomed the revised approach, which moves beyond a predominantly technical focus on indicators towards a broader, more politically relevant and forward-looking vision for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPPR).
The revised work plan is structured around three interconnected pillars: The Review, The Inquiry and The Manifesto. The Review will examine community trust and informal networks, lessons from independent pandemic inquiries, the impacts of COVID-19 on individuals, societies and the planet, and the wider social, economic, political, environmental and cultural determinants of PPPR. The Inquiry will generate new evidence through country case studies and scenario analysis, exploring preparedness across national, regional and global levels and considering the implications of geopolitical change, technological developments and fragmentation of multilateral governance.
A strong emphasis was placed on whole-of-society and multisectoral approaches, including greater engagement with communities, civil society, industry, finance ministries, parliaments and regional organisations. Commissioners also highlighted the importance of regional perspectives and ensuring that country case studies reflect diverse contexts and disproportionately affected populations. The Commission will initiate up to 12 country case studies, with at least eight expected to contribute to the final report, alongside scenario analysis conducted in collaboration with the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS).
The Manifesto for Pandemic Preparedness will bring together evidence, country experiences, scenario findings and Commissioners’ perspectives into a bold and actionable vision grounded in equity, trust, accountability and solidarity. An in-person Commission meeting is planned for December 2025 to review findings and shape the Manifesto. The Commission aims to submit its report to The Lancet by March 2026, with the report and Manifesto planned for launch at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2026, followed by a launch in Singapore in November 2026.