Online meeting of The NUS-Lancet PRIME Commission, 2 February 2024
The NUS-Lancet PRIME Commission held a virtual update meeting on 2 February 2024, bringing together 17 Commissioners, members of the Scientific team, and invited guests. The meeting focused on translating the Commission’s ideas into a clear narrative, focused scope, and practical programme of work. Co-Chairs highlighted the importance of developing a small number of strong, memorable messages and ensuring that the Commission’s work remains centred on protecting people, particularly vulnerable and overlooked communities.
A key focus was the development of a new generation of pandemic preparedness indicators. Commissioners agreed that indicators should be practical, measurable, outcome-oriented, adaptable, and grounded in both evidence and lived experience. The proposed approach combines retrospective analysis and back-testing of existing pandemic responses with prospective analysis, participatory processes, expert consultations, and scenario-based exercises. The Commission also emphasised the importance of identifying gaps in existing preparedness frameworks—particularly around leadership, trust, social cohesion, community participation, health-system resilience, and the ability of essential services to function during emergencies—rather than creating another lengthy, all-inclusive index.
The meeting also advanced plans for country-level case studies, initially considering countries across all six WHO regions to capture diverse pandemic experiences, governance structures, health systems, leadership approaches, and outcomes. Commissioners stressed, however, the need to keep the number and scope of case studies manageable so that they can provide meaningful, in-depth insights. The proposed Commission report will bring together analysis of existing indices, methodology, retrospective and prospective findings, case studies, recommendations, and a call for action.
The meeting concluded with agreement to refine the Commission’s storyline, methodology, indicators, target audience, and scope of work. Work on the indicator development protocol, pilot testing, case studies, report preparation, and communication strategy was planned through 2024 and 2025. The Commission also committed to developing a strong communication and outreach platform, including a dedicated website, while maintaining regular engagement among Commissioners and technical working groups. The meeting marked an important step in moving from broad conceptual discussions towards a focused, practical, people-centred framework for assessing and strengthening pandemic preparedness.