In 2019, the Global Health Index evaluated the epidemic preparedness and response capabilities of 195 countries and ranked the United States as number one. Yet as of today, with nearly four million confirmed Covid cases and over 143 thousand deaths, the United States leads the world in a very different way.
We assessed the risks, both the likelihood and potential severity of a pandemic. We did extensive planning for the structures, direction, and resources needed for preparedness. And we repeatedly tested the plans, confirming strengths and identifying weaknesses.
What was missing? Commitment. And that’s worth exploring, not as a political blame-game, but as an object lesson for the nuances of how what appears to be carefully planned and solidly on track can go off the rails for lack of commitment, with disastrous results. Continue Reading Pandemic Lesson 4 for Information Governance – Commitment matters