Foreign Minister Urges Global Financing to Protect Maldives' Development Against Future Pandemics

Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam has called for the establishment of stronger financing mechanisms and resilient health systems to protect Small Island Developing States (SIDS) from the devastating economic shocks of future public health emergencies. Addressing a high-level meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Minister Iruthisham highlighted the fragile nature of island economies. She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a catastrophic contraction in the Maldives, wiping out more than one-third of the nation's economic output in 2020 and effectively erasing 15 years of development progress. To prevent a recurrence of such losses, the Minister argued that SIDS require sustainable, pre-emptive financing and the creation of resilient supply chains for vaccines, diagnostics, and essential medicines. She emphasized that global investment must prioritize the training of health workers, technology transfer, and the strengthening of disease surveillance and laboratory networks. Minister Iruthisham reaffirmed the Maldives’ commitment to international health frameworks, specifically the World Health Organization’s Pandemic Agreement and the 2005 International Health Regulations. She stressed that future preparedness must ensure that financing is readily available and that health systems remain interconnected across borders. Beyond infrastructure, the Minister highlighted the importance of community-level readiness. She asserted that empowering local communities to respond effectively to health emergencies is critical, not only to save lives but to safeguard a country's ability to determine its own economic and social future. The session was convened under UN General Assembly Resolution 79/333 to review the implementation of the 2023 Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPPR). The meeting serves as a critical platform for global leaders to assess current gaps in health security and renew political commitments to building resilient healthcare systems worldwide.