Scotland's chief medical officer 'anxious' about US leaving World Health Organisation

Scotland’s chief medical officer has said he is “anxious” about the United States leaving the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Gregor Smith and other officials discussed Scotland’s pandemic preparedness in front of MSPs on Tuesday at a Health, Social Care, and Sport Committee meeting.

While discussing the lessons that were learned from Covid-19, Smith admitted that the US’s relationship with other countries is “perhaps not as strong as it used to be”.

“I think the withdrawal of the US from the WHO does create a significant gap in our surveillance systems globally,” the chief medical officer said.

“Not just in the United States, but actually with the funding that comes with US membership of the WHO there is a risk that global systems are undermined rather than strengthened.

“So it’s certainly an area I am anxious about.”

US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the WHO on the first day of his second term in office earlier this year, claiming it had mishandled the pandemic.

During the committee meeting, Conservative MSP Dr Sandesh Gulhane asked about Scotland’s relationship with America after US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jnr said he believes debunked medical theories of vaccines being linked to autism.

Smith admitted that it was “fair to say” there was a period of time at the start of the year when the sharing of data between the US and Scotland was “less than had been previously enjoyed”.

The chief medical officer also warned that future pandemics are “inevitable”, and spoke about Scotland’s preparedness for the future.

“We should think about [what happens] when it arises, not if it arises, because whether it be in the next year, five years, or 20 years, we’ll continue to encounter pathogens with pandemic potential,” Smith told the committee.

He said the health system now has stockpiles of 12 weeks’ worth of PPE, while ICU capacity and contact increased capabilities can be surged if necessary.

Smith also said public health officials are keeping an eye on a new strain of coronavirus, called NB1.8.1, which is now the dominant strain in China and has also been detected in the UK.

Dr Jim McMenamin of Public Health Scotland noted new developments in the field of metagenomics is improving the rapid identification and understanding of viruses.