"We need to invest in public health," says former CDC director, lessons that "we better learn"

July 01, 2022

| GZERO Media

If we've learned anything from COVID, former CDC chief Tom Frieden says it's that we need to invest a lot more in public health.

"We need a renaissance in our public health system. We need a robust primary care system. And we need resilient populations," he tells Ian Bremmer on GZERO World.

Without good primary care, we can't get detect outbreaks, diagnose, treat, or vaccinate properly. Resilient populations means those that can withstand the shock of a pandemic because, for instance, chronic diseases are under control.

Trust is also an issue — and that's why Frieden wants the CDC to stay in Atlanta, far away from the White House.

Watch the GZERO World episode: How depoliticizing the US health response will save lives (COVID isn't over)

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