Magnus Gisslén, the outgoing state epidemiologist, warns that Sweden may handle the next pandemic worse than COVID-19 due to a lack of medical expertise in leadership. He criticizes the Public Health Agency for not including medical professionals in decision-making roles, which could lead to poor crisis management and increased spread of disease.
Gisslén Warns of Future Pandemic Risks Without Medical Leadership
Gisslén Warns of Future Pandemic Risks Without Medical Leadership
Sweden risks handling the next pandemic worse than COVID-19, warns outgoing state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén. Without the right expertise in the leadership team, the risk of poor decisions and increased spread of infection rises.
"And there is a significant risk that the next pandemic will be much more severe than the COVID pandemic," says Magnus Gisslén.
The outgoing state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén sharply criticizes the Public Health Agency, arguing that there is a lack of medical expertise in the leadership team, something that Director General Olivia Wigzell dismisses.
For example, Gisslén points out that there is no doctor in the leadership team and a lack of senior experts with specialist competence, which he claims is unique to Sweden compared to other European countries.
What is at stake, according to Gisslén, who elaborates on his reasoning, is how well Sweden can handle a future pandemic.
"The risk is that incorrect decisions will be made in a crisis situation, leading to poorer management of a pandemic," he says.
Risk: Greater Spread of Infection
The next pandemic risks being significantly more severe than the COVID pandemic, claims Magnus Gisslén.
He sees a risk of failing, for example, with vaccinations in such a scenario, even though Sweden's overall preparedness, in terms of infrastructure for analyzing large volumes of samples, has improved.
Do you mean there is a risk that the Public Health Agency will fail to prevent or limit the spread during a pandemic?
"That's right. Incorrect decisions can lead to poorer management of a pandemic, for example, when it comes to vaccinations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was crucial that Sweden succeeded so well with vaccinations. They started with the oldest and then continued with younger groups. In the next pandemic, completely different measures may be required than those that worked during COVID-19, and then particularly high competence is needed to make advanced analyses and choose the right strategy."
Leadership Team Changes
He is also critical that the state epidemiologist is no longer part of the leadership team and has decision-making authority, which was the case during Anders Tegnell's time.
He says that there were previously several medical experts, including infectious disease doctor Johan Carlson, in the leadership team, but those individuals have gradually been replaced.
"During the pandemic, we had several competent people in the leadership team at the agency, but that is no longer the case. For the first time, the Director General has no medical background. Now there is no deeper medical competence in the agency's leadership. I find it extremely strange and remarkable," he says.
Expressen has sought the Public Health Agency.