Global pandemic preparedness frameworks in the 21st century: A scoping review

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed profound deficiencies in global health preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks. While progress has been made in creating pandemic preparedness frameworks at various scales, there is a lack of a comprehensive overview of the similarities and differences among these frameworks. This scoping review aims to address this gap by mapping pandemic preparedness frameworks to identify key components.

Scoping Review.

Using the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley, this scoping review mapped the peer-reviewed and grey literature presenting pandemic preparedness frameworks across world regions published between January 2000 and June 2025. A thematic framework was prepared outlining four domains of pandemic preparedness (Predict, Prevent, Detect, and Respond) based on the ten pillars of the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP). Braun and Clark's thematic analysis method was used to analyze the results of the included studies.

This scoping review identified 41 articles presenting pandemic preparedness frameworks, with most scaled for national implementation (n = 25), followed by global (n = 13) and regional (n = 3) implementation. Key components of the identified frameworks were grouped into themes under the four domains, including multi-sectoral collaboration (n = 13), surveillance programs (n = 13), and social media risk communication (n = 9).

Findings revealed that pandemic preparedness is a multidimensional, multisectoral process, as the reviewed frameworks emphasize complementary strategies across prediction, prevention, detection, and response domains. Further research should evaluate the effectiveness and contextual applicability of individual strategies.