Focus issue: Preparing for the next pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has opened a window of opportunity for rethinking the way countries prepare for public health crises. This Nature Medicine Focus issue includes an Editorial, a Review article, a News feature, three Perspective articles, four World View articles and two Comment pieces dedicated to understanding the long-term impact of the pandemic. It examines the lessons that can be learned from the mistakes made in handling the current health crisis, in order to prepare for future crises.