This article explores the persistent challenges in developing and securing medical countermeasures (MCMs) for chemical, biological, and radiological threats. While international institutions recognize the risks of weapons of mass destruction, most governments outside the United States lack the policies, budgets, and market structures needed to stimulate innovation and stockpiling of MCMs. Political reluctance, high development costs, and long timelines discourage investment, leaving preparedness dangerously limited. The article highlights emerging international frameworks, such as EU joint procurement and UN cooperation, but argues that effective response requires deeper government–industry dialogue, sustained funding, and innovative approaches, including point-of-care diagnostics. It concludes that breaking the status quo through international collaboration, market incentives, and shared responsibility is essential to achieve global readiness against low-probability but high-impact CBR events.
Johnson, M. L. (2014). MCM… G. Winfield (Ed.), CBRNe World Directory 2014 (2nd ed., pp. 217–223).
