In its conclusions the committee recommended that DfID "should prioritise investment in local health infrastructure of developing countries in receipt of UK Aid so that there is a better capability to respond quickly to emerging public health emergencies".
The Ebola crisis has brutally exposed the "age-old failures" of the humanitarian aid system with the World Health Organisation and governments repeating the mistakes of past public health emergencies, the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has said.
The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 gives Cabinet ministers sweeping powers in designated emergencies including quarantine areas, restricting travel, handing control of essential industries to the army.
"The Ebola epidemic in western Africa overwhelmed fragile health systems, killed thousands of people, and highlighted major inadequacies in our ability to respond to global public health emergencies," said Amy Gutmann, the commission chair.
We need to ensure people avoid becoming ill in the first place or that, when unwell, they have their conditions well managed to avoid medical emergencies and hospitalisations which put patients in danger and cost the NHS large amounts of money".
Related: End in sight for Ebola outbreak but 'lost decade' looms for west Africa | Arthur Neslen De le Vingne also blamed the change in direction of many of the world's charities for exacerbating the problem, adding that too often MSF is the first to respond to emergencies around the world.
"History teaches us that when these immediate emergencies are over, everybody disappears and the money dries up … Somehow we have to keep the pressure on".
The Dalny Vostok (Far East) sank at 6.29am local time on Thursday about 250km (155 miles) south of the city of Magadan, killing 56 of 132 crew members on board, Russia's emergencies ministry said.
"Many NGOs have taken the path of lobbying and advocacy, which is a good thing, but they have abandoned emergencies.
Call-offs happen because beds set aside for patients having elective – or planned – surgery are needed for other cases, often ones that have recently come in as emergencies.
If we play politics for a generation, then weeks like the one we've just come through will be normal, and all we'll be doing as a nation is responding to emergencies.
