Tim Dubé PhD Majda Sebbani MD MPh PhD Louis Van Maele MD Marie-Dominique Beaulieu CQ MD FCMF MSc Since its appearance in China in December 2019 and the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization on January 30, 2020, 1 the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a global threat. These are unprecedented times that have seen substantial transformation and adaptation resulting in a rapid restructuring of health care systems. Whether at the individual or institutional level, many different social actors mobilized to combat the impacts of the pandemic. Numerous measures were implemented at various levels, engaging with diverse areas of society. While some of these measures were requirements, the effectiveness of many others relied on individual responsibility and appeals to altruism. These measures include handwashing and respecting physical and social distancing, restrictions on interregional and international travel, and lockdown restrictions. These are basic rules, but adherence reflects individual feelings of social accountability (SA) toward preserving global health. Preserving and contributing to collective well-being of society are the essence and ultimate objectives of SA. 2 We define social accountability as a moral invitation to act in a way that benefits the common good over individual interests. For the most part, it consists of deliberate and nonbinding actions, but it may require certain individuals or institutions situated in specific social roles to demonstrate a greater degree of SA. The pandemic has disrupted human society in an unprecedented manner and humanity’s collective response has been one indicative of solidarity and SA.

In the context of this commentary, we discuss the ways in which the pandemic has revealed some important guidelines for the future of research on SA in health. We emphasize the importance of applying the concept to all actors in society, studying the concept using an ecological approach, and prioritizing 3 key research themes: blind spots of SA, the interdependencies between stakeholder partnerships in health, and training future health professionals.