POLICY BRIEF

Strengthening Global Health Security as
a Win-Win Proposition for All Countries

Global health security (GHS) is essential for preventing, detecting, and responding to public health threats, including infectious disease outbreaks, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), bioterrorism, and climate-driven health risks. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines global health security as “the proactive and reactive strategies necessary to protect populations from health emergencies.” Global health security also aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which aims to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages,” as well as SDG 16, which promotes resilient institutions and governance. The COVID-19 pandemic, Ebola outbreaks, and growing risks of emerging zoonotic diseases have underscored the need for stronger health surveillance, cross-border cooperation, and resilient health systems to prevent global crises. This Fast-Track Health policy brief highlights best practices through five case studies, explores challenges and opportunities, and provides actionable recommendations for municipal, national, and regional health authorities.

Global Health Security Agenda: The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) is a multilateral initiative involving over 70 countries, focused on strengthening global preparedness for infectious disease threats. Countries participating in the GHSA undergo joint external evaluations (JEE) to assess their outbreak response capacities and improve emergency coordination. The GHSA has facilitated faster responses to Ebola, COVID-19, and avian influenza outbreaks, demonstrating the importance of international collaboration and standardized assessments in health security. (WHO, 2023)

 One Health Approach to Epidemic Preparedness in Rwanda: Rwanda has implemented a One Health strategy that integrates human, animal, and environmental health surveillance to detect and respond to zoonotic diseases like Ebola and Rift Valley fever. The country established cross-sectoral collaboration between veterinary, agricultural, and public health authorities, ensuring rapid detection and containment of outbreaks. Rwanda’s success illustrates how proactive surveillance and inter-agency coordination can strengthen health security. (The Lancet Global Health, 2023)

Digital Health Surveillance in Singapore: Singapore’s National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) has developed real-time digital surveillance tools to track disease trends, linking electronic medical records with laboratory testing data. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the system enabled rapid identification of cases and contact tracing, limiting the spread of the virus. Singapore’s model highlights the role of digital health technology and real-time data analytics in global health security. (BMJ Global Health, 2023)

Africa CDC’s Regional Disease Outbreak Response: The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has played a pivotal role in strengthening regional disease outbreak preparedness and response. The Africa CDC’s Pathogen Genomics Initiative has expanded genomic sequencing capabilities, allowing for faster identification of variants of concern, including SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola. The initiative has improved cross-border coordination and early warning systems, reinforcing the need for regional institutions in global health security. (Nature Microbiology, 2023)

European Union’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority: The European Union (EU) launched HERA in 2021 as a permanent structure for coordinating pandemic preparedness, vaccine procurement, and medical countermeasures. HERA has strengthened supply chain resilience for medical supplies, supported research on emerging infectious diseases, and improved Europe’s crisis response infrastructure. The EU’s model demonstrates the importance of centralized health security mechanisms to manage cross-border threats. (European Commission, 2023)

Efforts to strengthen global health security face several structural and political challenges. Weak health systems in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) limit their ability to respond effectively to outbreaks. Underfunded surveillance infrastructure, insufficient laboratory capacity, and workforce shortages contribute to delayed outbreak detection and containment. Global inequities in access to vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics were evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, where high-income countries received disproportionately faster access to life-saving medical supplies. Lack of political will and fragmented governance structures hinder coordinated responses, particularly in regions with weak multilateral cooperation. Additionally, climate change is accelerating the spread of infectious diseases, increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue, further straining already burdened health systems. Misinformation and distrust in public health authorities have also undermined effective outbreak responses, particularly in vaccine uptake and adherence to health guidelines. Moreover, the lack of sustainable financing for pandemic preparedness means that countries often shift resources away from long-term health security efforts once immediate crises subside.

Despite these challenges, significant opportunities exist to strengthen global health security through multilateral collaboration, innovation, and health system resilience. Investing in national and regional disease surveillance networks can improve early warning capabilities, as demonstrated by Singapore and Africa CDC. Strengthening global vaccine manufacturing and equitable distribution mechanisms can prevent future disparities in pandemic responses. Expanding public-private partnerships in health technology and AI-driven disease surveillance offers scalable solutions for real-time outbreak monitoring. The One Health approach, as seen in Rwanda, provides a sustainable framework for managing zoonotic disease risks by integrating human, animal, and environmental health strategies. Increasing global health security financing can ensure that all countries have the resources necessary to respond to health threats effectively. Strengthening regional cooperation and formalizing pandemic response agreements can improve coordination and efficiency in tackling transboundary health threats.