In recent years, the global health security agenda has gained prominence, as it pursues a multilateral and multi-sectoral approach to respond to health emergencies. It aims to strengthen capacity at a global and national level to prevent, detect, and respond to the spread of infectious diseases.
Despite great progress in improving access to healthcare for all, people around the world are still vulnerable to health emergencies. Globalisation has made disease outbreaks much more dangerous; and natural disasters, conflicts, and migrations all significantly impact the way diseases spread.
Countries need to ensure their health systems can effectively respond to emergencies, and thus reduce individual and collective vulnerabilities to risks. Rashid Zaman, senior consultant in the Oxford Policy Management health team, discusses why ensuring health security is a global priority and explores challenges to achieve it.