Germany’s Commitment to Global Health Security

Taking Global Responsibility

International health crises over recent decades have shown that, in a globalised world, pathogens can spread rapidly across borders and pose a major threat to the health of national populations and the global community alike. Epidemics and pandemics cause immense human suffering, can bring health systems to the brink within a short time and have far‑reaching economic consequences. These societal disruptions also threaten international security. Health protection and health security are therefore international challenges that require cross‑border solutions and close cooperation within the international community.

Health crises triggered by (emerging) infectious diseases and the growing burden of antimicrobial resistance also underline the interconnections between the health of humans, animals and the environment. Interdisciplinary, cross‑sectoral solutions are therefore needed. The One Health approach examines these interlinkages to address the drivers of epidemics and pandemics effectively and prevent them. To achieve this, Germany actively engages in global health policy. Germany’s priorities are set out in the Federal Government’s Global Health Strategy. Improving global pandemic preparedness is also part of the National Security Strategy.

The GHPP complements measures undertaken through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in development cooperation, the Federal Foreign Office (AA) in humanitarian assistance, and the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) in supporting research.

• Epidemic and Pandemic Prevention

  GHPP projects implement measures to prevent new epidemics and pandemics. These include:

  • Surveillance and reporting, i.e. the continuous collection and analysis of data on communicable and non‑communicable diseases
  • Infection prevention and control to prevent the spread of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings
  • Establishing and expanding laboratory diagnostics to identify pathogens and resistance patterns using modern methods (e.g. genomic sequencing)
  • Clinical management to improve patient care and outcomes
  • Regulation and research to ensure the authorisation and safety of vaccines, medicines, blood and blood products
• Outbreak Management

  GHPP projects strengthen partner countries’ ability to respond rapidly and appropriately to disease outbreaks and provide support when outbreaks occur. This includes:

  • Strengthening national and subnational crisis response structures and processes in partner countries
  • Developing and implementing strategies and action plans for risk evaluation and risk communication, including conducting simulation exercises
  • Supporting outbreak containment through emergency interventions, for example, mobile laboratories or surge personnel
• One Health

  Emerging pathogens and outbreaks often arise at the human–animal–environment interface. The One Health approach responds to this challenge by considering and addressing all three domains together. GHPP projects implement One Health jointly with their partner organisations, in particular to tackle:

  • Zoonoses, i.e. diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans
  • Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), i.e. communicable diseases that disproportionately affect poor and marginalised populations in tropical and subtropical regions and are preventable and/or treatable
  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), i.e. pathogens that can no longer be treated, or only with difficulty, using existing therapeutics
• Cross-Cutting Themes

  Many projects integrate the following cross‑cutting elements:

  • Digital solutions, e.g. digital surveillance systems and telemedicine services
  • Support for implementing the International Health Regulations (IHR), the WHO framework for preventing, reporting and responding to cross‑border health threats
  • Health impacts of climate change, e.g. shifts in the geographical distribution of diseases

GHPP in Numbers