The prevalence of disease outbreaks and increased transnational spread of disease in the twentieth century required policymakers to consider new security frameworks. The global spread of HIV/AIDS in the 1980s provoked political responses, prompting the United Nations Security Council to consider disease as a threat to international security. In 2001, World Health Assembly Resolution 54.14 determined health security as a strategy for the prevention of the spread of diseases across national borders.
Contemporary security agendas have expanded from traditional security concerns, such as terrorism, war, and weapons of mass destruction, to biological threats. Whereas traditional approaches to security regard the State as the referent object of analysis, the development of human security highlights the need to include economic, personal, community, political, food, and health insecurities. Health security is essential to achieving human security.
The WHO has an official role in the guidance and prevention policy of global disease. It acts as intermediary between states to ensure the safety of populations through collective health action. The WHO oversees the prevention, control, and resolution of infectious disease, assisting governments globally. It has a coordinating role and the authority to direct international health activities to manage infectious disease outbreaks and health security.
The GHSA has committed to ensuring adequate preparation for pandemics and epidemics. The Agenda helps nations identify the strengths and weaknesses of domestic and international health systems, ensuring that assistance is directed where necessary. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated need for coordinated international response to ensure preparedness of governments to protect public health.
The development of health security has emphasised the need to improve national health systems to control and reduce threats. Developing countries have implemented strategies to strengthen health systems to ensure equitable advances in health provision and outcomes. Securitising health enables policymakers to focus additional resources on the development of health services. Improving health security of populations will have subsequent effects on economic and national stability.
Nations continually adapt to the ever-changing health insecurities posed to their populations. Risk of antimicrobial drug resistance will impact how governments choose to treat and manage a vast number of diseases and infections. Dominance of the pharmaceutical industry in the development of medicines has significantly impeded governments' attempts to obtain pharmaceutical defences for health security.
Global health security encourages transnational partnerships to synthesise support and mobilisation between governments and relevant stakeholders in public health. Global partnerships facilitate the effective implementation and practice of global health regulations. Advocates of universal health care have suggested that improved access to enhanced health care would facilitate greater global health security against threats to public health.
The securitisation of public health has been contested by some policymakers and academics. Health security advocates claim that securitisation improves responses to health crises. Securitising public health enables governments to engage necessary resources and practices needed to mitigate infectious diseases and health threats endangering populations.
Opponents to the concept of health security have critiqued the WHO's language. Opposition within the Indo-Pacific region have rejected the terminology 'health security'. Governments in India, Indonesia and Thailand have criticised linkage of health and security discourses. Limited consensus regarding the definition and scope of health security, and the assumption that it focusses predominately on protection of populations in high-income nations motivates this opposition. Health security has been perceived as an opportunity for high-income nations to assert soft power throughout the region through the provision of technical and medical assistance.
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Elbe, Stefan (2018). Pandemics, Pills, and Politics: Governing Global Health Security. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 9781421425580. 9781421425580
Ray-Bennett, Nibedita S.; Collins, Andrew; Bhuiya, Abbas; Edgeworth, Ross; Nahar, Papreen; Alamgir, Fariba (2010). "Exploring the meaning of health security for disaster resilience through people's perspectives in Bangladesh". Health & Place. 16 (3): 581–589. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.01.003. PMID 20106711. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Elbe, Stefan (2018). Pandemics, Pills, and Politics: Governing Global Health Security. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 9781421425580. 9781421425580
Ray-Bennett, Nibedita S.; Collins, Andrew; Bhuiya, Abbas; Edgeworth, Ross; Nahar, Papreen; Alamgir, Fariba (2010). "Exploring the meaning of health security for disaster resilience through people's perspectives in Bangladesh". Health & Place. 16 (3): 581–589. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.01.003. PMID 20106711. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
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Elbe, Stefan (2018). Pandemics, Pills, and Politics: Governing Global Health Security. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 9781421425580. 9781421425580
Blazes, David L. and Lewis, Sheri H. (2016). Disease Surveillance: Technological Contributions to Global Health Security. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 9780429585999. 9780429585999
Blazes, David L. and Lewis, Sheri H. (2016). Disease Surveillance: Technological Contributions to Global Health Security. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 9780429585999. 9780429585999
Elbe, Stefan (2018). Pandemics, Pills, and Politics: Governing Global Health Security. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 9781421425580. 9781421425580
Elbe, Stefan (2018). Pandemics, Pills, and Politics: Governing Global Health Security. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 9781421425580. 9781421425580
Rushton, Simon and Youde, Jeremy (2014). Routledge Handbook of Global Health Security. London: Routledge. ISBN 9781136155567. 9781136155567
Rushton, Simon and Youde, Jeremy (2014). Routledge Handbook of Global Health Security. London: Routledge. ISBN 9781136155567. 9781136155567
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Blazes, David L. and Lewis, Sheri H. (2016). Disease Surveillance: Technological Contributions to Global Health Security. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 9780429585999. 9780429585999
Blazes, David L. and Lewis, Sheri H. (2016). Disease Surveillance: Technological Contributions to Global Health Security. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 9780429585999. 9780429585999
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Blazes, David L. and Lewis, Sheri H. (2016). Disease Surveillance: Technological Contributions to Global Health Security. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 9780429585999. 9780429585999
Masys, Anthony J. (2020). Global Health Security: Recognising Vulnerabilities, Creating Opportunities. Basel: Springer. ISBN 9783030234911. 9783030234911
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Kamradt-Scott, Adam (2014). Managing Global Health Security: The World Health Organization and Disease Outbreak Control. London: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137520166. 9781137520166
Blazes, David L. and Lewis, Sheri H. (2016). Disease Surveillance: Technological Contributions to Global Health Security. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 9780429585999. 9780429585999
Rushton, Simon and Youde, Jeremy (2014). Routledge Handbook of Global Health Security. London: Routledge. ISBN 9781136155567. 9781136155567
Blazes, David L. and Lewis, Sheri H. (2016). Disease Surveillance: Technological Contributions to Global Health Security. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 9780429585999. 9780429585999
Blazes, David L. and Lewis, Sheri H. (2016). Disease Surveillance: Technological Contributions to Global Health Security. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 9780429585999. 9780429585999
Kamradt-Scott, Adam (2014). Managing Global Health Security: The World Health Organization and Disease Outbreak Control. London: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137520166. 9781137520166
Lyttleton, Chris (2018). "Vigilance and Sentinels in Global Health Security". Medical Anthropology. 37 (4): 327–342. doi:10.1080/01459740.2017.1423071. PMID 29319338. S2CID 3592354. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Lyttleton, Chris (2018). "Vigilance and Sentinels in Global Health Security". Medical Anthropology. 37 (4): 327–342. doi:10.1080/01459740.2017.1423071. PMID 29319338. S2CID 3592354. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Osterholm, Michael T. (2017). "Global Health Security - An Unfinished Journey". Emerging Infectious Diseases. 23 (13): 225–227. doi:10.3201/eid2313.171528. PMC 5711312. S2CID 32972234. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5711312
Blazes, David L. and Lewis, Sheri H. (2016). Disease Surveillance: Technological Contributions to Global Health Security. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 9780429585999. 9780429585999
Masys, Anthony J. (2020). Global Health Security: Recognising Vulnerabilities, Creating Opportunities. Basel: Springer. ISBN 9783030234911. 9783030234911
Osterholm, Michael T. (2017). "Global Health Security - An Unfinished Journey". Emerging Infectious Diseases. 23 (13): 225–227. doi:10.3201/eid2313.171528. PMC 5711312. S2CID 32972234. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5711312
Elbe, Stefan (2018). Pandemics, Pills, and Politics: Governing Global Health Security. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 9781421425580. 9781421425580
"Health Security". World Health Organization. Retrieved March 19, 2020. https://www.who.int/health-security/en/
"Health Security". World Health Organization. Retrieved March 19, 2020. https://www.who.int/health-security/en/
"Health Security". World Health Organization. Retrieved March 19, 2020. https://www.who.int/health-security/en/
Rushton, Simon and Youde, Jeremy (2014). Routledge Handbook of Global Health Security. London: Routledge. ISBN 9781136155567. 9781136155567
Rushton, Simon and Youde, Jeremy (2014). Routledge Handbook of Global Health Security. London: Routledge. ISBN 9781136155567. 9781136155567
Rushton, Simon and Youde, Jeremy (2014). Routledge Handbook of Global Health Security. London: Routledge. ISBN 9781136155567. 9781136155567
Osterholm, Michael T. (2017). "Global Health Security - An Unfinished Journey". Emerging Infectious Diseases. 23 (13): 225–227. doi:10.3201/eid2313.171528. PMC 5711312. S2CID 32972234. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5711312
Lyttleton, Chris (2018). "Vigilance and Sentinels in Global Health Security". Medical Anthropology. 37 (4): 327–342. doi:10.1080/01459740.2017.1423071. PMID 29319338. S2CID 3592354. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Rushton, Simon and Youde, Jeremy (2014). Routledge Handbook of Global Health Security. London: Routledge. ISBN 9781136155567. 9781136155567
Rushton, Simon and Youde, Jeremy (2014). Routledge Handbook of Global Health Security. London: Routledge. ISBN 9781136155567. 9781136155567
Niu, Song and Xu, Mindan (2019). "Impact of Hajj on Global Health Security". Journal of Religion & Health. 58 (1): 289–302. doi:10.1007/s10943-018-0648-5. PMC 7088024. PMID 29948791. S2CID 48359595. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7088024
Kamradt-Scott, Adam (2014). Managing Global Health Security: The World Health Organization and Disease Outbreak Control. London: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137520166. 9781137520166
Kamradt-Scott, Adam (2014). Managing Global Health Security: The World Health Organization and Disease Outbreak Control. London: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137520166. 9781137520166
Kamradt-Scott, Adam (2014). Managing Global Health Security: The World Health Organization and Disease Outbreak Control. London: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137520166. 9781137520166
Kamradt-Scott, Adam (2018). "Securing Indo-Pacific health security: Australia's approach to regional health security". Australian Journal of International Affairs. 72 (6): 500–519. doi:10.1080/10357718.2018.1534942. S2CID 158413148. https://doi.org/10.1080%2F10357718.2018.1534942
Kamradt-Scott, Adam (2018). "Securing Indo-Pacific health security: Australia's approach to regional health security". Australian Journal of International Affairs. 72 (6): 500–519. doi:10.1080/10357718.2018.1534942. S2CID 158413148. https://doi.org/10.1080%2F10357718.2018.1534942
Kamradt-Scott, Adam (2018). "Securing Indo-Pacific health security: Australia's approach to regional health security". Australian Journal of International Affairs. 72 (6): 500–519. doi:10.1080/10357718.2018.1534942. S2CID 158413148. https://doi.org/10.1080%2F10357718.2018.1534942
Kamradt-Scott, Adam (2018). "Securing Indo-Pacific health security: Australia's approach to regional health security". Australian Journal of International Affairs. 72 (6): 500–519. doi:10.1080/10357718.2018.1534942. S2CID 158413148. https://doi.org/10.1080%2F10357718.2018.1534942
Ray-Bennett, Nibedita S.; Collins, Andrew; Bhuiya, Abbas; Edgeworth, Ross; Nahar, Papreen; Alamgir, Fariba (2010). "Exploring the meaning of health security for disaster resilience through people's perspectives in Bangladesh". Health & Place. 16 (3): 581–589. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.01.003. PMID 20106711. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Ray-Bennett, Nibedita S.; Collins, Andrew; Bhuiya, Abbas; Edgeworth, Ross; Nahar, Papreen; Alamgir, Fariba (2010). "Exploring the meaning of health security for disaster resilience through people's perspectives in Bangladesh". Health & Place. 16 (3): 581–589. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.01.003. PMID 20106711. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Ray-Bennett, Nibedita S.; Collins, Andrew; Bhuiya, Abbas; Edgeworth, Ross; Nahar, Papreen; Alamgir, Fariba (2010). "Exploring the meaning of health security for disaster resilience through people's perspectives in Bangladesh". Health & Place. 16 (3): 581–589. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.01.003. PMID 20106711. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Ray-Bennett, Nibedita S.; Collins, Andrew; Bhuiya, Abbas; Edgeworth, Ross; Nahar, Papreen; Alamgir, Fariba (2010). "Exploring the meaning of health security for disaster resilience through people's perspectives in Bangladesh". Health & Place. 16 (3): 581–589. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.01.003. PMID 20106711. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Rushton, Simon and Youde, Jeremy (2014). Routledge Handbook of Global Health Security. London: Routledge. ISBN 9781136155567. 9781136155567
Ray-Bennett, Nibedita S.; Collins, Andrew; Bhuiya, Abbas; Edgeworth, Ross; Nahar, Papreen; Alamgir, Fariba (2010). "Exploring the meaning of health security for disaster resilience through people's perspectives in Bangladesh". Health & Place. 16 (3): 581–589. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.01.003. PMID 20106711. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)