Cabinet approves concept for global health policy
15.07.2013 11:54
Today the Federal Cabinet approved the concept "Shaping global health policy - Acting together - Assuming responsibility" presented by Federal Health Minister Daniel Bahr. The aim of the concept is to ensure Germany's active and coordinated contribution to solving global health challenges, such as the global fight against the spread of cross-border health threats.
Federal Minister Daniel Bahr explains: “The concept represents, for the first time, the federal government’s interdepartmental work in the area of global health policy. In doing so, we are responding specifically to new challenges. This will allow us to use our diverse knowledge and experience even more effectively in the future. With the concept, Germany reaffirms its international responsibility. Cross-border health threats, such as the increase in antibiotic resistance, but also the health effects of environmental pollution and climate change, make it clear: Only if we act globally can we ensure comprehensive health protection for the population in Germany.
Global health issues are now closely linked to numerous other policy areas, such as development, security, trade, economics, human rights, nutrition, agriculture, research, employment, education, migration, environmental and climate protection and humanitarian aid. Against this background, cross-sectoral solutions are required in global health policy.
With its commitment to global health policy, the Federal Government is pursuing the following three guiding principles:
- Protecting and improving the health of the population in Germany through global action
- Assuming global responsibility by providing German experience, expertise and resources
- Strengthening international institutions of global health.
Given limited national resources, the concept focuses on five selected areas in which Germany has strengths and can sustainably contribute to improving health worldwide:
- Protect effectively against cross-border health threats
- Strengthen health systems worldwide – enable development *Expand intersectoral cooperation – interactions with other policy areas
- Health research and health economics – providing important impetus for global health
- Strengthening the global health architecture The concept formulates concrete areas of action and optimizes coordination processes between the federal departments.
The defined fields of action in the five priority areas enable strategic planning of the diverse German contribution to global health policy. The concept thus contributes to improved policy coherence and a uniform external presence of the Federal Government in global health policy.