International Community Must Realize Link Between Economic Prosperity, Global Health Security

Global Health NOW: Prosperity Hinges on Health Security
Sulzhan Bali, independent consultant specializing in global health security, and Richard Seifman, member of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Technical Review Panel and board member of the National Physicians Alliance

“…In this climate, there is a pressing need to strengthen the investment case for health security. … The sheer scale of potential pandemic-related economic loss makes it essential that the investment case for preparedness is made not just to policymakers but also to policy influencers and power-brokers at community, country, regional, and global levels. This requires government at all levels, the private sector, NGOs, and health professionals to be aware of the prospects of mutual gains or losses from action and inaction. … Simply put, global health security needs to be on the agenda [at the World Economic Forum (WEF)], alongside other prospective economic impact issues for the 21st century, and risks to jobs, cross border trade, and economic growth. Global financial stakeholders must proactively acknowledge the critical links between economic prosperity and global health security. … The overarching message is clear — outbreaks, whether they happen at home or abroad, pose a threat to economies everywhere” (2/27).

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