US launches platform to help foreign ministries elevate global health security

US launched a platform “for foreign ministries to focus diplomatic attention and action on critical global health security” in light of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, according to a US Department of State statement released Tuesday.

Australia, Bangladesh, Canadan, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Morocco, Norway, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden Thailand, UK, the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations participated in the launch event Thursday for the Foreign Ministry Channel (FMC) for global health security, which was chaired by US.

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FMC recognised the crucial role that foreign ministries can play in addressing issues of health security across the world. One of the initiative’s goals is for participants to build “communication channels to mobilize rapidly when health threats emerge.”

“Foreign ministries noted their ability to promote transparency concerning infectious disease threats, international data sharing, and progress toward implementation of the International Health Regulations,” the statement added.

The need to combat misinformation and disinformation, especially pertaining to health emergencies such as COVID-19 was also at the forefront of the discussion, along with the growing impact of artificial intelligence and how foreign ministries can mitigate the risks associated with the spread of health-related fake news.

Built on the premise that the devastation caused by pandemics goes beyond health concerns into sectors of national and economic security, the FMC aims to help foreign ministries reach “impactful agreements” through “collaboration, coordination, cooperation, and communication.”

The initiative intends to “elevate global health security as a national security and foreign policy priority before a crisis occurs,” while recognizing that nations cannot act alone to protect their citizens from adverse effects of global health threats.

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