Working beyond health: roles of global health security agenda, experiences of Thailand’s chairmanship amidst of the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) aims to achieve the vision of a world safe and secure from global health threats posed by infectious diseases through advancing a multi-sectoral approach. Thailand played a prominent role as the Chair of the GHSA Steering Group in 2021, guided by the Chair’s Declaration approved by the Cabinet of Thailand in 2020. In 2021, country efforts were needed to attain the right balance between preparing for future pandemics while responding to COVID-19. This paper details actions and achievements with respect to preparedness and enhancing country’s capacities recommended by the GHSA 2021, which include, among others, garnering high-level support, developing, utilisation of global health security tools, and advocating for sustainable financing. With the continued coordination and collaboration of the Action Packages and translating the Strategic Communications Plan into operation, the GHSA 2024 Target (of measured improvement of health security capacities according to the relevant health security assessments in more than 100 countries) is expected to be achieved by 2024. The unique roles and contributions of the diverse multi-sectoral partners are needed to bridge the gaps and better prepare the world to cope for future pandemics. GHSA not only promotes global preparedness and response, but also complements national preparedness and response. With Thailand’s experience, the GHSA mechanism has been continuously supporting GHSA subnational level activities in border areas. The main outcome of these discussions was the sub-national strategic plan with a multi-sectoral approach to detection, preparation and response.

SUMMARY

1. Public health emergencies highlight the importance of multisector cooperation beyond just the health sector. The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) is a global platform that connects different sectors beyond health sectors to enhance health security.

2. Garnering high-level support is necessary to drive forth the GHSA to improve country health securitycapacities. Leadership should be engaged early and often to support resource mobilization and planning & accelerating of implementation activities.

3. As the 2021 GHSA Steering Group Chair, Thailand utilised the GHSA mechanism and efforts to soliciting/facilitating health security efforts at global, regional, and national levels despite the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

4. Collaboration &coordination across sectors, strong leadership, and firmed commitments will continue to be important for the GHSA mechanism and the global health security architecture.

KEYWORDS:

• Global health security agenda
• health security
• multi-sectoral approach
• leadership
• GHSA sub-national level

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Karoon Chanachai, USAID Regional Development Mission Asia for his valuable advice as an external advisor of the Thailand GHSA Coordinating Unit. Thank you to Dr. Tanarak Plipat, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand for his pioneering vision of GHSA activities in Thailand. Thank you to Dr. Sopon Iamsirithaworn, Department of Disease Control, and High Level Executives of the Ministry of Public Health’s Departments (Department of Disease Control, Department of Medical Sciences, and Thai Food and Drug Administration) for policy support to drive GHSA forward in Thailand. We also thank all members of the National GHSA Sub-committee in Thailand from various ministries and development partners for all of their contributions. Lastly, we would like to thank colleagues from the Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Epidemiology and Office of International Cooperation, the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand for their kind support and professional implementation to enhance global health security. We thank the Steering Group, the GHSA Secretariat and GHSA members for providing valuable information, supporting and sharing opinions for a sustainable GHSA network. Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

Data sharing is not applicable as no datasets were generated and/or analysed for this study.

Ethics statements

Not applicable for patient consent for publication.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Soawapak Hinjoy

Soawapak Hinjoy was head of the GHSA coordination unit in Thailand to develop effective public health prevention and control strategies from a global health security perspective.

Royce Tsukayama

Royce Tsukayama was a project coordinator of the GHSA coordination unit in Thailand and coordinated other members of the GHSA.

Jintana Sriwongsa

Jintana Sriwongsa was an advisor to the GHSA coordination unit in Thailand to provide strategic direction from a global health security perspective.

Darika Kingnate

Darika Kingnate was an advisor to the GHSA coordination unit in Thailand to provide strategic direction from a global health security perspective.

Sudarat Damrongwatanapokin

Sudarat Damrongwatanapokin was an advisor to the GHSA coordination unit in Thailand to provide strategic direction from a global health security perspective.

Wattana Masunglong

Wattana Masunglong was a technical staff member of the GHSA coordination unit in Thailand to develop effective public health prevention and control strategies from a global health security perspective.

Pitchapa Kleeblumjeak

Pitchapa Kleeblumjeak was a technical staff member of the GHSA coordination unit in Thailand to develop effective public health prevention and control strategies from a global health security perspective.

Walaiporn Jiaranairungroj

Walaiporn Jiaranairungroj was a project coordinator of the GHSA coordination unit in Thailand and coordinated related organizations at the local level.

Khanchit Limpakarnjanarat

Khanchit Limpakarnjanarat was head of advisors to the GHSA coordination unit in Thailand to provide strategic direction from a global health security perspective.

Sura Wisedsak

Sura Wisedsak was a high-level executive to develop effective public health prevention and control strategies from a global health security perspective.