The Power of Partnership in Global Health Protection

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and its devastating global impact has clearly demonstrated the need for robust and well-functioning health systems worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 overwhelmed health care systems globally, although with different severity and at different times. Even though the pandemic is still ongoing, first lessons learned highlight the value of specific technical cooperation and give best practice examples. Working together for stronger public health systems to improve health protection globally is key. One example of global partnership is the 'Global Health Protection Programme' (GHPP) of the German Federal Ministry of Health. It takes international responsibility in global health prepardness and protection, both bilaterally and multilaterally. Since 2016, implemented by German expert institutions and international partners, GHPP aims at generating partnership between public health institutions, relevant actors and projects as well as ensuring long-lasting cooperation and sustainable global implementation. This includes: rapid expert support in outbreak situations, epidemic preparedness and prevention, strengthening core capacities of International Health Regulations (incl. surveillance systems, contingency planning, laboratory capacities, field epidemiology), combating hospital-acquired infections and resistances and strengthening regulatory capacity for medicines, vaccines and blood products. Hence, we discuss the value of long term cooperation for global health preparedness and response. Learning from the pandemic and using examples including from GHPP, this panel will explore how partnerships have been developed in the past, how they can be further developed and improved and which key aspects need to be considered in the future. This panel will also discuss the value of longterm cooperation vs. short term technical assistance.