The EU global health strategy: from policy to implementation

Abstract

In November 2022, a draft of the next EU Global Health Strategy was published. The European Global Health Research Institutes Network (EGHRIN) of 22 leading European Universities has analysed the Strategy. In this commentary, EGHRIN notes the Strategy’s positive commitments to life-course wellbeing, strengthening health systems and combating health threats in an equitable and collaborative manner. We find the strategy is compatible with the sustainable development goals and addresses social, political and environmental determinants of health. However, our analyses also highlight a lack of critical assessment of the private sector’s role within health systems, insufficient attention to syndemics, and little emphasis on transdisciplinary education and the ethical training of a global health workforce. We conclude that, while its commitments are commendable, the greatest challenge for the next EU Strategy will be in its implementation. The trategy currently lacks a fully-resourced and clearly hypothecated funding mechanism and there is little evidence to date of the stated commitment that Global Health will be considered in all EU policy areas. In the present geopolitical climate, a speedy acceptance of both the policy and an implementation plan is needed more than ever.