Clearer strategies and proper implementation within the European Union are needed to properly address global health challenges, Professor Dr Beate Kampmann, head of Charité’s Center for Global Health, told Euractiv.
The EU’s global health approach currently consists of national and EU-wide initiatives, but Kampmann believes, “We need a stronger matrix of implementation and clear outcomes; otherwise, the strategy risks being all talk and no action.”
Kampmann, a vaccinologist who formed Charité’s Center for Global Health in 2023, expressed mixed feelings about the EU’s global health strategy.
“Who has put it together? What is the strategy for and for whom?” she asked in her interview with Euractiv, which occurred at the World Health Summit (WHS), of which Charité is a member.
“The [European] strategy has certainly galvanised the national strategies as well, but we need to ask who it’s really for. Are you helping yourselves by waving a flag? Or are you trying to direct certain funding streams?” she said.
The EU’s Global Health Strategy aims to improve health security, strengthen health systems, and reduce inequalities, focusing on pandemic preparedness, universal health coverage (UHC), and other priorities.
As for concrete implementation steps, she said, “What’s essential is that we see where the funding goes, giving us leeway to leverage initiatives that align with both national and European strategies.”
“For example, if antimicrobial resistance is prioritised, we need to ask: What science do we need to produce to ensure those strategic goals are actually met?”
Kampmann said that the issues nations face, such as infectious diseases, migration, climate change, and non-communicable diseases, are interconnected, and health is a core political issue.
“There isn’t health for the individuals in our communities unless we have a global perspective. […] Health is always also a political subject. It’s a human rights issue, and it is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.”
She argued, however, that the rise of populist and nationalist policies in Europe complicates the promotion of comprehensive public health policies benefiting the global community as the “electorate’s opinion has shifted, at least in Germany.”
Using vaccine refusal as an example, Kampmann said, “People want control over what they see as personal decisions, but these decisions have a huge impact on public health and eventually global health as well.”
This, she argued, reflects a larger issue where individual interests sometimes override the collective good.
“Diseases don’t stop at borders,” she said, also noting disparities where wealthy countries often have excess vaccines while other nations struggle to get access, risking these diseases to spread globally.
Kampmann also expressed frustration with the EU bureaucracy, which often impedes progress. Though funding sources like Horizon Europe are beneficial, she noted increased barriers for non-European partners, especially African institutions.
She acknowledged that the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) is “working reasonably well” but raised concerns about limited access for African institutions.
Now, only South African institutions can apply directly; others must use the European portal, which is a “shame” as it is a lot more complicated.
More equitable partnerships with Africa
She also highlighted the EU’s need for more equitable partnerships and collaboration and funding streams that flow directly to African institutions, not just through institutions managed by Europeans.
With so many initiatives aiming to fill this space, Kampmann queried who defines their success, stating, “Success needs to be defined by the people who are the end users.”
It is therefore necessary “to liaise very closely with the opinions of people living in a completely different context is crucial to make any progress in any focused or non-focused area”.
She suggested developing further partnerships with African universities as existing collaborations have influenced research and policy discussions, particularly in genomics and public health.
Bridging science and policy
Kampmann noted a recurring challenge is connecting scientific research with policymaking. While health experts offer crucial insights, convincing non-health policymakers remains difficult.
“We often find ourselves in an echo chamber, speaking to those who already understand the issues. You almost have to navigate the system in a way to end up sitting next to a finance minister.”
“Health has to be an investment case. The interventions we propose must demonstrate a socio-economic benefit. If we can make that argument, we’ll find it easier.”
As for her native Germany, she said it has long supported global health bodies like WHO and Gavi but lacks strong endogenous expertise.
“There are very few German participants in international committees, for example, on global health. Most of us engaged in global health have trained abroad, and I want to bring back some of the opportunities here to Germany as well,” Kampmann explained.
[Edited by Alice Taylor-Braçe/Rajnish Singh]