PANEL: SECURITY, FOREIGN POLICY AND HEALTH

• Global health initiatives and foreign policy have become increasingly interlinked. The USA, UK and European Union have all incorporated aid as an instrument of foreign policy, so too have emerging powers such as China, Brazil and Cuba. • The alignment of health and foreign policy objectives can produce good outcomes, as was demonstrated by the US role in reducing Egyptian child mortality rates, and the international response to the Ebola crisis. • Diplomatic approaches have also been effective in resolving complex social, political and religious concerns related to polio vaccination such as Northern Nigeria’s polio boycott. Similar approaches can be useful in combating anti-vaccination propaganda in Pakistan. • However, using health projects to fulfil narrow security interests can seriously threaten the credibility of global health initiatives, compromising the safety of global health workers and undermining their progress. • Increased collaboration between foreign policymakers, diplomats and global health professionals can establish appropriate standards and protocols to account for socioeconomic, political, foreign policy and primary health interests when designing global health projects and help mitigate negative health and security consequences.