Strategy Objectives

The ten objectives of the HHS Global Health Strategy focus on strategic priorities with mutual benefits to both the American people and those of other nations. The objectives build on core strengths and expertise within HHS, and contribute to the achievement of the three goals.

Objective 1: Enhance Global Health Surveillance

Strengthen global surveillance to detect, track, identify, control and prevent diseases and address health concerns that may directly or indirectly have an impact on the U.S. population.

Key priorities:

• Support countries and multilateral organizations to strengthen surveillance systems, addressing current gaps (e.g., integrating surveillance for human and animal diseases, and communicable and non-communicable diseases) and ensuring interoperability of systems, both within and across countries
• Assist with improving workforce and laboratory capacity to support diagnosis for disease surveillance
• Provide leadership and technical expertise, often embedded within Ministries of Health, to ensure surveillance efforts are timely, evidence-based, data-driven, internationally shared and actionable to inform public health policies and decision-making
• Develop and evaluate innovative surveillance, information management, and communication strategies

Objective 2: Prevent Infectious Diseases and Other Health Threats

Work with global partners to enhance health security and prevent the introduction, transmission and spread of infectious diseases and other health threats within and across borders.

Key Priorities:

• Support the development of sustainable capacities among partner governments and international agencies for addressing both public health emergencies and day-to-day public health needs, consistent with the International Health Regulations (2005)
• Facilitate development, use, and evaluation of vaccines and other prevention strategies such as vector control and safe water, focusing on achieving global disease reduction goals
• Support database and information technology infrastructure with global access and common portals for monitoring purposes, including measures for early warning systems and monitoring holdings of dangerous pathogens
• Ensure effective risk and crisis communication by coordinating with global partners to disseminate public information and emergency notification, especially to at-risk populations and stakeholders

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Objective 3: Prepare for and Respond to Public Health Emergencies

Mobilize and support an immediate health-sector response to international outbreaks and public health emergencies.

Key Priorities:

• Support the development of sustainable response capacities and coordination mechanisms for addressing public health emergencies consistent with the International Health Regulations(2005)
• Provide technical expertise and share mechanisms for investigating disease outbreaks and identifying their cause
• Collaborate with international partners to develop best practices and standard indicators and guidelines for responding to natural and man-made disasters, including a focus on improved coordination and response practices
• Develop policy frameworks, agreements and operational plans to facilitate HHS decision-making in response to both single and multiple international requests for emergency assistance, including for the deployment of medical countermeasures and HHS personnel

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Objective 4: Increase the Safety and Integrity of Global Manufacturing and Supply Chains

Enhance regulatory systems and global manufacturing and supply chains to ensure the safety of medical products, food, and feed that enter into the United States.

Key Priorities:

• Identify key risks in the global manufacturing and supply chain and implement strategies to mitigate them in cooperation with other governments and international agencies
• Strengthen strategic regulatory partnerships to promote a safer, higher quality global supply of medical products, food and feed  

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Objective 5: Strengthen International Standards through Multilateral Engagement

Provide leadership to establish, strengthen and implement science-based international health and safety standards and support multilateral efforts to improve global health policies, programs, and practice.

Key Priorities:

• Ensure an appropriate leadership role for the U.S. in the development of science-based norms and standards, particularly within the World Health Organization and other multilateral bodies addressing health issues
• Strengthen existing multilateral relationships and develop new strategic alliances to maximize the achievement of our global health goals and objectives

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Objective 6: Catalyze Health Research Globally

Catalyze biomedical and public health research and innovation globally to promote the discovery, development, delivery and evaluation of new interventions that improve health and well-being across national borders.

Key Priorities:

• Address research priorities that are linked to scientific opportunity, public health needs, and the evolving burden of disease
• Support the rapid translation of research results into new or improved preventive, diagnostic, and treatment products and processes, and incorporation into health policies and practice, in diverse global settings, including resource-poor environments
• Encourage research that identifies causative pathways of the spread of infectious disease and other health threats

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Objective 7: Identify and Exchange Best Practices to Strengthen Health Systems

Increase the exchange of best practices to improve health strategies, with a focus on comprehensive strengthening of health systems.

Key Priorities:

• Support collaborative health system strengthening activities, including workforce development, that are both consistent with country priorities and have the greatest potential public health impact
• Promote the global exchange of best practices and lessons learned to ensure that evidence supports decisions and program implementation
• Address the underproduction and retention of health professionals in developing countries

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Objective 8: Address the Changing Global Patterns of Death, Illness and Disability

Encourage global action to address the major current and emerging contributors to global death, illness and disability.

Key Priorities:

• Promote the development, implementation, evaluation and dissemination of cost-effective prevention, policies, strategies and interventions for NCDs
• Promote the integration of effective public health policies and trade policies
• Strengthen health system capacities to address multiple NCDs by fostering evidence-based interdisciplinary practice and promoting integrated community approaches that include other sectors

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Objective 9: Support the Global Health Initiative (GHI)

Support the GHI to achieve major improvements in health outcomes for women, children and families, as confirmation of the US commitment to the health-related Millennium Development Goals.

Key Priorities:

• Contribute to the achievement of GHI goals and principles in the areas of HIV, malaria, TB, neglected tropical disease, maternal and child health, nutrition, safe water, sanitation, and hygiene, and focusing on women-centered programming, country ownership, integration and coordination, and health system strengthening
• Support the integration of public health services for prevention and control of key diseases such as HIV/AIDS and vaccine-preventable diseases with other priority health interventions in health facilities and other settings, as appropriate.

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Objective 10: Advance Health Diplomacy

Engage directly with diplomatic partners, and strengthen peer-to-peer technical, public health, and scientific relationships.

Key Priorities:

• Assign health attachés to selected U.S. embassies for international cooperation, ensuring that political, security, development and health objectives are maximized
• Establish a Global Health Career Track within HHS to formalize career opportunities and training for people working in the global health arena, including in overseas assignments
• Partner with the Department of State to bolster knowledge about global health among the diplomatic corps
• Strengthen diplomatic knowledge, negotiation skills and understanding of development principles for HHS field staff and technical health experts

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