Global Health Concerns Everyone:
Party Positioning in the 2025 Election Campaign
Michael Bayerlein 1, 2 , Nora Anton 2, 3, Roland Göhde 4, 5 ,Detlev Ganten 4, Axel R. Pries 6, Beate Kampmann 2, Branwen J. Hennig 1,4
Call to parties for clear positioning in the election campaign regarding:
- Germany’s leadership role in the multilateral cooperation in the Field of Global Health, including in the context of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
- Supporting a multilateral public health
- Strengthening the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Sustainable Financing of global health
Our appeal calls on Germany’s political parties to give greater prominence to global health in their election campaigns, thereby solidifying Germany’s position as a leading force in the global improvement of health through public discourse. Global health—including planetary health—is not a niche topic, it deserves continuous high-level attention. It is directly linked to the well-being of citizens, national security, and economic growth.
Health threats know no borders, and their consequences directly affect Germany. Individual and global health are inextricably connected. No country or society is immune to gaps in global health. A strong international health architecture is essential for every country and is connected to achieving all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. The effectiveness of this system relies on multilateral institutions, foremost among them the World Health Organization (WHO). Germany plays a key role in global health governance, was the largest contributor to the WHO in 2020/21, and spearheaded initiatives such as COVAX and negotiations on the international pandemic agreement. These efforts have cemented Germany’s reputation as a reliable and humanitarian actor in global health. Through continued political commitment, Germany can maintain a leading role and contribute to strengthening global health structures.
Parties should articulate their goals in global health policy clearly to voters during the campaign and in preparation for coalition negotiations and government programs. Germany and the world have significant opportunity to strengthen and future-proof health structures worldwide. This includes addressing challenges such as antimicrobial resistance, climate-change-induced spread of disease, the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and poverty-associated and neglected tropical diseases. Critical shortages in healthcare and medical supplies can be overcome through strategic investments into supply chains, healthcare systems, and social security, while closer international cooperation helps build a resilient and sustainable global health architecture.
Germany stands out in global health research with numerous strengths. Its excellent discovery research, supported by globally recognized research institutions, has produced innovative technologies, including the first SARS-CoV-2 test and the first approved mRNA vaccine. By specifically promoting its international and interdisciplinary networks, Germany can continue to contribute to the development of innovative solutions that directly bene]it the German healthcare system, public health, and socioeconomic development.
To secure the future of the WHO as an essential institution for global health, Germany should advocate for increased flexible and long-term financial contributions from member states to ensure sustainable funding. At the same time, Germany should take a leadership role in European efforts to close financial gaps, particularly considering the recent U.S. withdrawal announcement from the WHO and suspension of its contributions. In addition to financial support and ongoing backing for the ‘WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence’ in Berlin, Germany should continue pushing for WHO reforms to enhance its efficiency, accountability, and responsiveness.
To harness Europe’s collective potential, Germany should support the development of a better-integrated European research infrastructure and funding, as well as advance the implementation of the “EU Global Health Strategy” of 2022. This includes promoting national global health strategies and ensuring coordinated action in pandemic preparedness, pharmaceutical production, and health system resilience. A central element of this strategy is building and expanding partnerships with Africa and Latin America, particularly by focusing on capacity strengthening in vaccine production and health infrastructure.
Germany’s outlined global leadership role depends on sustainable political and public support at national level. To foster this, political parties must raise awareness among voters about the importance of Global Health—not as a “nice-to-have”, but as an integral part of Germany’s responsibility to people at home and abroad. By raising public awareness during the election campaign, emphasis can be given to how Global Health is intrinsically linked to national prosperity and security. With this, the importance of proactive international engagement and sustainable investments in multilateral partnerships should be highlighted. A strong societal consensus allows for health to be shaped in a resiliently and sustainably way both nationally and globally, particularly in times of significant geopolitical change with considerable scope and far-reaching consequences.
Neglecting global health poses risks for future pandemics, exacerbates inequalities within and between nations, and undermines Germany’s role as a pillar of multilateralism. Addressing urgent challenges requires political parties in Germany to constructively discuss global health initiatives and institutions during the election campaign and public discourse. By committing to addressing these pressing issues, German parties can protect the country’s interests and well-being while contributing to a healthier, fairer, and more resilient world.
We call on Germany’s political parties to speak clearly about the continuing need for global health initiatives and use the 2025 General Election and upcoming coalition negotiations to further expand Germany’s role as a champion of global health for the future.
Affiliations
1. Global Health Policy Lab (GHPL), Berlin, Germany
2. Charité Center for Global Health, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
3. German Alliance for Global Health Research (GLOHRA) on behalf of the steering committee, Berlin, Germany
4. Virchow Foundation, Berlin, Germany
5. German Health Alliance (GHA), Berlin, Germany
6. World Health Summit (WHS), Berlin, Germany
