COVID-19 & Problematics of Global Health Security

Abstract

COVID-19 illustrates our fragile and precarious global health security. Global health governance has failed miserably to ensure health security. This study examines the problematics of health security. The findings reveal that the problem lies in the conception of health security. A narrow understanding of the term "security" has been used to define and implement health security at the national and global levels, based on the Westphalian legacy of protecting countries against external public health threats through many emergency measures. Nationalistic and sovereign norms constantly stand in the way of collaboration among states. The problem is primarily interpretation, acceptability, and implementation of the concept. This study recommends that health security be redefined from a human security paradigm. As a second step, revamp the global health governance regime through de-politicization of WHO, constructing a pandemic treaty and making 'health security a priority.