Global Health Security Conference 2026: Strengthening Health Systems Before the Next Crisis

Strong health systems are built long before a crisis begins. That was a central message emerging from the Global Health Security Conference 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, where experts from across the global health community discussed how countries can better prepare for future health threats.

Participants highlighted that effective preparedness depends on strong health infrastructure, including a well-trained health workforce, robust surveillance systems, trusted partnerships, and equitable access to prevention, diagnostic, and treatment tools. Just as importantly, trust between institutions, governments, and communities remains fundamental to ensuring these systems can respond effectively when new threats emerge.

Photo credit: Global Health Security Conference

The Global AMR R&D Hub was pleased to see antimicrobial resistance (AMR) recognised as a critical component of global health security. During a panel discussion on innovation for pandemic preparedness, Henry Skinner from the AMR Action Fund, Andrew Bowskill from AAMRNET, and the Hub’s Suzanne Edwards contributed to discussions on the importance of sustaining investment in AMR research and development as part of broader health security efforts.

As highlighted during the conference, drug-resistant infections often receive less public attention than emerging infectious diseases, despite causing a substantial global burden of illness and mortality. Strengthening innovation for new antimicrobials, vaccines, diagnostics, and other essential tools will therefore remain a key element of future health security strategies.

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