<h6><strong>Julio García</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Spanish Government approved last Tuesday the new Spanish Global Health Strategy 2025-2030 (SGS), promoted by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health.</strong></h4> In a press release, the Ministry of Health explained that this is a roadmap through which Spain reinforces its international commitment to improving global health from an inclusive, sustainable, and human rights-based approach. In the words of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, "Spain reaffirms its commitment to global health through responsible and supportive leadership, promoting a strategy based on equity, human rights, and multilateral cooperation." Furthermore, the strategy addresses new challenges such as health emergencies, climate change, and access to innovation, sets new objectives, and contributes to the coordination and cooperation of all institutional actors involved. “We want to contribute to a world where health is a right and not a privilege, strengthening resilient health systems focused on primary care,” says the Minister of Health, Mónica García. The Government of Spain is implementing this Strategy to strengthen international cooperation in health and collaborate in building a global health governance system that will respond to the major health challenges we will face in the coming years. Furthermore, it addresses challenges such as health emergencies, climate change, and access to innovation, sets new objectives, and contributes to the coordination and cooperation of all institutional actors involved. The ESG was born in a context marked by lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, rising inequalities, and threats to multilateral governance. With it, Spain becomes the fifth country in the European Union to adopt a specific global health strategy, aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the principles of equity, social justice, sustainability, and international cooperation. Spain maintains its firm support for the World Health Organization, a fundamental pillar of the global health system, and for key initiatives such as the Global Fund to Fight HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and the GAVI Vaccine Alliance. These initiatives have achieved extraordinary progress: saving millions of lives, drastically reducing mortality, and expanding access to vaccination in low-income countries. The Spanish Global Health Strategy 2025-2030 coincides with a decisive moment: Spain's entry into the Executive Board of the World Health Organization, from which it aims to contribute to strengthening a global health governance architecture that is more effective, fairer, and better prepared for the challenges of the present and the future. <h5><strong>The Strategy defines six key strategic objectives:</strong></h5> Strengthen resilient public health systems: Spain is committed to promoting robust, accessible, and universal health systems, focused on primary and community care. The strategy encourages collaborative governance models, improved training for healthcare personnel, and the adoption of ethical standards to prevent the exodus of qualified professionals from vulnerable countries. Promote health and well-being from a life-course perspective: The well-being of people at all stages of their lives is a priority. This includes guaranteeing sexual and reproductive rights, improving nutrition, access to water and sanitation, and reducing inequalities in child health, as well as addressing infectious, chronic, and mental health diseases through prevention and equity. Comprehensively address the effects of climate change on health: Environmental health is key. The strategy promotes sustainable health systems, the reduction of risks associated with pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss, and an integrated response under the "One Health" approach, which links human, animal, and planetary health. Prepare for cross-border health emergencies and threats: Spain will strengthen its capacity to anticipate and respond to pandemics and global health crises, supporting the implementation of the International Health Regulations and the creation of instruments to improve equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments worldwide. Strengthen global health governance and architecture: The SESG reinforces Spain's participation in multilateral organizations such as the WHO and promotes more effective, transparent cooperation based on shared values. Spain is committed to promoting coordination and financing mechanisms that favor the equity and sustainability of global health systems. Promote health research, innovation, and digitalization with an equity perspective: The Strategy positions R&D&I as a driver of transformation in global health. Prioritizes research into sustainable health technologies, equitable access to medicines and vaccines, and the digitalization of health systems, fostering Spain's leadership in science diplomacy and technological cooperation.
