Description
The UK has long had an established role in Global Health Security though its significant funding of global health institutions such as the WHO and GAVI Alliance, epistemic community of pandemic experts, university partnerships, and global health diplomats. According to assessments such as the Global Health Security Index the UK (alongside the US) was set to be one of the best placed states to deal with a major pandemic. The catastrophic response of the UK to COVID-19 challenges this assessment and poses significant questions for the UK as a leading actor in global health security and pandemic preparedness. Speakers on this Roundtable reflect on the impact of COVID19 on the UK's role in global health security, drawing on their research on borders, militaries, previous pandemics, equity to medicines, the right to health, and understandings of health security.
