Global Health
How can we overcome global health challenges and drive innovation in health worldwide? The global network of the German Centres for Research and Innovation (DWIH) explores these questions in its focus topic for 2025: Global Health.
In our increasingly interconnected world, global health stands out as one of the most pressing challenges. Pandemics, climate change, social inequality, and technological innovations are reshaping healthcare systems around the world. Alongside progress in medicine, social and political dimensions are also gaining prominence. These challenges are manifold and call for joint international solutions.
International research cooperation plays a key role in this context. Leveraging its broad expertise and global presence, the network of the German Centres for Research and Innovation (DWIH) fosters collaboration among research, industry, and society to address global health issues in a sustainable way. The focus is on topics such as gender-equitable healthcare, addressing scientific scepticism, integration of digital technologies, health inequalities, and the role of climate change in the emergence of new diseases.
Global Health Research
The DWIH network bridges local expertise with global exchange. With a diverse portfolio of events and interdisciplinary collaborations, it contributes to the debate on the future of global health. The network sheds light on topics such as pandemic fatigue, the role of health in political discourse, and the importance of science communication in countering fake news.
Further information about the work of the network and its 2025 focus topic can be found on the DWIH network website.
The healthcare sector is one of India’s key challenges. The country with the largest population in the world (1.429 billion) faces a double challenge. Despite significant progress, tuberculosis, malaria, and dengue fever are still widespread. In addition, zoonotic diseases—those transmitted from animals to humans—pose a substantial threat, as seen with COVID-19 and concerns about bird flu. With its rich biodiversity, the largest livestock population in the world, and a high population density, India is at an increased risk for the spread of emerging diseases.
India is a major player in global healthcare. The country is a leading manufacturer of generic medicines and vaccines. Indian scientists are actively engaged in health research, particularly in the fields of medical technology and digital health. Under the motto “One Earth, One Health,” the country promotes international partnerships to build a resilient global health architecture. Since 2021, India has been investing heavily in “One Health” strategies that acknowledge the close interconnectedness and interdependence of human, domestic and wild animal, plant, and environmental health.
Interdisciplinary Exchange with Policymakers
To achieve these objectives, “One Health Committees” (OHCs) are being established at state and district levels, with representation from the district administration, public health services including clinical medicine, veterinary and wildlife institutions, environmental health institutions, and private stakeholders (including industry). Programmes such as the National One Health Mission of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the strategic initiatives of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) promote interdisciplinary collaboration with various ministries and levels of government.
The DWIH New Delhi is supporting these developments as part of its focus topic for 2025. A series of web talks is dedicated to the implementation of the “One Health” approach in the public health sector, exploring how the topics of climate protection and disease prevention in particular, can be integrated. Additionally, the Innovators Connect – Tandem 2025 programme of the DWIH New Delhi focuses on the topics of MedTech and Artificial Intelligence in the healthcare in order to connect start-ups and researchers from Germany and India.