Reimagining global health in the 21st century

– an imperative for new leaders for health

We, 500 new leaders for health research and innovation from the Philippines and around

the world, gathered at the New Leaders for Health Pre-Forum dedicated to the Global

Forum on Research and Innovation for Health (Forum 2015).

For two days, we have engaged in dynamic and inspiring discussions on how research and

innovation can solve today’s pressing global health problems. The transitions we are

witnessing in global health are great and unprecedented – from emerging infections and

the rise of non-communicable diseases, to climate change and environmental

degradation, to weak health systems and persistent inequities in health.

But we, New Leaders, do not shy away from these challenges. We acknowledge that, in

order to diagnose the root causes of ill health and prescribe their cures and solutions, we

need to reinvent our strategies and approaches, redesign health policies and systems, and

refashion society and the broader environment that ultimately shape human health

overall.

Indeed, reimagining global health in the 21st century is an imperative for us, New

Leaders for Health.

We are grateful that we were involved in the Pre-Forum, which we consider as the start

of our global health reimagining project. As our contribution to Forum 2015, we affirm

that:

• First, health research and innovation should, first and foremost, serve society, and

therefore social accountability must be upheld at both individual and institutional

levels;

• Second, investments for health research and innovation should be further

increased and devoted to addressing the world’s unmet needs, such as neglected

diseases of poverty, emerging infectious and non-communicable diseases, as well

as health systems strengthening and environmental health protection, among

others;

• And third, building domestic capacity of people and institutions for health research

and innovation, especially in low- and middle-income countries, should be a

national priority of governments, and supported by all stakeholders locally and

internationally.

Furthermore, we also affirm that health research and innovation should be geared

towards:

• One, ensuring that food is safe, available, accessible, affordable, nutritious, and of

high quality to prevent hunger, undernutrition, obesity, and other forms of non-

communicable disease;

• Two, building healthy megacities that protect people from preventable health

risks, provide equal opportunities, foster a clean environment, and promote health

equity, and;

• And three, protecting people from the health impacts of disasters by reducing

risks, providing effective response, ensuring full recovery and rehabilitation, and

building community resilience overall.

Because of our rich and transformative experience at the Pre-Forum, we, New Leaders

for Health, therefore commit that in our work in research and innovation for health, we

will:

• Ensure that science is relevant to the health needs of society, especially the poor

and underserved;

• Think globally and act locally, turning global knowledge into local solutions;

• Address health challenges as systems and not in siloes;

• Adopt a futures thinking approach, balancing short-term gains and longer-term

sustainability;

• Work across disciplines and with other sectors to address the social determinants

of health;

• Uphold the principles of social justice, human rights, and health equity, and;

• Put health in the hands of the people, ensuring the utmost participation of

communities in health research and innovation.

Finally, we acknowledge that change begins with oneself, and therefore we also commit

to:

• Be honest, accountable, and responsible for the research and innovation we do;

• Seek for opportunities for learning and mentorship so that we can develop

competence, credibility, and integrity;

• Actively participate in strengthening the domestic research architecture to provide

an enabling environment for emerging researchers and innovators;

• Join the growing movement towards health transformation, as we can only

improve global health not alone, but together.

Today, we are armed with new ideas, skills, and inspiration to reimagine global health

anew.

Today, we are ready to transform the world – to make equity in health a reality in our

generation.

This statement is endorsed by the delegates during the closing ceremony of the New Leaders for Health

Pre-Forum on August 24, 2015 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City, Philippines.