Former U.S. CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden emphasized the necessity of international health cooperation during the Global Health Forum of the Boao Forum for Asia, warning that retreating from global health commitments risks reversing decades of progress. "When other countries are healthier, all of us are better off," he stated, addressing concerns about declining U.S. engagement in initiatives like polio eradication.
U.S. Commitment in Question
Frieden expressed alarm over potential cuts to U.S. funding for global health programs, cautioning that polio could resurge if support wavers. He described public health as "under assault" domestically, urging renewed focus on cost-effective interventions like essential care systems to save lives globally.
China's Healthcare Innovations Highlighted
While critiquing geopolitical barriers, Frieden praised the Chinese mainland's "world-class" advancements in medical research and hospital infrastructure. He stressed that innovation must be paired with grassroots investments to achieve equitable health outcomes, particularly in low-resource settings.
Path Forward: NGOs as Bridges
Despite political friction, Frieden called for non-governmental organizations to facilitate cross-border health collaboration. "Progress depends on people-to-people communication," he said, highlighting the forum's theme of innovation-driven health solutions. Over 500 delegates from 20 countries and regions attended the Beijing event, discussing strategies to strengthen pandemic preparedness and medical technology access.
