The Strategic Dimension of the Public Health Sector in the Global Age. The Nexus Between Public Health and National Security

Although the health sector is a great contributor to the well-being status of every individual and community as a whole, and it is recognized that good health supports the economy, the idea of connecting it with the national security was not very much promoted by the public policymakers, nor by the academics. Over the last three decades, not only that the situation has started to change, but even the concept of health security has gained acceptance and attractiveness. Nevertheless, there is a great debate in theory and practice concerning the real meaning of the concept and the way of understanding it by the professionals from different domains connected with the public health sector. Not to mention that its importance is brought into discussion mainly in times of crisis and the disagreement regarding its content and scope is much deeper between developed and developing countries. This paper proposes to make the necessary distinction between the concepts that constitute the foundation of the specific analysis, but without treating them in a separate way. Also, by dealing with the concept of health security, it aims at highlighting the role of government in the process and last, but not least, to emphasize the need of international cooperation in the global age.