A sustainable future in medicine and health requires global collaboration. This is particularly so in the face of pressing global health challenges such as those impacted by climate changes, emerging infectious diseases, anti-microbial resistance, biotechnology development and health disparities. There is a need to accelerate health innovations and data sharing. For example, the World Health Organization COVAX programme has been instrumental in developing and distributing vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar models can be applied to other infectious diseases and as a preparation for future pandemics. Such sharing of knowledge and technologies e.g. gene editing and synthetic biology may also lead to breakthroughs in the treatment of genetic disorders, cancers, and inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Besides, data sharing through platforms like the Global Health Data Exchange, Global Burden of Disease, Human Genome Project etc enable researchers and healthcare providers worldwide to foster evidence-based disease prediction and monitoring, drug development, and health policy and decision making. Equally important is capacity building e.g. training for healthcare workers, particularly for low and middle income countries. Finally, governments should also concentrate their efforts on green biotechnology such as the development of eco-friendly biomaterials and medical devices and sustainable drug production methods.
