Indo-Pacific Health Security Alliance

The Indo-Pacific health security alliance (IPhsa) plays a critical role in enhancing health security across the Indo-Pacific region by fostering collaboration between civilian and military sectors. Through integrated efforts, IPhsa helps mitigate global health security threats and strengthen national and regional resilience. By bolstering the capacity of civilian and military entities, IPhsa aims to strengthen partnerships, counter malign influences, and improve readiness, ultimately contributing to peace, security, and prosperity in a free and resilient Indo-Pacific.

Vision: To integrate civil-military cooperation and sustained health security partnerships contributing to a prepared and resilient Indo-Pacific region.

Mission: To counter global health security threats, strengthen regional resilience, and expand civil-military collaboration with like-minded partners and to enhance shared capabilities to safeguard the Indo-Pacific region.

For any questions or additional details, please feel free to reach out to us at Indo-PacificHealthSecurityAllianceIPhsa @us.navy.mil.

May 2025

IPhsa coming to Papua New Guinea in 2025!

Papua New Guinea is proud to announce its role as the host for the next IPhsa event which is set to occur May 6-8^th, 2025. For any questions or additional details, please feel free to reach out to us at Indo-PacificHealthSecurityAllianceIPhsa @us.navy.mil.

Spotlight: Papua New Guinea

Summer 2025

U.S. Navy heading to PNG for Pacific Partnership medical mission

The Pacific Partnership (PP) mission is the U.S. Navy’s largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. One of the planned 2025 PP stops will be PNG where the medical component of the mission will include clinical support in areas such as dentistry and optometry, community health engagements, public health improvement strategies, and veterinary engagements. These efforts are designed to enhance capabilities and regional interoperability, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships throughout the Indo-Pacific.

October 18, 2024

US Airforce PACIFIC ANGEL – medical engagement with PNGDF

The U.S. Air Force, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) PACIFIC ANGEL held 26-30 August 2024 focused on enhancing disaster preparedness, medical capabilities, and regional cooperation among the U.S., PNG Defense Force (PNGDF), and partners from Australia and France. The exercise included key discussions on aeromedical evacuation (AE), public health, trauma care and austere medicine, and mental health support. AE SMEs from the USAF, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and French Armed Forces of the New Caledonia (FANC) conducted hands-on demonstrations with PNGDF personnel, focusing on patient movement, trauma care, and live flight operations using various aircraft. These efforts significantly improved PNGDF’s capacity to manage AE operations in disaster situations, fostering stronger interoperability.

April 11, 2024

US Army surgical detachment works alongside PNG doctors

Members of the U.S. Army's 135th Forward Resuscitative and Surgical Detachment, 65th Medical Brigade deployed to Papua New Guinea’s Port Moresby General Hospital (POMGEN), enhancing trauma care. Working in a resource-constrained environment, the team collaborated with local medical staff to exchange expertise, build interoperability, and adapt to high-demand scenarios. This surgical rotation was facilitated by the Defense Cooperation Agreement which was signed in May 2023 and ratified in August 2023.

August 2023

U.S. Navy Biosurveillance collaboration with PNG

U.S. Navy Medical Research Unit - Indo Pacific (NAMRU-IP) in collaboration with the Papua New Guinea's National Department of Health and Central Public Health Laboratory launched a Biosurveillance project in August 2023, focusing on respiratory and febrile illness. The study spans Port Moresby General Hospital, six civilian clinics and two PNG Defense Force barracks clinics, identifying pathogens such as dengue, malaria, influenza and SARS-CoV-2. BioFire FilmArray PCR testing in Central Public Health Laboratory is a major milestone for PNG.

Fall 2019

U.S. Army, ADF Biosurveillance partnership with PNG

The U.S. Walter Reed Army Institute of Research-Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (WRAIR-AFRIMS), Australian Defense Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute (ADFMIDI) are conducting a 10-year study in partnership with Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF) and their families. This study (2019-2029) focuses on Biosurveillance of vector-borne diseases and drug-resistant bacteria, including malaria, around PNGDF bases. Each year, as part of exercise “No Sick Soljia”, this partnership carries out a focal screen-and-treat effort over a 6-week period at selected PNGDF bases. This initiative strengthens partnerships and fosters interoperability between US, Australia and PNG.

IPhsa News

Oct. 4, 2024

IPhsa at ICMM: Strengthening Indo-Pacific Health Security

During the International Committee for Military Medicine (ICMM) 45th World Congress “Military Medicine Shaping Global Health” held in Brisbane from September 22-27, 2024.

June 17, 2024

Strengthening Military-Civilian Relations and Partnerships on Global Health Security

The Australian Defence Force and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command co-hosted the Military Civilian Health Security Summit in Sydney, June 16-17, bringing together 23 Indo-Pacific partner nations, international organizations, NGOs and academics to facilitate improved coordination and collaboration between military and civilian groups to better prevent, detect and respond to health security threats.

May 18, 2022

US Delegation Visits Australia to Enhance Health System Interoperability

SYDNEY, Australia – A U.S. health delegation headed by Rear Adm. Pamela Miller, Command Surgeon for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and Maj. Gen. Michael Place, Commanding General of 18th Medical Command, visited Australia from April 25 to May 4, 2022, to enhance Australian-U.S. health interoperability.

IPhsa Reports and Agreements

IPhsa Readout ICMM

IPhsa at the 45th International Committee for Military Medicine World Congress, 26 September 2024, Brisbane Australia.

Military-Civilian Health Security Summit Summary Report 16-17 June 2024

The following report encapsulates the key highlights, outcomes, and action points that emerged from the IPhsa working group meeting. By harnessing the expertise and dedication of the participants, this initiative aims to create a robust alliance that will contribute to building health security resilience in the region.

Terms of Reference of the Indo-Pacific Health Security Alliance

This document provides terms of reference for the IPhsa (17 June 2024).

Indo-Pacific Health Security Alliance Summary Report 18-19 July 2023

Memorandum of Cooperation Between USINDOPACOM and Australian Defence Force (ADF) 03 May 2022

The U.S Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), a represented by the Jo7, and the Australian Defense Force (ADF), as represented by the Joint Health Command (JHC) share a joint interest in fostering and advancing health security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Resources

National Civil-Military Health Collaboration Framework for Strengthening Health Emergency Preparedness

World Health Organization: This report highlights the critical role of military assistance in responding to natural and environmental disasters, as well as public health emergencies. It emphasizes the importance of civil-military collaboration in enhancing emergency preparedness and response, advocating for stronger partnerships between public health and military sectors to optimize resources and coordination.

Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework

World Health Organization: The document outlines a comprehensive strategy for addressing public health emergencies in the Asia Pacific region, which includes diverse health threats like infectious diseases, climate-related disasters, and antimicrobial resistance. Building on past frameworks, the document introduces a six-domain approach encompassing leadership, preparedness, response, resilience, support, and continuous improvement to strengthen regional health security systems.