• Research
  • Politika
  • About
Carnegie Russia Eurasia center logoCarnegie lettermark logo
  • Donate
A Quiet Force: Health Cooperation in U.S.-Russian Relations
Report

A Quiet Force: Health Cooperation in U.S.-Russian Relations

U.S.-Russian public health cooperation has led to extraordinary achievements, from the development and production of the Sabin polio vaccine to the eradication of smallpox. But the full potential of this collaboration has not yet been achieved.

Link Copied
Published on Mar 19, 2013

Additional Links

Full TextРезюме
REQUIRED IMAGE

Project

U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission

Learn More

U.S.-Russian public health cooperation has led to extraordinary achievements, from the development and production of the Sabin polio vaccine to the eradication of smallpox. But the full potential of this collaboration has not yet been achieved. Deeper bilateral engagement could drive innovation and economic growth for both countries and the world. Unlocking this latent power requires leadership, resources, know-how, and strong institutional foundations.

The Public-Private Task Force on U.S.-Russian Health Cooperation

  • The U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission’s Working Group on Health can play a central role in deepening U.S.-Russian health engagement.
  • To support the commission’s work, the Carnegie Endowment established the Public-Private Task Force on U.S.-Russian Health Cooperation.
  • Subcommittees on strategic resource allocation, healthy lifestyles, science cooperation and technology transfer, and regulatory convergence and harmonization contributed to the task force’s work.
  • The task force issued a set of overarching strategic recommendations that cut across these four areas of focus, as well as specific recommendations in each area.

Strategic Recommendations for U.S.-Russian Health Cooperation

Transform the relationship into one of equal partners. Russia and the United States should move past their post-Soviet donor-recipient relationship and address global health challenges as equal partners.

Find areas where interests align. Focusing on issues that affect multiple stakeholders, such as noncommunicable diseases, will attract the resources and know-how to advance the relationship.

Maintain the momentum of cooperation. Collaboration on a regular basis, not just during times of crisis, will help ensure effective responses at critical times.

Recognize the importance of Track II activities. Facilitating interactions such as peer-to-peer exchanges will build relationships that can produce real outcomes.

Encourage public-private cooperation. Collaboration across sectors will generate the optimal combination of political leadership, technological know-how, and resources.

Take advantage of regional- and state-level strengths. Establishing cooperative relationships at the state level in the United States and the regional level in Russia may help accelerate progress.

North AmericaUnited StatesRussiaForeign Policy

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    What Does Central Europe’s Post-Orban Russia Policy Look Like?

    Though Orban is gone, Putin can still count on some like-minded individuals in Central and Eastern Europe. However, they will seek to avoid open confrontation with EU institutions over Ukraine and their ties with Moscow.


      Dimitar Bechev

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    Are Russia-Japan Relations Really Warming Up?

    The truth is that Japan’s government is seeking a degree of reengagement but at a vastly reduced level than under Abe. Most significantly, Japan has shown no willingness to ease sanctions.

      James D.J. Brown

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    Brussels and Baku Are Talking Again: What Next?

    Azerbaijan’s relations with the EU appear to be going from strength to strength after several years in the deep freeze following the military escalation in Karabakh in 2023 and Azerbaijan’s bitter fallout with France and several other EU member states.

      Shujaat Ahmadzada

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    In Russia, Private Companies Have Been Left to Pick Up the Tab for Ukrainian Drone Attacks

    The cost of air defense has become an unregistered tax on revenue for businesses. While military rents are consolidated in the federal budget, the costs of defense are being spread across the balance sheets of companies and regional governments.

      Alexandra Prokopenko

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    As Trump Threatens to Quit NATO, the Baltic States Are Playing for Time

    Governments in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania want to ensure that a U.S. military withdrawal would not leave them dangerously exposed to a Russian attack.

      Sergejs Potapkins

Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center
Carnegie Russia Eurasia logo, white
  • Research
  • Politika
  • About
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • For Media
Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.