Values and ethics for implementation fidelity and integrity of public health policy in a multipolar world with conflicting value systems

Global/public health policy and security historically relied on alignment of values to the Western value system to achieve public health security, environmental protection, emergencies, and disaster-risk management and public health governance. This alignment was facilitated by globalization. As geopolitical landscapes shift, a clash of values is eroding the dominance of once-uniform systems. This is paving the way for a multipolar world, where diverse value systems increasingly influence public health policies and discourse. Whereas evidence informs policy decisions, values motivate public health implementation integrity and fidelity. Ethical values and law are indispensable pillars of good public health policy, implementation and practice. The African Ubuntu ethical value system recognizes that being human is to be interrelated, interdependent and interconnected with all for all. It accommodates diversity in unity through harmonization, reciprocity, solidarity and the common good. It is in line with the One Health concept. This commentary proposes shared ethical values as a tool for implementation integrity and fidelity of global/public health policy. It recommends value- and evidence-based public health decision-making and practice that recognizes the paradigm shift from value alignment based on uniformity to harmonization of values based on unified diversity and moral reasoning.