[1][2][3] Established in response to the 2001 terrorist attacks, its primary goal is to prepare for and address public health risks related biological, chemical, nuclear terrorism, or pandemics.
The ministers agreed on eight areas in which the partnership could collaborate in order to "strengthen public health preparedness and response to the threat of international biological, chemical and radio-nuclear terrorism."
In December 2002, at a meeting in Mexico City, the Ministers broadened the scope of the mandate to include the public health threat posed by pandemic influenza.
[6] GHSI states that its mandate is "to undertake concerted global action to strengthen public health preparedness and response to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, as well as pandemic influenza," including intentional, accidental, and naturally occurring events.
Current working groups include:[7] GHSI conducts research and collaborates to address global health security concerns.