A new BMJ Global Health blog by Young, Palanisamy, Rogers, Thanzami, and Hulme (2025) argues that deafness—while not an infectious disease—is a critical and overlooked global health priority. The authors reflect on the UK Government’s decision to cancel a £2.1 million NIHR-funded research programme in Malaysia, simply because it did not align with the narrowed focus on global health security—defined predominantly through the lens of infectious disease threats.

The authors challenge this definition of “global health security,” asserting that it must extend beyond viral containment to include access, equity, and systemic inclusion. Deafness is not a disease, and for many, it represents a cultural and linguistic identity. However, Deaf communities—particularly in low- and middle-income countries—face serious barriers to healthcare, including:

• Poor access to information in sign languages

• Delayed diagnoses and limited early intervention

• Health systems that overlook Deaf-specific needs

These inequities contribute to worse health outcomes and greater vulnerability—not because of deafness itself, but due to persistent structural exclusion.

The cancelled Malaysia project exemplified Deaf-led, participatory, and locally grounded research. It aimed to build capacity among Deaf scholars, support inclusive health systems, and engage hundreds of Deaf Malaysians to inform service design. Its defunding signals a broader issue: valuable, equity-driven health research is being deprioritised in favour of narrowly defined “threat-based” models of health investment.

This blog is a call to broaden our understanding of global health priorities. Health security must include dignity, access, and equity for all, including the Deaf population. Investing in inclusive, community-led health research is not just a moral imperative—it is essential for truly resilient global health systems.

Read the full blog on BMJ Global Health website.

There is a BSL-translated video summary available on the video page.

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