The unprecedented challenges posed due to pandemics and other public health emergencies of international concern threaten the basic functions of foreign policy related to global security; economic stability; human dignity; and social justice. These novel developments and in the context of reported health disasters in the recent past has led to increased interest among academicians and researchers in what is increasingly called “health diplomacy” or “global health diplomacy”. However, with growing interest in global health diplomacy, the need for more clarity on health diplomacy concepts, contextualization and understanding of interlinkages, institutions, actors and sectors influencing global health diplomacy is of utmost significance.