Foreign policy and global public health: working together towards common goals
Authors/Editors: Margaret Chana, Jonas Gahr Støreb, Bernard Kouchnerc
Publisher/Journal: Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Publication date: July 2008, 86 (7)
Language: English
Number of pages: 1
Overview
“…..Pandemics, emerging diseases and bioterrorism are readily understood as direct threats to national and global security. But health issues are also important in other core functions of foreign policy, such as pursuing economic growth, fostering development, and supporting human rights and human dignity. Health is today a growing concern in foreign policy….”
A key event in this new era of global health diplomacy was the recent World Health Assembly resolution on public health and intellectual property (WHA 61.21) demonstrating what can be achieved when public health experts and diplomats work together.
The successful outcome of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property was due to the flexibility Member States demonstrated in negotiating the global strategy and plan of action. The resolution means a more proactive approach can be taken in the quest for innovation of, and equitable access to, life-saving and health-promoting interventions…..”
a World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
b Minister of Foreign Affairs, PB 8114 Dep., N-0032 Oslo, Norway
c Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Paris, France