Global Health Diplomacy: Key Factors for Improving Health Equity

Never before in history has the field of global health had such a profound impact on the well being of people throughout the world. Globalization efforts have increased the level of trade and transportation between the developing world and countries with more developed infrastructures. These same efforts have also increased the potential for disease proliferation through increased interpersonal contact. Contemporary methods for disease tracking have proven that both communicable and non-communicable diseases transcend national borders. All countries must now be willing to collaborate for the greater good of humanity. The road ahead to ensuring equity in the health and well being of people throughout the world is through global health diplomacy (GHD).

GHD may be defined as the multi-level negotiation processes performed throughout the world by foreign ministries, intergovernmental organizations, non-government organizations, humanitarian assistance organizations, multi-national corporations, and philanthropic organizations for the sake of assistance and development in global health without conflict. GHD actions are performed for the sake of health as a public good and a human right. These actions occur both by design and on an as-needed basis for improved population health outcomes, health security, and improved leverage for greater foreign policy concerns for all countries involved.

This session will serve to articulate the critical success factors necessary for improving health equity through GHD. It will also serve to identify several barriers to GHD that hinder long term health equity. It is proposed that a presenter will be available on several dates and times throughout the world congress to answer any questions about this poster presentation. It is also proposed that a summary document will be developed to serve as a guide for future study in this field.