scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic as an Excellent Opportunity for Global Health Diplomacy

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanaz Taghizade ◽  
Vijay Kumar Chattu ◽  
Ebrahim Jaafaripooyan ◽  
Sebastian Kevany
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
International Cooperation ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
Health Economy ◽  
Global Health Diplomacy ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Health Diplomacy ◽  
Excellent Opportunity

Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic is not the first and most frightening global pandemic, and it may not be the last. At the very least, this phenomenon has though seriously challenged the health systems of the world; it has created a new perspective on the value of national, regional, and international cooperation during crises. The post-coronavirus world could be a world of intensified nationalist rivalries on the economic revival and political influence. However, strengthening cooperation among nations at different levels will lead to the growth of health, economy, and security. The current situation is a touchstone for international actors in coordinating the efforts in similar future crises. At present, this pandemic crisis cannot be resolved except through joint international cooperation, global cohesion, and multilateralism. This perspective concludes that the pandemic could be an excellent opportunity for the scope of global health diplomacy (GHD) and how it can be applied and practiced for strengthening five global arenas, namely (1) International Cooperation and Global Solidarity, (2) Global Economy, Trade and Development, (3) Global Health Security, (4) Strengthening health systems, and (5) Addressing inequities to achieve the global health targets. GHD proves to be very useful for negotiating better policies, stronger partnerships, and achieving international cooperation in this phase with many geopolitical shifts and nationalist mindset among many nations at this stage of COVID-19 vaccine roll-out.

scholarly journals Rethinking and strengthening the Global Health Diplomacy through triangulated nexus between policy makers, scientists and the community in light of COVID-19 global crisis

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed AlKhaldi ◽  
Nigel James ◽  
Vijay Kumar Chattu ◽  
Sara Ahmed ◽  
Hamza Meghari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Global Health Diplomacy ◽  
Global Crisis ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Health Diplomacy ◽  
Pandemic Response ◽  
Global Solidarity

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic is considerably the biggest global health challenge of this modern era. Spreading across all regions of the world, this corona virus disease has disrupted even some of the most advanced economies and healthcare systems. With an increasing global death toll and no near end in sight, questions on the efficacy of global response mechanisms, including the role and relevancy of global health institutions, have emerged. Using a reflexive content analytic approach, this study sheds light on some of these questions, underscoring the disconnect between science, policymaking, and society. Global health funding approaches; politicization of the pandemic, including political blame gaming; mistrust of government and other institutions; and a lack of robust accountability measures are some of the pandemic response obstacles. However, COVID-19 has also presented an opportunity for a collaboration that may potentially solidify global solidarity. A pandemic response built on strategic global health diplomacy, vaccine diplomacy, and science diplomacy can spur both political and economic benefits, advancing development, health security, and justice. The virus thrives and flourishes in face of political divisions and lack of cooperation. While the current global crisis has exacerbated the existing social injustices in societies, national unity and global solidarity is essential to winning the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Strengthening the COVID-19 pandemic response, global leadership, and international cooperation through global health diplomacy

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 300-305
Author(s):  
Sumbal Javed ◽  
Vijay Kumar Chattu
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
International Cooperation ◽  
Common Interest ◽  
World Health ◽  
Global Public Good ◽  
Global Health Diplomacy ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Health Diplomacy ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to claim lives around the world and, to some extent, reflects the failure of international cooperation. Global health diplomacy (GHD)can be a bridge for international cooperation for tackling public health crises, strengthening health systems through emphasizing universal health coverage for sustainable and equitable development, and rebuilding multilateral organizations. It can be a catalyst for future global health initiatives. Health should not be used as a political tool at the cost of people’s lives, nor should it become a proxy for geopolitics but can be used to diffuse tensions and create a positive environment for political dialogue. Health diplomacy’s focus should be to mitigate inequality by making available diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines as a global public good. The implications for the lack of international cooperation will lead to increased global disparities and inequities as the countries that cannot procure vaccines will find their population more vulnerable to the pandemic’s repercussion. Though the international cooperation on trade has suffered the impact of geopolitical shifts and competition, through engaging in GHD, the governments can align the trade and health policies. Amid this global health crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) has faced an increase in International Health Regulations violations, limiting its influence and response during this COVID-19 pandemic. Nations need to develop a sense of cooperation that serves as the basis for a mutual strategic trust for international development. The priorities of all the countries should be to find the areas of common interest, common operational overlap on development issues, and resource allocation for this global fight against COVID-19.

scholarly journals Politics of disease control in Africa and the critical role of global health diplomacy: A systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-31
Author(s):  
Vijay Kumar Chattu ◽  
W. Andy Knight ◽  
Anil Adisesh ◽  
Sanni Yaya ◽  
K. Srikanth Reddy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Disease Control ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
World Health ◽  
Global Health Diplomacy ◽  
African Development ◽  
Health Diplomacy ◽  
Development Agendas

Background: Africa is facing the triple burden of communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and nutritional disorders. Multilateral institutions, bilateral arrangements, and philanthropies have historically privileged economic development over health concerns. That focus has resulted in weak health systems and inadequate preparedness when there are outbreaks of diseases. This review aims to understand the politics of disease control in Africa and global health diplomacy’s (GHD’s) critical role. Methods: A literature review was done in Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Google scholar search engines. Keywords included MeSH and common terms related to the topics: "Politics," "disease control," "epidemics/ endemics," and "global health diplomacy" in the "African" context. The resources also included reports of World Health Organization, United Nations and resolutions of the World Health Assembly (WHA). Results: African countries continue to struggle in their attempts to build health systems for disease control that are robust enough to tackle the frequent epidemics that plague the continent. The politics of disease control requires the crafting of cooperative partnerships to accommodate the divergent interests of multiple actors. Recent outbreaks of COVID-19 and Ebola had a significant impact on African economies. It is extremely important to prioritize health in the African development agendas. The African Union (AU) should leverage the momentum of the rise of GHD to (i) navigate the politics of global health governance in an interconnected world(ii) develop robust preparedness and disease response strategies to tackle emerging and reemerging disease epidemics in the region (iii) address the linkages between health and broader human security issues driven by climate change-induced food, water, and other insecurities (iv) mobilize resources and capacities to train health officials in the craft of diplomacy. Conclusion: The AU, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and African Centres for Disease Control should harmonize their plans and strategies and align them towards a common goal that integrates health in African development agendas. The AU must innovatively harness the practice and tools of GHD towards developing the necessary partnerships with relevant actors in the global health arena to achieve the health targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.

scholarly journals Prioritizing ‘equity’ in COVID-19 vaccine distribution through Global Health Diplomacy

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-287
Author(s):  
Bawa Singh ◽  
Vijay Kumar Chattu
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
Global Health Diplomacy ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Health Diplomacy ◽  
The World

With over 4 million deaths worldwide, the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)pandemic is regarded as one of the worst pandemics in history. With its wider devastating consequences, even so-called affluent countries could not provide full coverage for COVID-19vaccines and medications to all of their citizens. Against this backdrop, the main aim of this article is to examine how Global Health Diplomacy (GHD) can play a role in prioritizing vaccine equity in the global health agenda in the fight against COVID-19. The majority of developed countries’ healthcare systems have been exposed and have reached a tipping point.After the completion of eighteen months of the pandemic, only five countries were able to produce vaccines for the treatment of COVID-19. This pandemic has divided the world into two blocs: those with vaccines, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and India; and those without, such as the rest of the world. The greatest challenges are vaccine inequalities, inequities and distribution, which undermine the global economic recovery. Many poor countries are still waiting for the initial doses to be delivered to their citizens, while some rich nations are planning for booster doses. GHD plays a critical role in establishing successful global collaborations, funding mechanisms and ensuring international cooperation through the combined efforts of all stakeholders. Besides, global solidarity is necessary to lessen the wider gaps between the vaccination status of rich and poor nations. Therefore, through GHD, the vaccine gaps and inequities can be addressed to strengthen global health security and accelerate global economic recovery.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's Activities in Radiation Medicine and Cancer: Promoting Global Health through Diplomacy

2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda N. Deatsch-Kratochvil ◽  
Thomas Neil Pascual ◽  
Adam Kesner ◽  
Eduardo Rosenblatt ◽  
Rethy K. Chhem
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
International Health ◽  
Atomic Energy ◽  
Political Activity ◽  
Global Health Diplomacy ◽  
Energy Agency ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Health Diplomacy ◽  
Recent Estimate ◽  
Radiation Medicine

Global health has been an issue of seemingly low political importance in comparison with issues that have direct bearing on countries’ national security. Recently, health has experienced a “political revolution” or a rise in political importance. Today, we face substantial global health challenges, from the spread of infectious disease, gaps in basic maternal and child health care, to the globalization of cancer. A recent estimate states that the “overall lifetime risk of developing cancer (both sexes) is expected to rise from more than one in three to one in two by 2015.” These issues pose significant threats to international health security. To successfully combat these grave challenges, the international community must embrace and engage in global health diplomacy, defined by scholars Thomas Novotny and Vicanne Adams as a political activity aimed at improving global health, while at the same time maintaining and strengthening international relations. The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) is an international organization with a unique mandate to “accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health, and prosperity throughout the world.” This article discusses global health diplomacy, reviews the IAEA's program activities in human health by focusing on radiation medicine and cancer, and the peaceful applications of atomic energy within the context of global health diplomacy.

Global health diplomacy: how foreign policy can influence health

BMJ ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 342 (jun10 1) ◽  
pp. d3154-d3154 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Kickbusch
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Global Health Diplomacy ◽  
Health Diplomacy

scholarly journals The burgeoning role of global health diplomacy to alleviate suffering of cancer patients in low- and middle-income countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-233
Author(s):  
Melissa Adomako ◽  
Alaei Kamiar ◽  
Abdulla Alshaikh ◽  
Lyndsay S Baines ◽  
Desiree Benson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
International Affairs ◽  
Global Health Diplomacy ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Health Diplomacy ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
And Control ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract The science of global health diplomacy (GHD) consists of cross-disciplinary, multistakeholder credentials comprised of national security, public health, international affairs, management, law, economics and trade policy. GHD is well placed to bring about better and improved multilateral stakeholder leverage and outcomes in the prevention and control of cancer. It is important to create an evidence base that provides clear and specific guidance for health practitioners in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through involvement of all stakeholders. GHD can assist LMICs to negotiate across multilateral stakeholders to integrate prevention, treatment and palliative care of cancer into their commercial and trade policies.

scholarly journals Ebola viral disease in West Africa: a threat to global health, economy and political stability

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Semeeh Akinwale Omoleke ◽  
Ibrahim Mohammed ◽  
Yauba Saidu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Global Health ◽  
International Development ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
West African ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Health Economy ◽  
Societal Impacts

The West African sub-continent is currently experiencing its first, and ironically, the largest and longest Ebola viral diseases (EVD) outbreak ever documented in modern medical history. The current outbreak is significant in several ways, including longevity, magnitude of morbidity and mortality, occurrence outside the traditional niches, rapid spread and potential of becoming a global health tragedy. The authors provided explicit insights into the current and historical background, drivers of the epidemic, societal impacts, status of vaccines and drugs development and proffered recommendations to halt and prevent future occurrences. The authors reviewed mainly five databases and a hand search of key relevant literature. We reviewed 51 articles that were relevant up until the 18th of August 2014. The authors supplemented the search with reference list of relevant articles and grey literature as well as relevant Internet websites. Article searches were limited to those published either in English or French. There are strong indications that the EVD may have been triggered by increased human activities and encroachment into the forest ecosystem spurred by increasing population and povertydriven forest-dependent local economy. Containment efforts are being hampered by weak and fragile health systems, including public health surveillance and weak governance, certain socio-anthropological factors, fast travels (improved transport systems) and globalization. The societal impacts of the EBV outbreak are grave, including economic shutdown, weakening of socio-political systems, psychological distress, and unprecedented consumption of scarce health resources. The research and development (R&D) pipeline for product against EBV seems grossly insufficient. The outbreak of Ebola and the seeming difficulty to contain the epidemic is simply a reflection of the weak health system, poor surveillance and emergency preparedness/ response, poverty and disconnect between the government and the people in many West African countries. Although interventions by the United Nations and other international development agencies could ultimately halt the epidemic, local communities must be engaged to build trust and create demand for the public health interventions being implemented in the Ebola-ravaged populations. In the intermediate and long term, post-Ebola rehabilitation should focus on strengthening of health systems, improving awareness about zoonosis and health behaviors, alleviating poverty and mitigating the impact of triggering factors. Finally, national governments and international development partners should mobilize huge resources and investments to spur or facilitate R&D of disease control tools for emerging and pernicious infectious diseases (not limited to EVD).

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