PHA-Exch> Health is global: a UK Government strategy

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC) <ruglucia at paho.org>
crossposted from: EQUIDAD at listserv.paho.org

 *Health is Global: a UK Government strategy*



*UK** Department of Health September 30, 2008*

* *

Available online at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_088702





"….Safeguarding good health is not simply the province of individual
countries. A globalised, interdependent world, characterised by the
increasing movement of individuals and populations – and where disease
recognises no borders – means that health has become a global issue.
Our responsibility is to harness the opportunities of globalisation to
improve the health of people across the world, and in particular people in
the UK.



 A healthy population is fundamental to prosperity, security and stability –
a cornerstone of economic growth and social development. In contrast, poor
health does more than damage the economic and political viability of any one
country – it is a threat to the economic and political interests of all
countries. Improving global health is vital if we are to achieve the
Government's domestic and international objectives. The health targets of
the MDGs are among those least likely to be met and this demands a coherent
strategy and decisive action.



Global health is determined by factors which themselves often show scant
respect for national boundaries – such as international trade, climate
change, pollution, conflict, environmental degradation and poverty.



The UK Government cannot achieve the ambition set out in this strategy
alone. Because so many sectors affect health, and so many countries and
agencies are involved in healthcare, improving health around the world
requires co-operative actions and solutions. This means creative, joined-up
partnership both between UK government departments, and between the UK
Government and a host of other partners, ranging from the EU and the UN to
non-governmental organisations (NGOs), foundations, academia and business.
Such a co-operative vision demands a strategy for improving global health
and, while the strategy we outline is for the next five years, its vision
covers a 10- to 15-year period. The strategy sets out the breadth of global
health issues and our plan for tackling them…"



*There are ten principles that underpin Health is Global*

*They are that we will:*



1.       set out to do no harm and, as far as feasible, evaluate the impact
of our domestic and foreign policies on global health to ensure that our
intention is fulfilled;

2.       base our global health policies and practice on sound evidence,
especially public health evidence, and work with others to develop evidence
where it does not exist;

3.       use health as an agent for good in foreign policy, recognising that
improving the health of the world's population can make a strong
contribution towards promoting a low-carbon, high-growth global economy;

4.       promote outcomes on global health that support the achievement of
the MDGs and the MDG Call for Action;

5.       promote health equity within and between countries through our
foreign and domestic policies;

6.       ensure that the effects of foreign and domestic policies on global
health are much more explicit and that we are transparent about where the
objectives of different policies may conflict;

7.       work for strong and effective leadership on global health through
strengthened and reformed international institutions;

8.       learn from other countries' policies and experience in order to
improve the health and well-being of the UK population and the way we
deliver healthcare;

9.       protect the health of the UK proactively, by tackling health
challenges that begin outside our borders; and

10.   work in partnership with other governments, multilateral agencies,
civil society and business in pursuit of our objectives



*Contents *

Foreword by the Prime Minister

Summary

Why the UK needs a strategy to address global health

Health is Global: The strategy

Ten principles

Five areas for action

1. Better global health security

2. Stronger, fairer and safer systems to deliver health

3. More effective international health organisations

4. Stronger, freer and fairer trade for better health

5. Strengthening the wa y we develop and use evidence to improve policy and
practice

Working with others

Resources

Implementation and monitoring progress

References



·         Download summary (PDF,
42K)<http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=173755&Rendition=Web>

·         Download annexes (PDF,
1724K)<http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=173693&Rendition=Web>

·         Download impact assessments (PDF,
741K)<http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=173756&Rendition=Web>
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