In an era of extensive and continuing globalization, health challenges increasingly demonstrate trans-boundary characteristics. For example, through international travel a new influenza strain can become a global pandemic within days; international trade regulations can expand the consumption of tobacco and unhealthy diets or constrain access to life-saving medicines; the migration of health workers to rich countries can substantially weaken the health systems of poorer countries. Governments cannot address such problems in isolation. Instead, they must act collectively with a diversity of state and non-state actors to develop global health policies and institutions. How effectively this system works to mitigate disease or promote health is the central subject of global health governance and this course. Drawing on cutting edge research in policy studies, political economy and governance, the course investigates the tensions inherent in health policy-making in a globalizing world.  It is organised thematically around the contested understandings of global health governance that interconnect health and health policy in developed and developing countries. This includes social, economic and technological approaches to global health; health in development and aid; global health security; the increasing importance of health in foreign policy; and the trade-off between state sovereignty and the need for collective action. It also examines the rising role of Asian countries as powerful economic and political actors in global health governance. 

By the end of this course students will be able to:

(a) Demonstrate a working knowledge of global health challenges, and the health policy and governance responses to effectively address them;

(b) Contribute to informed debates on contemporary developments in global health governance, such as global health security, health in development and aid, access to essential medicines, and health workforce migration;

(c) Demonstrate the capacity to research, critically analyse and persuasively communicate ideas about health policy in a globalizing world.

(i) Global health policy brief. 500 words (15%)

(ii) Global health policy analysis paper. 2000 words (50%)

(iii) Global health research priorities paper. 1500 words (35%)

Total of 30 contact hours of seminars, with an additional total of 60 hours reading expected in preparation for seminars.

Three years work experience in a public sector environment or POGO8082 Political Institutions & the Policy Process, or the Graduate Diploma in Public Administration.

None

Three years work experience in a public sector environment or equivalent, or POGO8082 Political Institutions and Policy Processes, or the Graduate Diploma in Public Administration.

Kay, A. and Williams, O. (eds) (2009) Global Health Governance: Crisis, Institutions And Political Economy, Basingstoke: Palgrave McMillan;

Lee, K., Pang, T., Tan, T (eds) (2013) Asia’s Role in Governing Global Health, Abingdon, Oxon; New York: Routledge;

Merson, M., Black, R., Mills, A. (2012) Global Health : Diseases, Programs, Systems, and Policies, Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.