Global Health Action
Volume 7, Issue 1, 2014

The global health concept of the German government: Strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities (Article) (Open Access)

Bozorgmehr K.* , Bruchhausen W. , Hein W. , Knipper M. , Korte R. , Razum O. , Tinnemann P.
  • a Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
  • b Institute of History, Theory and Ethics in Medicine, Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
  • c Institute of Latin American Studies, German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA), Hamburg, Germany
  • d Faculty of Medicine, Institute of the History of Medicine, University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
  • e Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Health, University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
  • f Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
  • g Department of International Health Sciences, Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité -University Medical Centre Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Abstract

Recognising global health as a rapidly emerging policy field, the German federal government recently released a national concept note for global health politics (July 10, 2013). As the German government could have a significant impact on health globally by making a coherent, evidence-informed, and long-term commitment in this field, we offer an initial appraisal of the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for development recognised in this document. We conclude that the national concept is an important first step towards the implementation of a coherent global health policy. However, important gaps were identified in the areas of intellectual property rights and access to medicines. In addition, global health determinants such as trade, economic crises, and liberalisation as well as European Union issues such as the health of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers are not adequately addressed. Furthermore, little information is provided about the establishment of instruments to ensure an effective inter-ministerial cooperation. Finally, because implementation aspects for the national concept are critical for the success of this initiative, we call upon the newly elected 2013 German government to formulate a global health strategy, which includes a concrete plan of action, a time scale, and measurable goals. © 2014 Kayvan Bozorgmehr et al.

Author Keywords

Global health foreign policy Policy analysis globalisation health policy Governance

Index Keywords

global health government World Health Germany Health Policy health care policy policy analysis Article governance health Globalisation foreign policy human Humans Federal Government
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84904335266&doi=10.3402%2fgha.v7.23445&partnerID=40&md5=2f0c14c93550f97652c680039543153a
DOI: 10.3402/gha.v7.23445
ISSN: 16549880
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English