Globalisation and Health

Language of Instruction

English

Pre-requirements

Students admitted to a Masters´ degree Programme may join this course (e.g. TropEd Europe network). Proficiency in English at a level corresponding to TOEFL 550or IELTS 6.0 is expected.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module students should be able to

• assess the political, economic and other causes of disparities in health and health care between and within countries with a focus on how global factors may contribute to increasing inequity
• appraise what measures that are needed to counteract the forces that lead to increased inequity in health and access to health care between and within countries and be able to discuss the need for healthy policies in all sectors
• explain the consequences on health and health care of policies and practices of major global actors, the donor community and non-governmental and private actors
• develop methods of advocacy to influence decision makers on different levels to introduce policies that promote health and to abolish policies with adverse impact on health and health care

Contact Information

Centre for International Health
Tel.: +47 55588560; e-mail: studie.cih@uib.no

Course offered (semester)

Spring

Language of Instruction

English

Course Unit Level

Master and PhD

Access to the Course Unit

Students admitted to a Masters` degree Programme may join this course (e.g. TropEd Europe network). Proficiency in English at a level corresponding to TOEFL 550or IELTS 6.0 is expected.

Aim and Content

The module will examine the global policies and structures that affect health and health care and the international health policy agendas. It will explore the complex relationships between health and health care and different socioeconomic, cultural, political and structural factors as well as individual characteristics. The political, economic and other causes of disparities in health and health care between and within countries will be discussed. Focus will be on factors that contribute to inequalities and inequities.

Structures, policies, practice and roles of major global actors in health (World Trade Organization, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the donor community, the UN-system (including the WHO, UNICEF)), non-governmental organizations and private agencies) will be discussed.

The role of the state in responding to different international initiatives and the consequences on health and health care of politics and decisions of the major global actors will be assessed. In particular, the motivation for and consequences of the introduction of specific policies will be addressed. Further, the impact of new Global Health Initiatives will be discussed. The measures that are needed to counteract the forces that lead to increased inequity in health and access to health care between and within countries and the need for healthy policies in all sectors will be discussed.

The module will also examine global governance discourses, as well as global normative discourses such as human rights. The human resources for health and methods of preventing brain drain will be discussed.

The main topics covered in the lectures/seminars will include:

• What is globalisation ?
• Importance of global organisations and actors in global health
• Health and human rights. The importance of a human right perspective for improving global health
• Ecologic economics, equity and health
• Primary health care, from Alma Ata to the present day situation
• Globalisation and the social determinants of health
• Human resources and brain drain
• International HIV/AIDS initiatives and coordination of HIV/AIDS programs in African countries
• The human induced climate change - evidence and impacts
• The role of WHO in global health and the Joint Action and Learning Initiative on National and Global Responsibilities for Health
• War, violent conflicts and health
• The challenge of introducing change

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module students should be able to

• assess the political, economic and other causes of disparities in health and health care between and within countries with a focus on how global factors may contribute to increasing inequity
• appraise what measures that are needed to counteract the forces that lead to increased inequity in health and access to health care between and within countries and be able to discuss the need for healthy policies in all sectors
• explain the consequences on health and health care of policies and practices of major global actors, the donor community and non-governmental and private actors
• develop methods of advocacy to influence decision makers on different levels to introduce policies that promote health and to abolish policies with adverse impact on health and health care

Pre-requirements

Students admitted to a Masters´ degree Programme may join this course (e.g. TropEd Europe network). Proficiency in English at a level corresponding to TOEFL 550or IELTS 6.0 is expected.

Teaching Methods

The first 12 days of the course consists of a mixture of lectures and group work/discussions on the 12 main topics described above. Each day will include a critical review of key papers on global health (approximately three hours reading per seminar). The students will be provided with a list of relevant literature, approximately 15-25 pages per seminar session.

Students are required to participate in group work on assigned topics. The groups will present their work in sessions of 45 minutes pr. group.

The last six working days will be reserved for individual studies and writing of an essay on a topic of the students` choice in the field of globalisation and health.

- 24 hours lectures

- 24 hours group work/seminars following the lectures

- 36 hours individual study time in preparation for lectures

- 24 hours work on group assignments

- 42 hours essay writing

Compulsory Requirements

- Compulsory attendance in lectures and group work

Assessment methods

The assessment takes the form of a written assignment, an essay 2000-2500 words long + reference.

Grading Scale

ECTS credits A-F (F=Fail)

Reading List

Booklet of lecture notes, group work etc at the start of the course.

Place of Teaching

Centre for International Health

Course Unit Evaluation

Online questionnaire (My Space)

Contact Information

Centre for International Health
Tel.: +47 55588560; e-mail: studie.cih@uib.no