Health 2020: Foreign policy and health - Synergy between sectors: ensuring global health policy coherence - World ...
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Sector brief on
Foreign affairs
July 2015
Health 2020:
Foreign policy
and health
Synergy between sectors:
ensuring global health
policy coherence
Summary
The Health 2020 policy framework has also fostering healthy and resilient com- • support the mobilization of adequate
been adopted by all Member States of the munities and economies in the European resources for global disease control, uni-
WHO European Region in order to address Region and beyond. versal health coverage and joint action to
Europe’s great social and health challenges, improve global health security;
calling upon the health sector to reach out Foreign policy can help to create healthier • promote approaches within development
to, and work with, all the various sectors people and communities by: financing that contribute to increasing
and parties in the continuous work of • strengthening global mechanisms and health equity and address the social
improving people’s health and well-being. processes to enable an informed and determinants of health; and
Today’s greatest challenges are global and coordinated response by the international • working with the health sector to reduce
require a common, coordinated response. community to major challenges affecting gender-based inequalities, including sexual,
By working together, health and foreign people’s health and well-being, including reproductive health and rights, violence
affairs can contribute to improving the living security issues; against women and in the humanitarian
and working conditions of individuals, fam- • ensuring policy coherence between and security context.
ilies and communities, reduce inequalities health, foreign policy and development,
and support human development, not only including trade policies and commercial
improving good health and well-being but determinants of health;Key messages
The goal of Health 2020 is to significantly improve
the health and well-being of populations, reduce health
inequalities, strengthen public health and ensure
people-centred health systems that are universal,
equitable, sustainable and of high quality.
1
Health and wellbeing are
public goods and assets for
human development that
contribute to strong, dynamic
and creative societies.
5 2
Social progress is best mea- Health and well-being are
sured by objective indicators best achieved if the whole of
of health, health equity and government works together,
well-being, and this includes and Health 2020 promotes whole-
the conditions in which people of-government and whole-of-
are born, live and work. society approaches.
4 3
Different countries, cities Health and well-being
and communities are at different can be improved and health
starting-points; each is unique and inequalities reduced, through
can pursue common goals through the right policies and working
different pathways. with other sectors.
2 Health 2020: ForeignaffairsStrengthening the link between
health and foreign policy
In 2012, all 53 Member States in the Globalization, including the rise of global
European Region adopted Health 2020, trade in goods, environmental degradation
the new common European health policy as well as conflict and human migration,
framework, and committed themselves to has health as a key element. As unhealthy
developing integrative policies that engage goods and lifestyles spread around the
with all sectors in addressing the social globe, it takes a global response to coun-
and economic determinants of health teract the increase in noncommunicable
and well-being. This cannot be achieved diseases. Foreign policy and diplomacy
through domestic policy alone: health offer important instruments to address
policy today requires joint action to address intersectoral, multilevel and multilateral
collective problems facing all countries. The policy-making and can complement and
link between health and foreign policy in support national policy efforts. Ensuring
a globalized world has been most obvious that foreign policy supports health and
in the response to communicable disease makes effects on health a key consideration
outbreaks and builds on the historical tradi- for foreign policy, development and invest-
tion of sanitary agreements between states. ment strategies is crucial.
Bacteria, viruses and parasites do not stop
at national borders regardless of political or
diplomatic agreements.
World Health Organization 3Health 2020:
a framework for action
The goal of Health 2020 is to significantly improve
the health and well-being of populations, reduce
health inequalities, strengthen public health and
ensure people-centred health systems that are uni-
versal, equitable, sustainable and of high quality.
All Member States of the WHO European Region have What makes societies prosper and flourish can also
agreed to monitor progress against six common targets: make people healthy, and policies that recognize this
have more impact.
Building awareness and capacity to make health objec-
1. Reduce premature mortality in tives part of society’s overall socioeconomic and human
development is essential. All policy fields, including
the European Region by 2020 health, need to reform their ways of working and use
new forms and approaches to policy at the global,
2. Increase life expectancy in national and local levels.
the European Region
3. Reduce health inequalities in
the European Region
4. Enhance the wellbeing of the
European Region population
5. Ensure universal health coverage
and the right to the highest
attainable level of health
6. Set national goals and targets
related to health in Member States.
4 Health 2020: ForeignaffairsSynergy between sectors:
using foreign policy to
improve health
Strengthening the link between
foreign policy and better health
Many areas of domestic health are strongly • The health component in foreign policy energy demand. In addition, the global
influenced by global developments, such design to address security concerns could action to address the effects on climate
as trade in goods and services, intellectual be seen as the most prominent interlink, change gives global health challenges an
property, especially in relation to medi- particularly to mitigate and respond important position to be integrated into
cines, migration of health professionals to the outbreak of infectious diseases foreign policy strategies.
and climate change. Many determinants of such as HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, SARS, • Many countries implement health pro-
health are subject to international treaties influenza A (H1N1) and Ebola. Pandemics grammes as part of their development
that require ratification and implementation are more likely to originate in countries and humanitarian commitments. Health
at the national level. This includes not only with a poor health system, thus posing a can also be an important instrument
the explicitly health-related treaties such as threat to the international community. of soft power and relationship-building
the International Health Regulations and the • Foreign policy-makers have the opportu- between countries, especially when co-
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco nity to address the significance of health operating in other areas of foreign policy
Control but also human rights treaties, trade to economic and social development by is difficult.
agreements and environmental regimes. designing and contributing to domes-
One of the most important international tic and global socioeconomic policy The outcomes of foreign policy can signif-
negotiations for health at present is the pro- frameworks. Good health is essential for icantly influence global health, the health
cess to define the Sustainable Development human development. A strong health of low- and middle-income countries and
Goals – given their role for all countries and system is crucial for national and interna- the domestic health of countries in the
not only low- and middle-income countries. tional security. Given the increased global European Region. Health is an important
Since foreign affairs ministries primarily interconnection, ensuring health is on the component of the global portfolio of
negotiate these, it is critical that both health foreign policy agenda could ensure coher- foreign ministries and relevant for many
and development ministries be involved in ence in economic discussions including dimensions from security to stability. It is
preparing the negotiations so that health enhancing trade relationships. a part of science diplomacy as much as
and health impact are considered through- • Health as a vital component in foreign commercial diplomacy and a feature in rela-
out the goals. policy, when engaging in post-conflict tionship-building between countries when
development and responding to natural it is difficult to cooperate in other areas and
The nexus between foreign policy has disasters, has been increasingly acknowl- therefore a key partner for the health sector.
become increasingly accepted in three edged, mainly through humanitarian
key global agendas: security, social and action frameworks. The impact on health
economic development and post-conflict or has been included in foreign policy to re-
emergency action. spond to global crises including food and
World Health Organization 5Synergy between sectors:
creating policy coherence
to put health high on the
political agenda
How can the sectors
work together?
Health 2020 provides a platform for such KEY AREAS TO EXPLORE TOGETHER INCLUDE:
joint working between health and foreign
affairs. Working together, we have the • fostering policy coherence across health,
power to intervene to address some of foreign policy and development;
today’s greatest health challenges, including • ensuring adequate preparedness and
health inequalities, social exclusion and response for emergency and cross-border
supporting sustainable development while health threats;
ensuring that individuals and communities • strengthening global mechanisms and
are able to fulfil their highest potential. processes to adequately address health
and health equity; and
• ensuring that health is represented in eco-
nomic processes, including trade policies.
How can foreign policy • Strengthen global mechanisms and other measures for an informed and
coordinated preparedness and rapid response system
make a difference to health? • Contribute to global, regional and subregional health governance and
enhance human and social development
• Support the mobilization of adequate resources for global disease control,
universal health coverage and global action on tackling shortages of hu-
man resources for health
• Affirm the interconnectedness of trade, health and development, including
in formulating trade agreements
• Explore innovative approaches to improve access to essential mediciness
• Ensure that global policies do not undermine public health approaches
6 Health 2020: ForeignaffairsCollaborating to improve
global health
THE CHALLENGE THE RESPONSE NEEDED
Responding to cross-border health Cooperating towards establishing a permanent and
threats, disease outbreaks and efficient response to pandemic outbreaks through
humanitarian disasters international agreements as well as well prepared rapid
response
Addressing global health inequities and Providing leadership in international
the determinants of health in many global negotiations that have significant health
policy forums, including the Sustainable impact, including such areas as environment, trade,
Development Goals process intellectual property, agriculture and fisheries, climate
change, biodiversity and biofuel production
Ensuring social protection, universal health Jointly developing coherent investment strategies in na-
coverage and health system strengthening, tional health and social protection systems for prevent-
including access to medicines ing and responding to health challenges
Contributing to developing a trade environment that is
coherent with social and health objectives
Developing joint approaches on human resources for
health
Strengthening WHO and the global health Ensuring close cooperation and joint strategic goals
architecture between health, foreign policy and development
Working together to strengthen joint accountability for
greater policy coherence between health, foreign policy
and development
Working together to strengthen training on health
diplomacy
How can health make a • Identify gaps in the availability of essential medicines and vaccines,
equipment and health professionals, including states and countries
difference to foreign policy? in conflict and crisis
• Support gender health equity and general improvement of global
health equity to strengthen national peace and security and pre-
vent diseases, humanitarian crises and armed conflicts
• Work together to overcome macroeconomic constraints to effec-
tive health investment (prevention and treatment)
World Health Organization 7Using Health 2020 as a platform
for joint work: a political mandate
and evidence base
The Health 2020 policy framework has a Senegal, South Africa and Thailand – de-
political mandate. It has been adopted by all clared global health to be a goal of foreign
Reducing health inequalities
European Member States and can be adapt- policy in the Oslo Ministerial Declaration:
To reduce health inequalities, addressing
ed to the different settings and realities that “We believe that health is one of the most
the following is a good start:
make up the European Region. It describes important, yet still broadly neglected, long-
how health and well-being can be advanced, term foreign policy issues of our time. ...
sustained and measured through action that We believe that health as a foreign policy
LIFE-COURSE STAGE
creates social cohesion, security, a good issue needs a stronger strategic focus on the
• Social protection for women, mothers-
work–life balance, good health and good ed- international agenda. We have therefore
to-be and young families
ucation. It calls on the health sector to reach agreed to make impact on health a point
• Universal, high-quality and affordable
out to the many different actors within and of departure and a defining lens that each
early-years education and care system
outside government and provides inspiration of our countries will use to examine key
• Eradication of unsafe work and access
and direction on addressing the complex elements of foreign policy and development
to employment and high quality work
health challenges of the 21st century. The strategies, and to engage in a dialogue on
• Coherent and effective intersectoral
framework confirms values, is based on evi- how to deal with policy options from this
action to tackle inequalities at older ages
dence and identifies strategic directions and perspective”. This Declaration acknowledg-
essential actions. It builds on the experiences es health as a global public good, bringing
WIDER SOCIETY
gained through previous Health for All poli- together the negotiation process for bilateral,
• Improved social protection, according
cies and guides the actions of both Member regional and multilateral cooperation as well
to need
States and the Regional Office. as a critical approach to ensure domestic
• Co-creation and partnership with those
health development.
targeted, civil society and civic partners
Several European governments have since
• Action to reduce social exclusion
established global health policies to ensure The Helsinki Statement on Health in All Poli-
• Gender equity approach
the collaboration between national sectors cies adopted t the 8th Global Conference on
and to bring together common domestic Health Promotion in Helsinki in 2013 states
BROADER CONTEXT
and foreign policy concerns in order to that “In our interconnected world, health is
• Promoting equity through tax and trans-
set priorities and goals that also enhance shaped by many powerful forces, especially
fer payments
accountability between the sectors and to- demographic change, rapid urbanization, cli-
• Long-term planning through links with
wards civil society. Such policies can improve mate change and globalization … The health
other policies
domestic health, strengthen health as a pillar of the people is not only a health sector
of development policy and ensure coherence responsibility, it also embraces wider political
SYSTEMS
with general foreign policy. Through such issues such as trade and foreign policy. Tack-
• Greater coherence across sectors
strategies, countries can be equipped with ling this requires political will to engage the
• Comprehensive responses
instruments and mechanisms to facilitate whole of government in health.”
• Regular reporting and public scrutiny
the cooperation between health, foreign
policy and other sectors that are of particular Integrating Health 2020 through
importance when negotiating within the whole-of-government and whole-of-society
international arena, hosting major summits approaches in designing foreign policy will
or holding a presidency. These policies and enhance precautionary measurements and
frameworks define the country’s engage- a comprehensive response to global health
ment in global health issues, outline the domestically and internationally. Appropri-
value base and principles, set common objec- ate action should be taken to reduce the
tives across sectors, create mechanisms and vulnerability of people around the world
instruments of intersectoral consultation and to new, acute, or rapidly spreading risks to
ensure information flow and consultation. health, particularly those threatening to cross
international borders.
A group of seven foreign ministers in Oslo
in 2007 – Brazil, France, Indonesia, Norway,
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION | REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE
UN City, Marmorvej 51, DK-2100 Copenhagen ø, Denmark
Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 E-mail: contact@euro.who.int
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