Global Health Diplomacy:Challenges towards Health Equity

Abstract

Global health diplomacy and health inequities are still growing issue in the 21st century and the current study presents a review and analysis of the existing literature that explores the concept and practice of the Global Health Diplomacy (GHD) and some issues surrounding policy implementation. The goal of the study was to examine the practices of GHD in order to determine the factors impacting health inequity and the main research question guiding the conduct of this study was: What factors affect global health inequity and in what ways do current efforts to coordinate global health diplomacy address this issue? Specifically, the results of this study were intended to contribute with a gap in the literature on global health diplomacy and global health inequity demonstrating the challenges of GHD to respond to health inequities on various world populations. The study sought to explore the health issues considered significant within foreign policy, and how GHD has been applied to address them. Among current and distinguished approaches that countries conduct their GHD, the study highlighted Brazil and the country's ability to combine its economic prowess and diplomatic strategies when responding to global health issues, which can serve as a lesson for other countries - fact that was mentioned at the conclusion among others recommendations.