Volume 180 - Issue 4
Australian engagement: workshop recommendations
Med J Aust 2004; 180 (4): 166-167. || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2004.tb05858.x
Published online: 16 February 2004
Published online: 16 February 2004
Conference delegates participated in five thematic workshops with the aim of discussing and making practical recommendations for action. The themes and recommendations of these workshops were as follows:
Globalisation and health
Encourage political advocacy for Australia’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (<www.developmentgoals.org/>) and recognition of the links between and inequities in health, security and economic development. This should occur at the highest political levels — the Prime Minister’s Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (which could devote part of its website to these issues <www.dfat.gov.au/>), and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID <www.ausaid.gov.au/>).
Galvanise non-government organisations (NGOs) to advocate issues of health and economic development. Such NGOs could include the Australian Council for Overseas Aid, as well as others with little international involvement at present (eg, the National Heart Foundation and the Cancer Council) which could be encouraged to work in the Asia Pacific region.
Urge the Confederation of Australian Industry and the Business Council of Australia to consider health and economic development issues in their overseas ventures.
Subject all treaties, covenants and agreements ratified by the Australian Government and by private sector agencies to health impact assessments.
Encourage the transfer of quality, relevant Australian health research (eg, on tobacco, injury prevention) to developing countries.
Develop the small pool of international health expertise by providing more training opportunities in the Asia Pacific region and a career structure with Australian and multi-national organisations involved in international health.
Anthony I Adams
Retired Professor of Public Health and Medical Administrator
Avoca Beach, NSW
AarrATnetspeed.com
Emergence of global health strategies
Regard global health strategies as an opportunity to begin to redress the inequitable distribution of global resources, which can threaten social and economic stability and the health of people in all countries.
Use many different discussion forums (eg, World Health Organisation, national medical associations, learned colleges) to prepare policy options for implementing these strategies.
Mobilise multiple constituencies (eg, citizens’ groups, medical associations) to work with governments, organisations such as the UN, and international NGOs to influence the development and implementation of their global health strategies.
Strengthen the role of civil society (ie, non-government elements of society) to determine the goals, priorities, and resource distribution of such global organisations.
Peter E Baume
Honorary Emeritus Professor, and Chancellor
Australian National University, Canberra, ACT
chancellorATanu.edu.au
Marilyn J Wise
Executive Director, Australian Centre for Health Promotion
School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW
Human security, conflict and health
Invite the Australian Government to create a standing committee of relevant government departments and civil society representatives to consider global health issues in developing public policy (including foreign policy).
Encourage the Australian Government to introduce the concept of human security into official foreign policy (as Japan, Canada and Norway have done).
Form a coalition of academics and development practitioners to conduct a dialogue on health and development and to promote evidence-based policies.
Develop a media strategy to improve public understanding of the issues and interests around global health.
Build the study of global health and conflict into relevant undergraduate curricula and invite university schools of public health or health sciences to create opportunities for students to gain overseas experience by, for example, accrediting overseas units and placements, and facilitating internships with multilateral organisations, such as the World Health Organization and the World Bank.
Undertake research and advocacy on conflict-related issues critical to public health, such as arms control.
Sue Ingram
Senior Policy Fellow, Policy and Practice Division
Institute for International Health, Sydney, NSW
singramATiih.usyd.edu.au
Development and humanitarian aid
Create a "Coalition for global health" to:
engage in dialogue on future policy formulation within AusAID. (This could influence a health issues and trends paper presently being developed as the basis for a new AusAID health policy.)
form a strategy group that meets quarterly and would drive the global health agenda forward.
develop a public information strategy that is based on policy goals, addresses public opinion, uses multimedia channels of communication, and identifies advocating champions.
develop a mechanism for supporting public discussion that also identifies funding opportunities and targets the next generation of health and other relevant professionals.
conduct an annual symposium on global health that continually evaluates progress and identifies ways forward.
Heather B Macdonald
Health Adviser, AusAID, Canberra, ACT
heather_macdonaldAtausaid.gov.au
Human rights and equity in health policy
Strengthen ethical and human rights awareness in Australia
Through evidence-based advocacy, strengthening of organisations and public discussion. This could include an Australian Bill of Rights enshrining social, cultural and economic rights,
so that
society collectively thinks about and acts on these issues; and
ethical considerations are taken into account in political and policy formulation processes.
Strengthen Australian awareness of the ethical and human rights aspects of global health
Through the development of such awareness in health, development and foreign policy professionals; support for the appointment of clinical ethicists in teaching hospitals; commitment to equity and diversity in health representation, employment and practice; and honouring Australia’s international human rights obligations,
so that
equity in health is realised, both nationally and globally.
Seek to achieve an aspirational element to Australia’s foreign policy and international assistance
Through influencing political and policy development processes,
so that
Australia acts to achieve the common good, globally as well as domestically.
Elizabeth A Reid
Visiting Fellow, Gender Relation Centre RSPAS
Australian National University, Canberra, ACT
elizabeth.reidATrunbox.com