Browse Hierarchy SUM401O: The International Politics of Global Health

According to WHO's Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, "the poor health of the poor, the social gradient in health within countries, and the marked health inequities between countries are caused by the unequal distribution of power, income, goods, and services, globally and nationally. This unequal distribution of health-damaging experiences "is not in any sense a 'natural' phenomenon but is the result of a toxic combination of poor social policies and programmes, unfair economic arrangements, and bad politics". This module will provide students with an introduction to political theory, globalisation and the global political economy of health, before enabling students an opportunity to learn about the actors, structures and politics of global health governance and international health policy. The latter will include learning about global actors such as WHO, the Gates Foundation and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria; as well as the role of civil society organisations and social movements in promoting global health equity.