Diplomacy in health has evolved from focusing on negotiating infectious disease threats to addressing broader global health issues. Health diplomats now work on multilateral agreements and collaborate with public health experts to balance scientific and diplomatic priorities. While health diplomacy dates back to the 19th century, the field faces ongoing challenges around capacity building and defining its goals within international relations.

1. Diplomacy in HealthDiplomacy in Health
Amjad IdriesAmjad Idries

2. ConceptsConcepts
► Diplomacy is frequently referred to as the art andDiplomacy is frequently referred to as the art and
practice of conducting negotiations. This oldpractice of conducting negotiations. This old
concept no longer fit the current aspects needed.concept no longer fit the current aspects needed.
► International agreements on “Soft Issues”.International agreements on “Soft Issues”.

3. ““it was enough for a nation toit was enough for a nation to
look after itself. Today it is nolook after itself. Today it is no
longer sufficient.”longer sufficient.”
(Robert Cooper)(Robert Cooper)

4. MultilateralismMultilateralism
►The broad political, social and economicThe broad political, social and economic
implications of health issues have broughtimplications of health issues have brought
more diplomats into the health arena andmore diplomats into the health arena and
more public health experts into the world ofmore public health experts into the world of
diplomacy.diplomacy.
►No longer do diplomats just talk to otherNo longer do diplomats just talk to other
diplomats.diplomats.

5. HistoryHistory
►International health diplomacy dates back toInternational health diplomacy dates back to
at least 1851, when European diplomatsat least 1851, when European diplomats
and physicians met in Paris to seekand physicians met in Paris to seek
collaborative ways to secure theircollaborative ways to secure their
populations and commercial interestspopulations and commercial interests
against repeated visitations of pestilence.against repeated visitations of pestilence.
The focus of concern was the so-calledThe focus of concern was the so-called
“quarantinable” diseases: cholera, plague“quarantinable” diseases: cholera, plague
and yellow fever.and yellow fever.

6. HistoryHistory
►Historically, health diplomacy focused onHistorically, health diplomacy focused on
international collaboration to protect humaninternational collaboration to protect human
and commercial interests against the spreadand commercial interests against the spread
of particular infectious diseases.of particular infectious diseases.
►Health becomes a tool for promotingHealth becomes a tool for promoting
economic growth.economic growth.

7. Today'sToday's
►Disaster diplomacy.Disaster diplomacy.
►International agreements.International agreements.
►Multilateral & Bilateral relations.Multilateral & Bilateral relations.

8. Health Diplomacy
It is about finding a balanceIt is about finding a balance
betweenbetween Public Health asPublic Health as
ScienceScience with thewith the Art ofArt of
DiplomacyDiplomacy..

9. RelationshipsRelationships
Public
health International health
Global health
Health
diplomacy
International
relations

10. Health Diplomacy ComponentsHealth Diplomacy Components
►Globalization and international rules andGlobalization and international rules and
standards.standards.
►Global conflicts.Global conflicts.
►Domestic security and sovereignty.Domestic security and sovereignty.

11. ExperiencesExperiences
►Missions to the United Nations andMissions to the United Nations and
international organizations, for example ininternational organizations, for example in
New York and Geneva, increasingly need toNew York and Geneva, increasingly need to
deal with health issues as do the classicaldeal with health issues as do the classical
bilateral embassies.bilateral embassies.

12. ExperiencesExperiences
►Some countries have added a full-timeSome countries have added a full-time
health diplomat to their diplomatic staff inhealth diplomat to their diplomatic staff in
recognition of the importance andrecognition of the importance and
complexity of global health deliberations;complexity of global health deliberations;
others have added diplomats to the staff ofothers have added diplomats to the staff of
international health departments.international health departments.

13. ExperiencesExperiences
►Many health diplomats work and involved inMany health diplomats work and involved in
World Health Organization technicalWorld Health Organization technical
committees especially in the negotiations ofcommittees especially in the negotiations of
the Framework Convention on Tobaccothe Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control, TRIPs agreements and theControl, TRIPs agreements and the
International Health Regulations (IHR).International Health Regulations (IHR).

14. BraBrazilzilianian ExperienceExperience

15. Medical VisasMedical Visas
&&
Medical TourismMedical Tourism

16. Somebody talk about it as a new colonization …Somebody talk about it as a new colonization …
►From missionary medicine to postcolonialFrom missionary medicine to postcolonial
efforts to establish health systems, healthefforts to establish health systems, health
assistance has been used to help keepassistance has been used to help keep
armies functional, support some semblancearmies functional, support some semblance
of altruism in colonial governments, andof altruism in colonial governments, and
stabilize crisis situations where politics havestabilize crisis situations where politics have
failed.failed.

17. The Health as a Bridge forThe Health as a Bridge for PeacePeace
►Project that formally endorsed by the 51stProject that formally endorsed by the 51st
World Health Assembly in May 1998.World Health Assembly in May 1998.
►It seeks the integration of peace-buildingIt seeks the integration of peace-building
concerns, concepts, principles, strategiesconcerns, concepts, principles, strategies
and practices into health relief and healthand practices into health relief and health
sector development.sector development.

18. Multilateral & Bilateral RelationsMultilateral & Bilateral Relations
►Common interests.Common interests.
►Hidden interests.Hidden interests.
►Soft power.Soft power.

19. Yet……Yet……
►Informal surveyInformal survey by the authors ofby the authors of staff of thestaff of the
international departments of healthinternational departments of health inin
countries that belong to the Organization forcountries that belong to the Organization for
Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentEconomic Co-operation and Development
(OECD), in Latin America and of health(OECD), in Latin America and of health
attachés in Genevaattachés in Geneva has confirmed thathas confirmed that
many do not feel well prepared for themany do not feel well prepared for the
challenges that confront them.challenges that confront them.

20. Capacity BuildingCapacity Building
►Political commitment and understanding ofPolitical commitment and understanding of
this critical line.this critical line.
►Specialized training programs forSpecialized training programs for
negotiators.negotiators.

21. Capacity BuildingCapacity Building
►The distinguishing competencies of healthThe distinguishing competencies of health
diplomacy as practiced by Healthdiplomacy as practiced by Health
Diplomats, consist of the quality and level ofDiplomats, consist of the quality and level of
technical public health expertise, experiencetechnical public health expertise, experience
in health politics, and establishedin health politics, and established
relationships within the global health arena.relationships within the global health arena.

22. Key Issues and QuestionsKey Issues and Questions
► Health in Diplomacy: means or end?Health in Diplomacy: means or end?
► Multilateralism risks and opportunities !!!!.Multilateralism risks and opportunities !!!!.
► Is it acceptable new approache to strengthenIs it acceptable new approache to strengthen
health systems?.health systems?.
► Health Diplomacy is an exciting andHealth Diplomacy is an exciting and necessarynecessary
componentcomponent of Global Health?????of Global Health?????