We live in a world where globalization is on the rise and society is interconnected and more multifaceted. One of the most contentious issues in the global health arena is health politics.
Present economic situations strain the United States at the local, national and international levels. Health scientists are encountering many problems when trying to overcome these difficulties. Despite these problems, globalization provides several opportunities for health scientists. During this age of globalization, there are numerous possibilities that health scientists can utilize to achieve their potential as representatives of change, but their self-determination depends upon precise and carefully executed strategies. Because the globalization process exists with a range of variance in political, social and monetary scope, there are vast opportunities for health scientists to effect positive changes to world health policy.
Global dominance configurations are becoming increasingly important in formulating health policies (Garrett 2009). Global health is identified as the result of cultural, social, economic and environmental factors. These factors are considered main indicators of population health. Health scientists are defined as the persons whose expertise is in the field of health economics in addition to the making of policy; these persons are able to develop and implement health policies in an effort to reduce health care inequalities at local, national and international levels.
An appropriate education for health scientists is a key basic for improving population health. In order to become winners in the ever-changing world health politics field, there must be a change in educational opportunities. Health scientists are in a prime position to make unprecedented strides and become the persons in charge of improving the global health situation. In an age of economical globalization with changing political situations, with decreasing funding for public and community health that includes increased emphasis on technological solutions for health problems, health scientists are a bit of an incongruity.
According to Garrett (2009), currently the United States is confronting its worst budgetary and economic difficulties since the Great Depression. It is in no position to cut its foreign assistance spending due to several factors such as its humanitarian concerns, political influence, global stability and national security. Global health scientists must incorporate new approaches to strengthening health systems in addition to sustaining older approaches in order to decrease global health inequalities at the local, national and international levels.
Health scientists should campaign for solutions that eliminate disparities in health. In order to be effective at changing health policies at local, national and international levels, health scientists must have an understanding that comes from the traditional Western sciences as well as a firm understanding of multicultural methods of understanding health.
One task of health scientists is placing the health consequences of existing policies on the political agenda. This task is complicated by the necessity to constantly expand and change to stay current with the rapid technological, social, environmental and economic changes. Health scientists must focus on increased education and skills which develop the ability to access, as well as being able to assess, information; they must communicate and respond quickly, in addition to being able to use the knowledge gained to develop then implement health policies effectively. This situation can be convoluted by the challenges globalization presents to cultural and local community identity.
Joint projects involving global health issues have the chance to be accomplished through health politics. Due to the complexity of global health, it is difficult for health scientists to address all health determinants. However, health politics is multifaceted, each country and nation has different needs, and there are so many factors involved that there is a great demand for health scientists in today’s world.
Because of global economic conditions, money is always an issue. This lack of funding presents a piece of the reasoning why access to such services is available for all. Some Sub-Saharan African regions spend between $4 and $30 (in U.S. currency) per capita per year on health. A large part of this spending is provided through private sectors (World Bank 2001).
Because the globalization process exists with its degree of variance in political, social and monetary concerns, there are vast opportunities for health scientists to effect positive changes to world health policy. That same variance requires an exceptional understanding of the forces that drive global change. An education in the financial and cultural structure of globalization is just as important as the extensive knowledge of medical information a health scientist must possess. World health policy can be enacted and maintained on a scale never before seen and in a manner which provides greater benefits. The key policy-makers will be health scientists.
References
Garrett, L.A. (2009). The future of foreign assistance amid global economic and financial crisis advancing global health in the U.S. development agenda. New York: The Council on Foreign Relations, Inc.
World Bank. (2001). World development indicators, Washington DC.
- Uzma A. Zumbrink, MPH