More than ever, global health needs skilled diplomats. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the fragility of our social, economic and health systems. It also elevated the place of health in foreign policy. And with the G20 summit beginning in mid-November, accelerated and coherent ideas that navigate the intricacies of domestic and foreign policy are needed.
As countries start to rebuild and improve resilience in the face of uncertainty, global health diplomacy — the politics of intertwining domestic and foreign policy with global health — is now a key feature of foreign policy negotiations.
Effective global health diplomacy needs a diverse number of public, private and not-for-profit organisations and a recognition that sectors unrelated to health — including trade, environment and labour — have a direct impact on population health and equity. These bodies compete for attention and resources — seeking to influence policy and develop solutions.
