Global Health

Code

11135

Academic unit

NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas

Department

SP

Credits

3

Teacher in charge

Prof. Doutor Benedetto Saraceno

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

1.       Providing a core basic training to discuss the major underlying determinants of poor health and the relationship between health and political, social, and economic development with an emphasis on resource-poor countries.

2.       Working as an hub building  an individualized Global Health Track for the students who will create their own curriculum in Global Health using the existing courses and resources offered by the Universidade Nova de Lisboa

3.       Framing the academic activities of the Unit within a Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health perspective.

 

Prerequisites

 

Subject matter

1.     Introduction to global health

Introduction to the major concepts and principles that govern the practice of global health, with an emphasis on resource-poor countries. Introduction to the major underlying determinants of poor health and the relationship between health and political, social, and economic development. Analysis of the functions and roles of the major institutional players in global health.

 

The key reference will be: 

• Commission on Macroeconomics and Health (2001) Macroeconomics and Health: Investing in health for economic development. Report of the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health. WHO, Geneva.

 

 

2.     Global Mental Health

Analysis of the main Global Epidemiological data on the Burden of Mental, Neurological and Substance Abuse disorders and discussion of the social determinants of mental health and the links between mental health and development.

Students will understand the existing gaps in human and financial resources resulting in treatment gap and the barriers preventing the improvement of mental health care globally

Analysis of specificities and commonalities of Mental Health Policies and Service Organization models at global level.

 

The key reference will be:

• Horton, R (editor) (2007 Sept and 2011 Oct) Global Mental Health Series The Lancet.

 

 

 

 

3.     Role of Noncommunicable Disease in Global Health

Discussion of the current status of Noncommunicable diseases and provision of a road map for reversing the epidemic by strengthening national and global monitoring and surveillance, scaling up the implementation of evidence-based measures to reduce risk factors like tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful alcohol use, and improving access to cost-effective healthcare interventions to prevent complications, disabilities and premature death.

 

The key reference will be:

·         World Health Organization. Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2010, Geneva 2011.

 

 

 

4.     Principles, Scope and Definition of Health Diplomacy: the case of the Global Strategy on reduction of harmful use of Alcohol

The Seminar will present and discuss the main concepts and principles of Health Diplomacy as a new discipline bridging politics and public health.

As a case study, the WHO Global Strategy on alcohol will be presented: the diplomatic processes which lead to the approval of the Strategy will be analyzed.

 

The key reference will be:

·         WHO (2010) Strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. Draft Global Strategy. WHO, Geneva

 

5.     The concept of Essential Medicine

The Seminar will present the concept of Essential Medicine and will analyze the role of them in improving the quality and effectiveness of Health Systems. Student will learn about the importance of linking medicine selection to the health priorities of a given population and to diseases prevalence, evidence of efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness.

 

The key reference will be:

• WHO Model Formulary. Geneva: WHO press; 2004.

 

6.     Complex Emergencies and effects on general population’s health

The Seminar will analyze the effects of complex emergencies (natural and man-made catastrophes including war and conflicts) on populations’ mental health.

Cost-effective interventions during the acute phase (when mortality rates are very high) and during post emergency phase (when mortality rates are under control)  will be discussed and analyzed. Psychosocial interventions at different stages of the emergeny will be discussed. Some concrete examples will be presented.

 

The key reference will be:

World Health Organization, Building Back Better: Sustainable Mental Health Care After Emergencies. WHO, Geneva, 2013

Bibliography

1.       Koplan, Jeffrey, T. Christopher Bond, Michael H. Merson, K. Srinath Reddy, Mario Henry Rodriuez, Nelson K. Sewankambo, and Judith N. Wasserheit, "Towards a common definition of global health," The Lancet 2009, 373 (9679) 1993-1995.

2.       Institute of Medicine (IOM), Board on International Health, “America’s Vital Interest in Global Health: Protecting Our People, Enhancing our Economy, and Advancing our International Interests,” National Academy of Sciences, 1997.

3.       Kaiser Edu, “Global Health” http://www.kaiseredu.org/Issue-Modules/Global-Health/Background-Brief.aspx?p=1 Prepared by Grace Hunter and Usha Ranji of the Kaiser Family Foundation, 2009

4.       Dentzer, Susan, “The Devilish Details of Delivering on Global Health,” Health Affairs, July/August 2009, 28 (4).

5.       Ravishankar, Nirmala, Paul Gubbins, Rebecca J. Cooley, Katherine Leach-Kermon, Catherine M. Michaud, Dean T. Jamison, and Christopher J.L. Murray, “Financing of Global Health: Tracking Development Assistance for Health from 1990 to 2007,” The Lancet 2009, 373: 2119.

6.       Gupta R, Hotez P. Rethinking global health training in North America. Medscape General Medicine. 2006; 8(3).

 

Teaching method

THE COURSE WILL BE PROVIDED THROUGH INTERACTIVE SEMINARS

ATTENDANCE TO A MINIMUM OF  4  OUT OF 6 SEMINARS WILL BE MANDATORY

 

Evaluation method

The assessment of students is made through a Written Examination. Assiduity to the course will be also considered in the evaluation.

Courses

• Integrated Master Degree in Medicine