Global health emerged as an academic discipline at the start of the twenty-first century, driven by the global HIV epidemic and the health threats posed by globalisation and inequalities in healthcare, recently highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A competent public health and global health workforce is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improving local and global health outcomes.
We live in a complex, interconnected, and globalised world. Challenges such as climate change and emerging infectious diseases underscore the need for enhanced public health education and training, with a focus on global health issues. Public health professionals in the twenty-first century must adopt a multisectoral approach to health, understanding the diverse fields that influence global population health to make a broader impact.
Associate Professor Shailendra Sawleshwarkar and Professor Joel Negin from the University of Sydney discussed with India Today the importance of building a skilled global health workforce to address challenges like COVID-19 and achieve the SDGs.
INDIA’S HEALTH PROGRESS AND WORKFORCE CHALLENGES
India has made significant strides in improving health, including increased life expectancy at birth and reductions in infant mortality and crude death rates. However, the country still faces a dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. While India has made notable investments to expand its health workforce, further strengthening is needed to meet the growing demands of public health.
EXPANDING PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION IN INDIA
Over the past two decades, the number of Master of Public Health (MPH) programmes in India has grown significantly. However, global health education remains in its early stages for both medical and public health disciplines.
There is considerable potential for growth to ensure that education meets the evolving needs of future public and global health practitioners in the context of sustainable development.
Several challenges confront global health education in India and other similar contexts, including faculty training, technology integration in education design and delivery, and aligning curriculum with global health demands.
ROLE OF GLOBAL HEALTH EDUCATION
Global health education has not received adequate attention in the Asia-Pacific region. These programmes can act as crucial collaboration tools, bridging disciplines, stakeholders, and institutions across the Global South and North. They play a vital role in developing locally trained, competent global health professionals who can tackle regional and global health challenges.
BUILDING INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS FOR GLOBAL HEALTH
Developing North-South and South-South institutional partnerships is essential, but these collaborations must focus on local capacity-building and create a sustainable impact on global health outcomes. The partnership between Australian and Indian public health institutions, such as the University of Sydney and the Public Health Foundation of India, is an excellent example of knowledge exchange to address global health challenges like One Health, non-communicable diseases, and climate and health issues.
PRACTICES IN GLOBAL HEALTH EDUCATION
Global health education must adapt to local contexts, considering indigenous healthcare practices and cultural traditions. India’s systems of Ayurveda, yoga, and holistic health practices have the potential to contribute to global health discourse and may find a unique place in the future global health paradigm.
Academic institutions in India and other similar settings must explore how best to prepare students for careers as public and global health professionals in both regional and transnational settings. India, a source of talent for the global health sector, can provide leadership on the world stage by offering strong global and public health training programmes.
Global health practitioners around the world benefit from the diverse perspectives and expertise of Indian public and global health professionals. By recognising and harnessing the potential of the Indian health workforce, the country can help build a robust public health ecosystem that delivers on the promise of the SDGs worldwide.
