Medical Diplomacy in the Persian Gulf- Could health collaboration improve intergovernmental relations and public health in the Gulf- region?
(2022) MPHN40 20221Social Medicine and Global Health
- Abstract
- Introduction: International cooperation is essential for public health, as countries need to access medical equipment, combat health crises, and strengthen health capacities. Medical Diplomacy is a concept and practices that combines the goals of improving intergovernmental relations and health, by initiating and facilitating intergovernmental health cooperation.
Objectives: This study specifically investigates whether the practice of Medical Diplomacy could be useful for improving relations and public health in the Persian Gulf. The geographical area of interest is relevant both from a public health and diplomatic perspective. As tensions run high in the region, cooperate on health issues might help to improve both regional relations,... (More) - Introduction: International cooperation is essential for public health, as countries need to access medical equipment, combat health crises, and strengthen health capacities. Medical Diplomacy is a concept and practices that combines the goals of improving intergovernmental relations and health, by initiating and facilitating intergovernmental health cooperation.
Objectives: This study specifically investigates whether the practice of Medical Diplomacy could be useful for improving relations and public health in the Persian Gulf. The geographical area of interest is relevant both from a public health and diplomatic perspective. As tensions run high in the region, cooperate on health issues might help to improve both regional relations, and public health.
Method: A Constructivists Grounded Theory approach was applied. Data consisted of expert- interviews with relevant professionals (n=11) from countries (n=7) in the Gulf region.
Results: The study shows that Medical Diplomacy could potentially play an important role in improving intergovernmental relations and public health among the Gulf countries. Medical Diplomacy could provide a platform for dialogue, initiate interaction and reduce suspicion. Multiple areas of possible health collaboration were identified. However, there are also impediments to the application of Medical Diplomacy in the Gulf. Some of these are related to the complex and troubled history of the region, international politics, and lack of common medical standards and practices. A framework for clarification, which maps Gulf-specific opportunities, challenges, and important approaches to consider in relation to Medical Diplomacy, was developed.
Conclusion: This study presents both the promise, as well as challenges of Medical Diplomacy in the Gulf region. Although possibly limited by endogenous and exogenous factors, Medical Diplomacy could improve health and relations among the Gulf countries. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- Functioning relations between nations and cross-border cooperation are key to ensure access to medical equipment, combat health crises and strengthen health capacities. Therefore, measures to improve international relations are crucial from a health perspective. Medical Diplomacy is a concept and practice that combines the goals of improving intergovernmental relations and health by initiating intergovernmental health initiatives and cooperation. This study focuses on whether Medical Diplomacy could be useful as a method to improve relations and public health in the Persian Gulf.
The study shows that medical diplomacy could have the potential to play an important role in improving intergovernmental relations and public health within the... (More) - Functioning relations between nations and cross-border cooperation are key to ensure access to medical equipment, combat health crises and strengthen health capacities. Therefore, measures to improve international relations are crucial from a health perspective. Medical Diplomacy is a concept and practice that combines the goals of improving intergovernmental relations and health by initiating intergovernmental health initiatives and cooperation. This study focuses on whether Medical Diplomacy could be useful as a method to improve relations and public health in the Persian Gulf.
The study shows that medical diplomacy could have the potential to play an important role in improving intergovernmental relations and public health within the Gulf region. There is a need for trust building between the countries, and medical diplomacy could play an important role by providing a platform for dialogue.
Medical diplomacy is extra relevant now, as health has been given increased priority due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many areas for potential health collaboration among the Gulf countries could be found in this study, and it is possible that those could be of great public health importance.
Yet, all of this depends on political will. According to this study, medical diplomacy would encounter obstacles related to the complex and troubled history of the region, international politics and lack of regional medical standards and practices.
The study emphasises that before employing Medical Diplomacy, a deep contextual understanding is needed of the countries that one aims to engage. Further, while Medical Diplomacy is a soft-security tool, and health is less political and sensitive than other issues, one should not underestimate the extent to which politics could affect the use and success of the practice. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9099462
- author
- Burenby, Louise LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- MPHN40 20221
- year
- 2022
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Public Health, Medical Diplomacy, Health Diplomacy, Global Health Diplomacy, International Relations, Conflict Resolution, Persian Gulf, Middle East
- language
- English
- additional info
- Second supervisor: Rouzbeh Parsi, Head of the MENA Program, Swedish Institute for International Affairs
- id
- 9099462
- date added to LUP
- 2023-04-12 10:17:30
- date last changed
- 2023-04-12 10:17:30
@misc{9099462,
abstract = {{Introduction: International cooperation is essential for public health, as countries need to access medical equipment, combat health crises, and strengthen health capacities. Medical Diplomacy is a concept and practices that combines the goals of improving intergovernmental relations and health, by initiating and facilitating intergovernmental health cooperation.
Objectives: This study specifically investigates whether the practice of Medical Diplomacy could be useful for improving relations and public health in the Persian Gulf. The geographical area of interest is relevant both from a public health and diplomatic perspective. As tensions run high in the region, cooperate on health issues might help to improve both regional relations, and public health.
Method: A Constructivists Grounded Theory approach was applied. Data consisted of expert- interviews with relevant professionals (n=11) from countries (n=7) in the Gulf region.
Results: The study shows that Medical Diplomacy could potentially play an important role in improving intergovernmental relations and public health among the Gulf countries. Medical Diplomacy could provide a platform for dialogue, initiate interaction and reduce suspicion. Multiple areas of possible health collaboration were identified. However, there are also impediments to the application of Medical Diplomacy in the Gulf. Some of these are related to the complex and troubled history of the region, international politics, and lack of common medical standards and practices. A framework for clarification, which maps Gulf-specific opportunities, challenges, and important approaches to consider in relation to Medical Diplomacy, was developed.
Conclusion: This study presents both the promise, as well as challenges of Medical Diplomacy in the Gulf region. Although possibly limited by endogenous and exogenous factors, Medical Diplomacy could improve health and relations among the Gulf countries.}},
author = {{Burenby, Louise}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Medical Diplomacy in the Persian Gulf- Could health collaboration improve intergovernmental relations and public health in the Gulf- region?}},
year = {{2022}},
}