The Fiocruz experience in Global Health and Health Diplomacy capacity building: conceptual framework, curricular structure and first results

Abstract

Developing an International Health capability and training professionals to work with health at the international level have been concerns of the Fiocruz for over a decade. This process culminated in its setting up a Global Health and Health Diplomacy area in 2007 and embarking on other initiatives, including a postgraduate specialisation course. This paper examines the theoretical frames of reference that orient the human resource capacity building in Global Health and Health Diplomacy pursued by Sergio Arouca National School of Public Health (ENSP/Fiocruz) in collaboration with a number of internal and external partners. Following a brief conceptual review, which delimits these areas as new objects of study in collective health, the paper examines the central issue – relations between globalisation and health – that organises the content and presents the structure of the 1st Specialisation Course in Global Health and Health Diplomacy, given in 2008-2009, in Brasilia. It is concluded that, in spite of advances identified in the past decade, these fields are in need of greater conceptual refinement and development of sound analytical frameworks. Meanwhile, the impacts of globalisation processes on the health of populations also pose new challenges to international cooperation. In view of the priority given to health by current Brazilian foreign policy, there is still insufficient knowledge production and human resource capacity-building to address these new realities. Thence the importance of the investments being made.