Joshua Hill

Medical Anthropology

“Global Health Diplomacy”

The “New World” Medical System

Global health diplomacy has just emerged into the biomedical field and has been a big problem since. This article which was published in 2008 is composed of many different sources all over the world and each has a problem with their present medical system. Each source has either a lack of medical practices or even a problem of how to implicate a new medical system. Establishing global health diplomacy doesn’t come easy there are many problems that arise with this goal. Some countries are looked at as less desirable than others, how these undesirable countries or ethnicities should be treated compared to others is one of the main concerns. Poorer third world countries do not have a great biomedical system so they agree to be test subjects for new drugs to get basic medical care. Who should be in control of regulating the drugs that are given to these people and is drug testing on them humane is another major concern. Medical research is becoming more profitable and there are more private sector laboratories and research facilities opening to try and get in on the funding and profits. A main concern is should the government be in control of medical research and development or is private sector research and secret donations a good start to the new medical era. The medical anthropologists looked all over different parts of the world and seen how biomedical influence is changing their current medical systems. They looked at different medical studies and read articles on medical globalization to see what the main concerns were for this new medical dominancy. America likes to influence other countries to start the westernizing process and gives incentives for change. Medical change is not different than any other, and it will most likely happen faster than other change. If we want to see a globalized medical system it can’t happen with one or two groups making all the decisions. Medical anthropologists, physicians, politicians, foreign policy makers, and the government of the country we are trying to change have to agree with the steps that are going to be taken. Change isn’t going to come over night. Pharmaceutical companies should not be left with the power to regulate drugs to third world countries; physicians should not be able to choose who is “sick” enough for medical care. Private sector health services have their place in the medical system; they are the ones that give direct relief in epidemics. Same as the public sector health systems that will be there anytime there is a need. The private and public sectors have to work in unison to heal, prevent, and diminish the amount of sick in the community. Medical anthropologists, physicians, and foreign policy makers have to discuss what would be the best choice of action for less privileged countries, and try to implement the correct source of action. Countries that do not have a sustainable health care system need help to create one that works with their economic situation as well as the abilities their medical professionals have to treat the sick. We can’t take advantage of other countries need for health care by making them test subjects to newly released drugs, we need to help them by providing them with the care they need. Establishing these medical systems will not be easy but if you take the steps needed with compassion for the individuals, understanding of their culture, and use the resources provided when necessary it can be done.
This study can help improve the care and knowledge the people in other countries have, but I doubt that it help with an automatic change. I believe study wasn’t supposed to make an immediate change in care, but in how the care