Globalization and Health Policy
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
Provide an organic framework of knowledge and interpretative tools relating to:
- The evolution of the right to health and its different variations from 1948 to today. Knowledge and understanding of the history of the WHO and of the changes that have occurred in the various periods, relating to the mission and characteristics of the organization.
- National health systems between pandemics and financial crises in the era of Covid-19.
- The actors that determine the spaces and limits for the real usability of the right to health in the era of globalization: from the Millennium Goals to the Sustainable Development Goals.
- The tools available to global civil society to improve their health. Learn to identify, in different social and cultural contexts, the various forces in the field that confront each other on health protection strategies.
- The social determinants that influence the living conditions of populations.
- The drug market between law and profit.
- The evolution of the right to health and its different variations from 1948 to today. Knowledge and understanding of the history of the WHO and of the changes that have occurred in the various periods, relating to the mission and characteristics of the organization.
- National health systems between pandemics and financial crises in the era of Covid-19.
- The actors that determine the spaces and limits for the real usability of the right to health in the era of globalization: from the Millennium Goals to the Sustainable Development Goals.
- The tools available to global civil society to improve their health. Learn to identify, in different social and cultural contexts, the various forces in the field that confront each other on health protection strategies.
- The social determinants that influence the living conditions of populations.
- The drug market between law and profit.
Expected learning outcomes
- Understanding of the role played by the various public and private actors in some of the most significant events that have occurred in the field of health at international level, in recent decades, through an analysis of the many divergent interests that exist.
- Understanding of the strategies used globally by social movements and activists to conquer and protect the right to health.
- By analyzing what is happening during the Coronavirus emergency and what has happened in the fight against AIDS from the 1980s to today at a global and national level, developing the ability to identify risks to public health deriving from discriminatory policies and misleading media campaigns.
- Understanding the role played by the International Trade Organization on pharmaceutical patents and the consequences on access to therapies. Knowledge of TRIPs agreements on drugs, of the strategies activated by Big Pharma in South Africa and India and of the current proposals by WHO to guarantee universal access to treatments.
- Ability to critically analyze and build one's own point of view on the international debate on drug policies.
- Understanding of the strategies used globally by social movements and activists to conquer and protect the right to health.
- By analyzing what is happening during the Coronavirus emergency and what has happened in the fight against AIDS from the 1980s to today at a global and national level, developing the ability to identify risks to public health deriving from discriminatory policies and misleading media campaigns.
- Understanding the role played by the International Trade Organization on pharmaceutical patents and the consequences on access to therapies. Knowledge of TRIPs agreements on drugs, of the strategies activated by Big Pharma in South Africa and India and of the current proposals by WHO to guarantee universal access to treatments.
- Ability to critically analyze and build one's own point of view on the international debate on drug policies.
Lesson period: First trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First trimester
Course syllabus
The COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the Health Service: the case of Lombardy. Public health vs private health: an indispensable cooperation or a relationship dangerous for our health?
The role of WHO from its birth to today.
Access to vaccines and drugs between rights and the market: the case of vaccines for COVID-19 and the previous clashes between Big Pharma vs. South Africa, Brazil and India
The different actors in global health policies: institutional, commercial and social. Social determinants of health.
International drug research and the Helsinki Declaration on ethics in pharmaceutical experimentation.
The case of the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine.
Philips Morris vs Uruguay and the WHO Tobacco Convention.
The AIDS paradigm. Italian research on the AIDS vaccine.
The various experiences of activism for the defense of health in the world
Examples of international cooperation projects in the field of health.
The role of WHO from its birth to today.
Access to vaccines and drugs between rights and the market: the case of vaccines for COVID-19 and the previous clashes between Big Pharma vs. South Africa, Brazil and India
The different actors in global health policies: institutional, commercial and social. Social determinants of health.
International drug research and the Helsinki Declaration on ethics in pharmaceutical experimentation.
The case of the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine.
Philips Morris vs Uruguay and the WHO Tobacco Convention.
The AIDS paradigm. Italian research on the AIDS vaccine.
The various experiences of activism for the defense of health in the world
Examples of international cooperation projects in the field of health.
Prerequisites for admission
Nessuno
Teaching methods
Films and audiovisual material will be used to stimulate discussion, it is possible that group work will take place and national and possibly international expert speakers will be invited
Teaching Resources
Reference material
Bibliography and other teaching materials for attending students:
· "Without breath - Senza respiro" an independent investigation into the Coronavirus pandemic in Lombardy, Italy Europe. V. Agnoletto. Ed. Altreconomia, 2020.
· "AIDS the scandal of the Italian vaccine - Lo scandalo del vaccino italiano" V.Agnoletto, C.Gnetti, ed. Feltrinelli, Milan 2012
· "WHO and right to health: what future" 5th Report of the Italian Observatory on Global Health, edited by Adriano Cattaneo and Nicoletta Dentico.
Only chapters 1-2-3-4-5-7-9-11-15-16. The document can be downloaded at the link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwAfVB4pT1t8cVdtNUxha3ZMTEk/view
If the link presents problems, the document is also uploaded to ARIEL, on the course page.
· Further articles will be eventually indicated, shared during the lessons and published in Ariel.
Bibliography and other teaching materials for non-attending students:
· "Without breath - Senza respiro" an independent investigation into the Coronavirus pandemic in Lombardy, Italy Europe. V. Agnoletto. Ed. Altreconomia, 2020.
· "AIDS the scandal of the Italian vaccine - Lo scandalo del vaccino italiano" V.Agnoletto, C.Gnetti, Feltrinelli, Milan 2012
· "WHO and right to health: what future" 5th Report of the Italian Observatory on Global Health, edited by Adriano Cattaneo and Nicoletta Dentico
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwAfVB4pT1t8cVdtNUxha3ZMTEk/view
(only chapters 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-11-14-15-16-17-23)
· The following articles about access to medicines and to vaccines:
A "Inaccessible drugs? Crimes against humanity." Vittorio Bertele '& Silvio Garattini
https://www.ricercaepratica.it/r.php?v=1982&a=21452&l=32076&f=allegati/01982_2015_04/fulltext/01_editoriale.pdf
B Patents and vaccines:
*http://www.collettiva.it/copertine/welfare/2021/02/01/news/nessun_profitto_sulla_pandemia-789747
*www.noprofitonpandemic.eu/it
Bibliography and other teaching materials for attending students:
· "Without breath - Senza respiro" an independent investigation into the Coronavirus pandemic in Lombardy, Italy Europe. V. Agnoletto. Ed. Altreconomia, 2020.
· "AIDS the scandal of the Italian vaccine - Lo scandalo del vaccino italiano" V.Agnoletto, C.Gnetti, ed. Feltrinelli, Milan 2012
· "WHO and right to health: what future" 5th Report of the Italian Observatory on Global Health, edited by Adriano Cattaneo and Nicoletta Dentico.
Only chapters 1-2-3-4-5-7-9-11-15-16. The document can be downloaded at the link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwAfVB4pT1t8cVdtNUxha3ZMTEk/view
If the link presents problems, the document is also uploaded to ARIEL, on the course page.
· Further articles will be eventually indicated, shared during the lessons and published in Ariel.
Bibliography and other teaching materials for non-attending students:
· "Without breath - Senza respiro" an independent investigation into the Coronavirus pandemic in Lombardy, Italy Europe. V. Agnoletto. Ed. Altreconomia, 2020.
· "AIDS the scandal of the Italian vaccine - Lo scandalo del vaccino italiano" V.Agnoletto, C.Gnetti, Feltrinelli, Milan 2012
· "WHO and right to health: what future" 5th Report of the Italian Observatory on Global Health, edited by Adriano Cattaneo and Nicoletta Dentico
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwAfVB4pT1t8cVdtNUxha3ZMTEk/view
(only chapters 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-11-14-15-16-17-23)
· The following articles about access to medicines and to vaccines:
A "Inaccessible drugs? Crimes against humanity." Vittorio Bertele '& Silvio Garattini
https://www.ricercaepratica.it/r.php?v=1982&a=21452&l=32076&f=allegati/01982_2015_04/fulltext/01_editoriale.pdf
B Patents and vaccines:
*http://www.collettiva.it/copertine/welfare/2021/02/01/news/nessun_profitto_sulla_pandemia-789747
*www.noprofitonpandemic.eu/it
Assessment methods and Criteria
Single exam. Oral examination. For those who wish, IN THE DECEMBER SESSION ALONE, it will be possible to choose between the oral or written exam. Marked vote out of thirty. The exam for attending students provides the opportunity to present a short written report about one of the topics covered during the lessons or about the result of a previously agreed group activity. The modalities for the preparation and presentation of these works will be illustrated during the course. The interview, or written questions (for those who choose this exam method in the December session), will focus on the topics covered during the lessons and about any written report prepared by the student.
The exam for non-attending students will focus about the topics covered in the texts and articles indicated.
The evaluation will take into account the active participation in the lessons (for attending students), the accuracy of the answers to the exam questions, the ability to critically illustrate their arguments and to identify the connections between the different topics covered.
The exam for non-attending students will focus about the topics covered in the texts and articles indicated.
The evaluation will take into account the active participation in the lessons (for attending students), the accuracy of the answers to the exam questions, the ability to critically illustrate their arguments and to identify the connections between the different topics covered.
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)