Globalization and Health Policy
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
Provide an organic framework of knowledge and interpretative tools relating to:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 semester
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
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?
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 various experiences of activism for the defence of health in the world
Examples of international cooperation projects in the field of health.
The lessons will be held from 30 October 2023 and will take place every Monday and Tuesday from 12:30 to 14:30 in room 27 in via Conservatorio. Will be accepted a maximum of 25 students, in order of enrollment.
It will also be possible to take the course remotely via Teams but classroom attendance is strongly recommended.
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 various experiences of activism for the defence of health in the world
Examples of international cooperation projects in the field of health.
The lessons will be held from 30 October 2023 and will take place every Monday and Tuesday from 12:30 to 14:30 in room 27 in via Conservatorio. Will be accepted a maximum of 25 students, in order of enrollment.
It will also be possible to take the course remotely via Teams but classroom attendance is strongly recommended.
Prerequisites for admission
Enrollment via SIFA ONLINE. The enrollment will be possible from September, 4th, to October, 27th.
To enroll: from Unimia (menù "Esami e opinioni studenti > vuoi iscriverti o modificare l'iscrizione? > Attività didattiche e altri eventi
To enroll: from Unimia (menù "Esami e opinioni studenti > vuoi iscriverti o modificare l'iscrizione? > Attività didattiche e altri eventi
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
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.
· Further articles will be indicated, shared during the lessons and published in Ariel.
· "Without breath - Senza respiro" an independent investigation into the Coronavirus pandemic in Lombardy, Italy Europe. V. Agnoletto. Ed. Altreconomia, 2020.
· Further articles will be indicated, shared during the lessons and published in Ariel.
Assessment methods and Criteria
To take the exam it is necessary to have attended, remotely or in presence, at least 70% of the lessons.
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 interview, or written questions (for those who choose this exam method in the December session), will focus on the topics covered during the lessons.
The evaluation will consider 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.
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 interview, or written questions (for those who choose this exam method in the December session), will focus on the topics covered during the lessons.
The evaluation will consider 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)