Global health has been a core issue on the G8 agenda ever since the G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit in 2000, which led to the establishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Yet, in the midst of such global concerns as the world economy and environment, 10 million young children continue to die each year from treatable illnesses. At Health Policy Institute, Japan, we work to create forums where influential leaders from diverse fields can gather and debate, with the aim of ensuring that the G8 nations take effective action in tackling the global health issues central to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
[Photos by] Shibuya Atsushi / JICA (left) and Hideaki Imamura Takeshi / JICA (center, right)
- 1.Global Health Summit
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At present, approximately 2 trillion yen is spent each year to support healthcare provision and measures against infectious diseases in developing countries, with by far the greater part of this funded by the G8 nations. With the aim of securing the continued contributions of G8 nations despite the ongoing global economic slump, Health Policy Institute, Japan took the proactive measure of organizing the Global Health Summit and cooperating with domestic and international stakeholders as a representative of Japan to formulate joint proposals on tackling global health challenges. To make a direct appeal to the leadership of the G8 chairing country each year, the Summit was held in Tokyo in 2008 and Rome in 2009.
- 2. Global Health Committee, Japan
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The Global Health Committee, Japan has been established with the participation of leading figures in global health from politics, business, academia, civil society and other relevant fields. The aim is to realize through cross-sector cooperation Japan’s effective leadership and contribution in the field of global health.
- 3. Cooperation with International Think Tanks
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With the aim of being more effective in encouraging a robust response to global health challenges by G8/G20 nations, Health Policy Institute, Japan formed the “G8 Plus Global Health Think Tank Coalition” together with the Centre on Global Health Security at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) in the U.K., and the Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in the U.S.. Through a cooperative framework of representative think tanks from across the G8/G20, with these 3 organizations at its core, international leaders in the field of global health can be brought together to provide continuous pressure and encouragement for the efforts of the G8/G20 nations.
- 4. Research, Study and Related Events
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- ■Research to Foster Leadership to Tackle Global Health Challenges
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To foster human resources with the knowledge and leadership to boost Japan’s contribution in the field of global health, the Global Health Unit undertakes research projects with the aim of improving education and awareness of global health issues in Japan.
As part of our research for 2009, 7 NGOs with a strong stake in global health issues were selected as successful case studies. In-depth interviews were conducted with representatives of each body, focusing in particular on
- the nature and activities of their organization,
- their insight into succeeding as an NGO in the global health field, and
- measures for the further development of Japanese NGOs.
The organizations which participated in these interviews are :
- The Association of Medical Doctors of Asia
- Foundation for International Development / Relief
- Health And Development Service (HANDS)
- Japan Committee "Vaccines for the World's Children"
- Japan Overseas Christian Medical Cooperative Service
- Japan Overseas Christian Medical Cooperative Service
- The Japan Committee for UNICEF(Japanese alphabetical order)
- ■Health Policy Clerkship (Summer 2010)
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With the aim of fostering talented human resources capable of tackling global health issues in the future, seminars will be held from Summer 2010 for Japanese university and graduate students seeking to deepen their understanding and knowledge of global health policy. After lectures and interviews with leaders from diverse fields such as politics, business, civil society, and the media, participants will bring their findings together as a policy recommendation. (further details to follow)
