Medical diplomacy

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Medical diplomacy [1] [2] or public health diplomacy [3] is a form of diplomacy. It is the provision of medical assistance, including vaccines, or aid for the purpose of furthering national goals. It is often considered to be a form of soft power but it has various harder aspects. [4]

Contents

History

Medical diplomacy related to the COVID-19 pandemic was often termed “mask diplomacy” due to surgical masks being the primary good transferred. [5] It has spurred new global players to enter this space, such as Russia which sent medical personnel to Italy at the onset of the current crisis in a mission called “From Russia with Love”. [6]

"COVID diplomacy" was most clearly demonstrated between China and the ASEAN countries. [7] : 14  Shortly after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic ASEAN's multi- and bilateral public health coordination intensified with the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Health Development and within the ASEAN+3 framework which includes China, Japan, and South Korea. [7] : 14 

By country

Cuba

Medical diplomacy is a cornerstone of Cuban foreign policy. [8] Cuba has engaged in medical diplomacy since the 1960s. [9] [4]

China

China's early success in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic facilitated its "mask diplomacy." [10] Chinese ownership of much of the global medical supply chain enhanced its ability to send doctors and medical equipment to suffering countries. [10] China soon followed its "mask diplomacy" with "vaccine diplomacy." [10] China's infection rates were sufficiently low that it could send vaccines abroad without domestic objections. [10] As academic Suisheng Zhao writes, "Just by showing up and helping plug the colossal gaps in the global supply, China gained ground." [10]

The Chinese hospital ship Daishan Dao has engaged in a number of medical diplomacy missions. China's support of the WHO has also been categorized as medical diplomacy. [1]

China offered public health and economic assistance to India in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, although India refused per the United States' request. [7] : 14 

Taiwan

Taiwan has engaged in medical diplomacy since 1961. Under the New Southbound Policy, Taiwan is focused on providing high-level professional skill transfers instead of direct medical care or basic public health programs. [11] During the current COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan has ramped up its efforts and donated millions of masks to its diplomatic allies as well as to close friends across the world. It also launched a hospital ship through the Pacific, providing ventilators and masks to countries like Palau that were unable to obtain medical help from other sources. [12]

United States

In the United States, medical diplomacy is handled both by the State Department section for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs as well as the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Global Affairs. [13] The United States also practices medical diplomacy as part of defense diplomacy. [14]

See also

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The COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. As of 19 March 2023 in Taiwan, 10,231,343 are confirmed cases, including 18,775 deaths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Cambodia

The COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The first imported case in Cambodia was detected in Sihanoukville on 27 January 2020. Although a number of imported cases and transmission to direct contacts were confirmed throughout 2020, no community transmission was detected until 29 November 2020. As of July 2021, Phnom Penh has been the most affected province with the majority of infections and deaths. Banteay Meanchey has the second-highest number of infections, whereas Kandal has second-highest number of deaths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Cuba

The COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus was confirmed to have spread to Cuba on 11 March 2020 when three Italian tourists tested positive for the virus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago

The COVID-19 pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago is part of the ongoing global viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on 12 March 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Health Organization's response to the COVID-19 pandemic</span> Overview of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a leading organisation involved in the global coordination for mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic within the broader United Nations response to the pandemic.

Planning and preparing for pandemics has happened in countries and international organizations. The World Health Organization writes recommendations and guidelines, though there is no sustained mechanism to review countries' preparedness for epidemics and their rapid response abilities. National action depends on national governments. In 2005–2006, before the 2009 swine flu pandemic and during the decade following it, the governments in the United States, France, UK, and others managed strategic health equipment stocks, but they often reduced stocks after the 2009 pandemic in order to reduce costs.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has affected international relations and caused diplomatic tensions, as well as resulted in a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding a global ceasefire.

Science diplomacy is the collaborative efforts by local and global entities to solve global issues using science and technology as a base. In science diplomacy, collaboration takes place to advance science but science can also be used to facilitate diplomatic relations. This allows even conflicting nations to come together through science to find solutions to global issues. Global organizations, researchers, public health officials, countries, government officials, and clinicians have previously worked together to create effective measures of infection control and subsequent treatment. They continue to do so through sharing of resources, research data, ideas, and by putting into effect laws and regulations that can further advance scientific research. Without the collaborative efforts of such entities, the world would not have the vaccines and treatments we now possess for diseases that were once considered deadly such as tuberculosis, tetanus, polio, influenza, etc. Historically, science diplomacy has proved successful in diseases such as SARS, Ebola, Zika and continues to be relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International aid related to the COVID-19 pandemic</span>

Due to its severity, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused countries to send aid, as part of the international responses and management regarding the pandemic. Types of materials aided includes masks, medical supplies, personal protective equipment, money, and test kits. It started with aid to China as the virus spreads primarily there, and then internationally as it spreads globally. The destination of the aid ranges from hospitals, COVID-19 healthcare workers, research on the vaccine, to societies vulnerable. People donating includes the government of said country, notable people, organizations and institutions, charities, as well as regular people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaccine diplomacy</span> Use of vaccines as international diplomacy

Vaccine diplomacy, a form of medical diplomacy, is the use of vaccines to improve a country's diplomatic relationship and influence of other countries. Meanwhile, vaccine diplomacy also "means a set of diplomatic measures taken to ensure access to the best practices in the development of potential vaccines, to enhance bilateral and/or multilateral cooperation between countries in conducting joint R&D, and, in the case of the announcement of production, to ensure the signing of a contract for the purchase of the vaccine at the shortest term." Although primary discussed in the context of the supply of COVID-19 vaccines, it also played a part in the distribution of the smallpox vaccine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 misinformation by governments</span> False or misleading virus information

During the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, many people began to spread false or un-confirmed data and information. This included politicians and other government officials from administrations in several countries. Misinformation about the virus includes its origin, how it spreads, and methods of preventing and curing the disease. Some downplayed the threat of the pandemic, and made false statements about preventative measures, death rates and testing within their own countries. Some have also spread COVID-19 vaccine misinformation. Changing policies also created confusion and contributed to the spread of misinformation. For example, the World Health Organization (WHO) originally discouraged use of face masks by the general public in early 2020, advising "If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection," although the WHO later changed their advice to encourage public wearing of face masks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States responses to the COVID-19 pandemic</span> Actions by the United States regarding the COVID-19 pandemic

The United States' response to the COVID-19 pandemic with consists of various measures by the medical community; the federal, state, and local governments; the military; and the private sector. The public response has been highly polarized, with partisan divides being observed and a number of concurrent protests and unrest complicating the response.

Respirator diplomacy of Taiwan refers to the exchange of masks between Taiwan and other countries, aimed to help the Global Coronavirus Response.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zero-COVID</span> COVID-19 elimination strategy

Zero-COVID, also known as COVID-Zero and "Find, Test, Trace, Isolate, and Support" (FTTIS), is a public health policy that has been implemented by some countries, especially China, during the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast to the living with COVID-19 strategy, the zero-COVID strategy is one "of control and maximum suppression". It involves using public health measures such as contact tracing, mass testing, border quarantine, lockdowns, and mitigation software in order to stop community transmission of COVID-19 as soon as it is detected. The goal of the strategy is to get the area back to zero new infections and resume normal economic and social activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in China</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in China

The COVID-19 pandemic in China is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). China was the first country to experience an outbreak of the disease, the first to impose drastic measures in response, and one of the first countries to bring the outbreak under control.

Taiwan-Slovakia relations refers to bilateral ties between Taiwan and Slovakia.

References

  1. 1 2 Volodzko, David. "China's Medical Diplomacy". thediplomat.com. The Diplomat. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  2. ↑ "medical diplomacy | USC Center on Public Diplomacy". uscpublicdiplomacy.org. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  3. ↑ Tseng, Esther. "The Power of Friendship, Taiwan's Public Health Diplomacy". www.taiwan-panorama.com. Taiwan Panorama. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  4. 1 2 Jack, Andrew. "Cuba's medical diplomacy". www.ft.com. Financial Times. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  5. ↑ Horton, Chris; Li, Lauly; Ting-Fang, Cheng. "Taiwan counters China's isolation campaign with mask diplomacy". asia.nikkei.com. Nikkei. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  6. ↑ Nikolova, Antoinette (8 May 2020). "Russian COVID-19 aid to Italy: PR stunt or covert operation?". www.euractiv.com. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 Korolev, Alexander S. (2023). "Political and Economic Security in Multipolar Eurasia". China and Eurasian Powers in a Multipolar World Order 2.0: Security, Diplomacy, Economy and Cyberspace. Mher Sahakyan. New York: Routledge. ISBN   978-1-003-35258-7. OCLC   1353290533.
  8. ↑ Wiebel, Haley. "Cuban Medical Diplomacy: A Developmental Paradox". www.coha.org. Council on Hemispheric Affairs. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  9. ↑ Groll, Elias. "Cuba's greatest export? Medical diplomacy". foreignpolicy.com. Foreign Policy. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Zhao, Suisheng (2023). The dragon roars back : transformational leaders and dynamics of Chinese foreign policy. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. p. 90. ISBN   978-1-5036-3088-8. OCLC   1331741429.
  11. ↑ Hui Yan, Ho. "Taiwan Spreads Diplomatic Wings Through Regional Health Care". www.asiasentinel.com. Asia Sentinel. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  12. ↑ Sung, Wen-Ti (2 June 2020). "Taiwan's COVID-19 Diplomacy and WHO Participation: Losing the Battle But Winning the War?". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  13. ↑ "Global Health Diplomacy". www.hhs.gov. HHS. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  14. ↑ and Saadoun al-Dulaimi, Aizen J. Marrogi. "Medical Diplomacy in Achieving U.S. Global Strategic Objectives". ndupress.ndu.edu. National Defense University Press. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
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