Medical diplomacy

Medical diplomacy[1] or public health diplomacy[2] is a form of diplomacy. It is the provision of medical assistance 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.[3]

History

Medical diplomacy related to the COVID-19 epidemic was often termed “mask diplomacy” due to surgical masks being the primary good transferred.[4] It has spurred new players to enter the space, such as Russia who sent medical personnel to Italy at the onset on the crisis in a mission called “From Russia with Love”.[5]

By country

Cuba
Main article: Cuban medical internationalism

Medical diplomacy is a cornerstone of Cuban foreign policy.[6] Cuba has engaged in medical diplomacy since the 1960s.[7][3]

China

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

Taiwan

Taiwan has engaged in medical diplomacy since 1961. Under the New Southbound Policy Taiwan is focusing on providing high-level professional skill transfers instead of direct medical care or basic public health programs.[8] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan has ramped up its efforts and donated millions of masks to its diplomatic allies as well as close friends across the world. It also launched a hospital ship through the Pacific, providing ventilators and masks to countries unable to obtain medical help from other sources, like Palau.[9]

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.[10] The United States also practices medical diplomacy as part of defense diplomacy.[11]

See also

References
  1. Volodzko, David. "China's Medical Diplomacy". thediplomat.com. The Diplomat. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  2. Tseng, Esther. "The Power of Friendship, Taiwan's Public Health Diplomacy". www.taiwan-panorama.com. Taiwan Panorama. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  3. Jack, Andrew. "Cuba's medical diplomacy". www.ft.com. Financial Times. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  4. Horton, Chris; Li, Lauly; Ting-Fang, Cheng. "Taiwan counters China's isolation campaign with mask diplomacy". asia.nikkei.com. Nikkei. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  5. Nikolova, Antoinette (8 May 2020). "Russian COVID-19 aid to Italy: PR stunt or covert operation?". www.euractiv.com. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  6. Wiebel, Haley. "Cuban Medical Diplomacy: A Developmental Paradox". www.coha.org. Council on Hemispheric Affairs. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  7. Groll, Elias. "Cuba's greatest export? Medical diplomacy". foreignpolicy.com. Foreign Policy. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  8. Hui Yan, Ho. "Taiwan Spreads Diplomatic Wings Through Regional Health Care". www.asiasentinel.com. Asia Sentinel. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  9. 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.
  10. "Global Health Diplomacy". www.hhs.gov. HHS. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  11. 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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