Shaping the Health and Foreign Policy Framework; Lessons Learned for Global Health Diplomacy in Iran

Background: Today, peace and stability of health diplomacy in the EasternMediterranean region is faced with many challenges. In spite of extensive ignorance onhealth consequences in other fields and priorities of foreign policy, but foreign policycan be applied to improve health particularly in international health negotiations.Methods: To conduct this non-systematic review, articles relevant with the topicwere selected from published texts and credible databases for investigation.Databases included Medline, web of science, Google scholar, Springer, PubMed,and all news websites.Results: Since issues of health are getting more political, having political view andmastering negotiation techniques is necessary. One of these conditions is multilateralnegotiations, in which non-governmental organizations, advocacy groups,foundations, research centers, and private sectors get together to affect the presentrepresentatives of the member countries’ decision making about health topics andalso to be part of the negotiation process.On the other hand, the internationalcommitments of the Millennium Development goals, has put the health issue in aspecial position in international discussions. Further, epidemic growth of emergingdiseases (such as AIDS, hepatitis, and influenza), immigration, and the sanctionshave their impacts on the health sector, especially medicines and equipment, itsserious impact on public health is also considered as an undeniable threat.Conclusion: In order to have effective application, health policy principles shouldbe coordinated with other forms of diplomacy and also be placed at the top of allkey stakeholders’ affairs including the Ministry of Health and other organizationseffective on the health. Thus, to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and toescape from the problems based on the objectives of Vision 2025; this approachwill solve many problems.

Keywords:

Global Health , Diplomacy , Health Diplomacy