Germany's expanding role in global health

Abstract

Germany has become a visible actor in global health in the past 10 years. In this Series paper, we describe how this development complements a broad change in perspective in German foreign policy. Catalysts for this shift have been strong governmental leadership, opportunities through G7 and G20 presidencies, and Germany's involvement in managing the Ebola virus disease outbreak. German global health engagement has four main characteristics that are congruent with the health agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals; it is rooted in human rights, multilateralism, the Bismarck model of social protection, and a link between development and investment on the basis of its own development trajectory after World War 2. The combination of momentum and specific characteristics makes Germany well equipped to become a leader in global health, yet the country needs to accept additional financial responsibility for global health, expand its domestic global health competencies, reduce fragmentation of global health policy making, and solve major incoherencies in its policies both nationally and internationally.

Global health research and education at medical faculties in Germany

“…Funding for global health research is at even lower levels. This gap is seen as an opportunity for German research institutions to increase their global impact [30]. As in contrast to US and UK universities, German universities do not have considerable research funding of their own, but are dependent on extramural funding for most of their research.…”

Cultural Competence and Global Health: Perspectives for Medical Education – Position paper of the GMA Committee on Cultural Competence and Global Health

“…Structural integration into official curricula is rare [11], [17]. A recent publication on Germany’s increasing role in global health criticized German medical schools for placing low priority on this particular topic [18], [19]. …”

My Germany in 2017: a resilient country that is taking responsibility

“…The two papers in this Lancet Series look at the German health system and its remarkable resilience through a very turbulent time over the past 135 years and Germany's expanding role in global health. 2,3 Leading the G20 Summit in Hamburg on July 7 and 8, Germany has taken important and more assertive steps to show leadership in global health by putting health firmly on the G20 agenda and holding the first ever meeting of G20 Health Ministers in Berlin on May 19 and 20. The declaration by the G20 Health Ministers has a strong focus not only on combating antimicrobial resistance, but also on health systems strengthening for universal health coverage, data systems strengthening for health policy, and building and maintaining a skilled and motivated health workforce as an integral part of functioning and resilient health systems.…”