Session 2
Session 2: Japan and Australia: contribution to global health via development cooperation policy (and its implementation)
Moderator: Dr John Bruni - Founder and CEO of SAGE International Australia
Japan’s contribution to global health via development cooperation
Speaker 1: Dr Toda Takao – Former, Vice-President, Japan International Cooperation Agency; Visiting Professor International University of Health and Welfare and Juntendo University
In his presentation, Dr Toda stated that because of the relatively low COVID-19 infection rates in Australia and Japan, the vaccination rates have been relatively slow. He also expressed concern on the inequitable access to vaccines in many of the developing countries because of their limited financial resources. Dr Toda stressed the need to adopt new measures in dealing with the global pandemic. He observed that most countries in 2020 experienced a recession, however, recent data show that some are expected to recover in 2021 based on their ability to deal effectively with the pandemic.
He argued that Japan’s development cooperation policy on global health called the “Basic Design for Peace and Health” is an important framework for global health, particularly because it responds to the needs of developing countries. It is based on the following three principles; establish resilient global health governance able to respond to public health crises and natural disasters; seamless utilisation of essential health and medical services; promotion of universal healthcare coverage throughout the persons’ lifecycle; and; utilise Japanese expertise, experience, medical products and technologies.
Japan provides global health aid through multilateral channels such as the United Nations’ specialised agencies; UNICEF, UNDP, UNHCR or other international schemes such as CEPI, Gavi, and COVAX). Bilateral support to assist countries with their specific COVID-19 interventions and economic recovery is provided through the support its COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support Loan initiative. These initiatives make up 5.4 per cent of Japan’s total ODA contribution, which has elevated the country’s status as a leader in global health, however, he conceded that Japan’s experience can also constrain its actions and therefore this emphasises the need to build sound understanding of global health governance and successfully dealing with the pandemic.
Australia’s role in global health – Lessons from global NCD strategy and implementation
Speaker 2: Dr Samantha Battams – Associate Professor, Flinders University
Dr Battams’ presentation was based on some of the key findings from her research on Australia’s role in effectively implementing global non-communicable disease (NCD) strategy, and its role in health diplomacy and governance. She explained that while Australia plays a leading role in global health diplomacy in some areas, in other areas Australia is inconsistent. The domestic governance of NCDs is also incoherent and inconsistent with global and regional health, development and trade policies. She used the example of Australia’s role in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, its strict national policy on tobacco control, and its role in health diplomacy on tobacco control capacity building measures in the Asia-pacific region. This was considered inconsistent with its role in alcohol and unhealthy food products, its focus on building trading relationships and gaining market access for these products and its neo-liberal approach to foreign aid.
Globally, there is ample space for Australia to play a leading role in controlling communicable diseases, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has implemented policies such as Partnership for Recovery (focusing on its nearest neighbours) and its support for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and other global health organisations.
She stressed the need to better align domestic and international policies, and policies across sectors (health, development and trade), in order to create a coalition for epidemic preparedness. This means negotiating and mediating messages and considering health goals in ‘other sectors’. It also means recognising capacity differences and the commercial determinants of health that result in inequitable access to vaccines across countries and within global health policies.
You can watch the recording of session 2 below: