Office for Global Health
Global Health Strategy 2014-2017
The MAHSC Office for Global Health (OGH) was formed as of 1 September 2014.
This strategy guides our immediate work and builds upon the 2013 MAHSC global
health strategy and activities that are already underway. These will evolve in coming
months as we gain experience, capacity and resources.
CONTEXT
The Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC) is a partnership
between the University of Manchester and six NHS organisations, uniting leading
healthcare providers with world-class academics and researchers. The headline
goals of MAHSC are related to the delivery of discovery science; translational
research; integrated education; healthcare provision; innovation and enterprise; and
social responsibility.
The large, cosmopolitan Manchester region has many existing capacities relevant to
global health. Apart from the hospital and community services of the National Health
Service and the medical and health faculty of the University, there are several
University centres and institutes as well as local civil society groups that have strong
international connections.
These endowments qualify Manchester – itself a thriving product of globalisation - to
become a leading world centre for global health, and the Office for Global Health is
conceived as an arrangement to incentivise and facilitate that to happen.
OUR VISION FOR GLOBAL HEALTH
The state of health we enjoy is driven by several primary drivers that shape the life
choices, life styles, and life chances of populations, at home and abroad. These
include:
o Demographic shifts that are the outcome of changing patterns of
fertility and ageing
o Migration including both voluntary and forced movement of people
o Environmental changes generating climate change and disasters
o Political economy choices driven by our preferred values and choices,
and consequent levels of peace and security
o International fairness in the set of rules that govern access and equity
in the sharing global public goods
Accordingly, global health is defined here as the set of policies and practices
that address the transnational health concerns flowing from globalisation.
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This definition encompasses notions of both self and shared interests:
 Tackling the consequences of the transnational flows of diseases, people,
resources, knowledge, technologies, and ethical values
 Managing interdependence and mutual protection against shared and
transferred health risks that lie beyond the reach of national jurisdictions
 Demonstrating moral responsibility by generating and sharing knowledge and
resources that address health inequalities and promote better health at home
and abroad.
The global in global health refers to the scope of the problems and not their location.
Thus, although Manchester’s work in global health aims to help the poor and
vulnerable in low and middle-income countries, it also benefits the people of
Manchester. It does this through importing innovative technologies and good
practices from elsewhere, as well as boosting motivation and providing leadership
and skills development for Manchester health professionals at all levels.
Furthermore, better understanding on how to operate overseas in resource poor
environments where inequalities are so grossly evident creates a sympathetic
awareness of the challenges of doing the same in Manchester.
In summary, global health cooperation is a necessity in our interconnected world and
can improve the health security of our own local population. Operationalising this
framework for global health rests on three key action pillars:
 Developing and sharing global health related knowledge and skills
 Fostering equity in global health through expanded international cooperation
 Promoting good global health governance for greater global health security
MISSION AND STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
The mission of the Office for Global Health (OGH) is to stimulate and mobilise
capacities available around Manchester to study and research transnational
health issues and determinants, and apply solutions that influence policies,
and promote collaborations to improve the health of under-served populations
in Manchester and globally.
This mission is progressed through the following strategic inter-connected objectives:
1. Establish a global health learning and teaching framework
2. Develop a global health research initiative
3. Influence global health policy at governmental, intergovernmental, and
multilateral levels
4. Promote global health solidarity through institutional links and volunteering
services by Manchester health professionals
5. Raise the profile and presence of the Manchester global health brand locally,
and on the national and international stage
ORGANISING GLOBAL HEALTH IN MANCHESTER
The Office for Global Health is seen as the hub of an arrangement that spans
Manchester-based collaborators such as centres, institutes, and other entities in the
University, NHS Trusts, local authorities, and civil society groups that conduct
activities relevant to the objectives of our Global Health Strategy. These entities are
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accredited to the OGH and recognised as its Collaborating Centres. They include,
for example, the Centre of Global Womens Health, Institute of Population Health,
Humanitarian & Conflict Response Institute, Manchester Volunteering Centre etc. A
charitable arm of the OGH (“GlobalHealth@Manchester”) is also being created to
facilitate philanthropic contributions.
The Heads of Collaborating Centres constitute the Global Health Policy and
Strategy Group. This helps to steer the directions taken by OGH.
Additional
members – eminent global health practitioners – may be invited to join.
Focal points from each Collaborating Centre come together along with the OGH staff
as a Global Health Programme Team. They track and promote progress with the
implementation of the Global Health Strategy.
An Eminent Advisory Panel consists of renowned global health practitioners from
around the world any benefactors of global health in Manchester who can provide
their expertise and support with expanding our outreach.
The Office for Global Health is headed by an Executive Director supported by
Directors covering the Strategic Objectives, a Research and Development
Coordinator, and an Administrator. These are part-time appointments. Additional
staff may be accrued to manage specific projects or activities that the OGH is asked
to host.
RISKS
The principal risk is to the pace of implementation. This will depend on the resources
allocated by MAHSC and additionally mobilised and, most importantly, the human
resources identified to work together as part of the global health team, along with the
related infrastructural arrangements. The extent of cooperation among MAHSC
partners in support of this common global health agenda will, of course, be the most
important determinant of success.
(23 October 2014)
CONTACT:
Office for Global Health
Manchester Academic Health Science Centre
Core Technology Facility
46 Grafton Street
Manchester M13 9NT
United Kingdom
Executive Director: Professor Mukesh Kapila, CBE
+44 161 306 0639
Cell: +44 7715 300 175
[email protected]
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