Globalization and Health Policy
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
Provide an organic framework of knowledge and interpretative tools relating to:
- The evolution of the right to health and its different variations from 1948 to today. Knowledge and understanding of the history of the WHO and of the changes that have occurred in the various periods, relating to the mission and characteristics of the organization.
- National health systems between pandemics and financial crises in the era of Covid-19.
- The actors that determine the spaces and limits for the real usability of the right to health in the era of globalization: from the Millennium Goals to the Sustainable Development Goals.
- The tools available to global civil society to improve their health. Learn to identify, in different social and cultural contexts, the various forces in the field that confront each other on health protection strategies.
- The social determinants that influence the living conditions of populations.
- The drug market between law and profit.
- The evolution of the right to health and its different variations from 1948 to today. Knowledge and understanding of the history of the WHO and of the changes that have occurred in the various periods, relating to the mission and characteristics of the organization.
- National health systems between pandemics and financial crises in the era of Covid-19.
- The actors that determine the spaces and limits for the real usability of the right to health in the era of globalization: from the Millennium Goals to the Sustainable Development Goals.
- The tools available to global civil society to improve their health. Learn to identify, in different social and cultural contexts, the various forces in the field that confront each other on health protection strategies.
- The social determinants that influence the living conditions of populations.
- The drug market between law and profit.
Expected learning outcomes
- Understanding of the role played by the various public and private actors in some of the most significant events that have occurred in the field of health at international level, in recent decades, through an analysis of the many divergent interests that exist.
- Understanding of the strategies used globally by social movements and activists to conquer and protect the right to health.
- By analyzing what is happening during the Coronavirus emergency and what has happened in the fight against AIDS from the 1980s to today at a global and national level, developing the ability to identify risks to public health deriving from discriminatory policies and misleading media campaigns.
- Understanding the role played by the International Trade Organization on pharmaceutical patents and the consequences on access to therapies. Knowledge of TRIPs agreements on drugs, of the strategies activated by Big Pharma in South Africa and India and of the current proposals by WHO to guarantee universal access to treatments.
- Ability to critically analyze and build one's own point of view on the international debate on drug policies.
- Understanding of the strategies used globally by social movements and activists to conquer and protect the right to health.
- By analyzing what is happening during the Coronavirus emergency and what has happened in the fight against AIDS from the 1980s to today at a global and national level, developing the ability to identify risks to public health deriving from discriminatory policies and misleading media campaigns.
- Understanding the role played by the International Trade Organization on pharmaceutical patents and the consequences on access to therapies. Knowledge of TRIPs agreements on drugs, of the strategies activated by Big Pharma in South Africa and India and of the current proposals by WHO to guarantee universal access to treatments.
- Ability to critically analyze and build one's own point of view on the international debate on drug policies.
Lesson period: Open sessions
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Course currently not available
SPS/07 - GENERAL SOCIOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours