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The Soft Power of Solid Medicine
Author(s) -
Donahue Donald A,
Cunnion Stepen O,
Brocker Fred L,
Carmona Richard H
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
world medical and health policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.326
H-Index - 11
ISSN - 1948-4682
DOI - 10.2202/1948-4682.1121
Subject(s) - diplomacy , soft power , international action , international community , action (physics) , state (computer science) , power (physics) , political science , public health , public relations , public administration , economic growth , law , medicine , politics , nursing , computer science , economics , physics , algorithm , quantum mechanics
Medical assistance undertakings have a long history of engendering positive international relations and fostering domestic stability. Interactions ranging from military medical civic action program (MEDCAP) missions to nongovernmental organization (NGO) efforts have demonstrated effectiveness, yet this capability is not routinely available in a meaningful way to the Secretary of State or the extended diplomatic community. MEDCAP and other global military presences can generate positive reactions, but can also be tainted by host nation suspicions of ulterior motives. In this paper, the authors posit that an organized, global public health presence would support international diplomacy while also establishing a worldwide surveillance capability for emerging communicable diseases.