International dialogue is crucial in building more robust and resilient global healthcare systems. Unfortunately, the momentum for collaboration, such as that between United Kingdom and China, or even among European Union member states, hasn’t been kept up, and this is something all nations should seek to change.
As many global health experts have recognised, there’s mounting evidence that we need to move away from health systems that are too focused on therapeutics, and move towards integrated care. From my conversations with healthcare authorities worldwide and the academic research of the University College London’s Global Business School for Health, it’s clear that an integrated approach is best at preventing sickness, creating services tailored to local needs and keeping healthcare workers engaged.
While there is no perfect formula for a functioning healthcare system, nations can and should learn from those around them. The more we look to international best practices, the quicker we will see patient outcomes improve.
So what has the UK learned that it can pass on to China? The UK is a leader in many aspects of global health, including strengthening health systems in other countries. Last year, the UK set out clear actions for improving health globally and building resilience to threats in its flagship Global Health Framework.
The UK is also an expert in biomedical research, developing vaccines and treatments, and having an outsize footprint in areas of global health governance such as antimicrobial resistance.
Moreover, the National Health Service has long showed Britain’s commitment to universal healthcare coverage, and British society willingly accepts funding it through taxation. For the most part, it has provided an efficient and effective health system, given that it delivers at a lower expenditure level than many other countries.
Done right, China’s healthcare reforms could boost the economy and more
Done right, China’s healthcare reforms could boost the economy and more
Consequently, initiatives like the UK’s recent healthcare education mission to China – of which I was a delegate – are precisely what we need to share best practices between the UK and China regarding training and educating the next generation of healthcare professionals.
The mission aimed to foster long-lasting institutional partnerships that contribute to wider collaboration in the UK-China education and healthcare sectors. From Shanghai and Guangzhou to Shenzhen, the delegation pursued meaningful engagement and dialogue.
I had the privilege of meeting key Chinese healthcare authorities, top medical universities, leading public hospital groups, private medical institutions and other potential partners to understand the latest landscape in Chinese healthcare and international collaboration priorities in medical education, training and research.
The UK delegation had much to share, on collaboration in various medical education initiatives and how education and training can be expanded beyond clinical and scientific training. The need for an interdisciplinary approach through an integrated curriculum that acknowledges the importance of business and management training for healthcare professionals was welcomed by Chinese delegates during the mission.
This mission was a testament to the importance of keeping the global dialogue and engagement in healthcare alive. By leveraging each other’s strengths in healthcare, whether the UK’s expertise in global health and an integrated curriculum approach to medical education or China’s advancements in medical innovation, we can forge a path towards more collaboration and better outcomes for our populations.
Nora Colton is director of UCL Global Business School for Health