Information Package
baskent.edu.tr

Program of Political Science and International Relations (English 30%)

PSIR355

GLOBAL HEALTH POLICY

Course Code
PSIR355
Semester
-
Theory+Practice
3 + 0
ECTS
5
Course TypeElective Course
Course LevelBachelor's Degree
Year of Study-
Semester-
ECTS5
Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the students;

  1. It Develop an understanding of the relationship between global health policies, international law and human rights, as well as the political, social, and economic dimensions of global health.
  2. Understand the demographic, economic, and security approaches that can be used to analyse global health policy, as well as the key actors in global health policy.
  3. Comprehend the relationship between social determinants of health, economic structures and inequalities,
  4. Be able to discuss, from an analytical perspective, the relationship between issues like migration, development, gender and global health policy.
Mode of DeliveryFace to face
PrerequisitesNo
Recommended Optional Programme ComponentsNo recommended optional programme components.
Course DescriptionThe Global Health Policy course is an elective course at the undergraduate level. This course is designed to introduce the globalization of health policy by addressing health as a universal human right, and by exploring its social, political, and economic dimensions. In this context, the course elaborates on how global health policies are shaped and explores inequalities in global health by focusing on power dynamics among actors including states, non-state and the private sector actors, as well as current issues in this field. It develops a perspective on how social determinants of health or economic structures create inequalities or how they can worsen the existing ones. It also develops a perspective on how approaches such as sustainable development offer a roadmap for addressing inequalities in global health. Within the scope of the course, students develop an analytical perspective on the right to health, the global health burden, global governance, health inequalities, health systems and how health policies are shaped.
Course Contents
WEEK TOPICS
1st Week Introduction, overview of the course scope, objectives, and resources, and an introduction to global health
2nd Week Demographic and social determinants of health and the global health burden
3rd Week Health and the right to health in international law
4th Week Who makes global health policy?
5th Week Multilateralism in global health and current problems
6th Week Global health crises and globalization
7th Week Midterm Exam
8th Week Security approaches
9th Week Health systems, financing, and access
10th Week Global inequalities (developed/developing countries)
11th Week Global inequalities (migrants/ refugees)
12th Week Gender and health
13th Week Can sustainable development be a solution?
14th Week Student Presentations
Recommended or Required ReadingBooks
Gostin, L. O., & Meier, B. M. (2020). Foundations of Global Health & Human rights. Oxford University Press.
Harman, S., & Papamichail, A. (2024). Global health governance. Routledge.
Jin, J. (2021). International Regimes in Global Health Governance. Routledge.
Articles
Koplan, J. P., Bond, T. C., Merson, M. H., Reddy, K. S., Rodriguez, M. H., Sewankambo, N. K., & Wasserheit, J. N. (2009). Towards a Common Definition of Global Health. The Lancet, 373(9679), 1993-1995.
Youde, J. (2016). High politics, Low Politics, and Global Health. Journal of Global Security Studies, 1(2), 157-170.
Bump, J. B. (2025). Global Health and Its Limitations: An Historical Perspective. Health Systems & Reform, 11(2), 2478681.
McNeill, D. (2023). The World Economic Forum: An Unaccountable Force in Global Health Governance? Global Policy, 14(5), 782-789.
Kickbusch, I. (2025). US exit from WHO: it is about much more than WHO. The Lancet, 405(10477), 444-446.
Pattanshetty, S., Inamdar, A., Dsouza, V. S., Bhatt, K., Jash, A., Gudi, N., & Brand, H. (2024). Scoping Review of International Relations Theories in Health Security: A cue for Health Diplomacy. F1000Research, 13, 184.
Rad, J. (2025). Health Inequities: A Persistent Global Challenge from Past to Future. International Journal for Equity in Health, 24(1), 148.
Tosam, M. J., Chi, P. C., Munung, N. S., Oukem?Boyer, O. O. M., & Tangwa, G. B. (2018). Global Health Inequalities and the Need for Solidarity: A View from the Global South. Developing World Bioethics, 18(3), 241-249.
Jaldi, A. (2023). The Crisis of Multilateralism Viewed from the Global South. Policy Paper for the New South.
Jong, F. C. D. (2018). Health Inequalities and Migrants: Accessing Healthcare as a Global Human Right. International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, 11(4), 229-231.
Vidal, E. M., & Wickramage, K. P. (2023). Tracking Migration and Health Inequities. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 102(2), 143.
Baş, K., & Sur, H. (2023). COVID-19 Sağlık Krizinin Ülkelerin Sağlık Sistemleri Üzerine Etkisi; Küresel Sağlık Sistemleri Boyutuyla Bir Değerlendirme. Eskişehir Türk Dünyası Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi Halk Sağlığı Dergisi, 8(1), 105-113.
Gostin, L. O., Moon, S., & Meier, B. M. (2020). Reimagining Global Health Governance in the Age of COVID-19. American Journal of Public Health, 110(11), 1615-1619.
Lazarus, J. V., Pujol-Martinez, C., Kopka, C. J., Batista, C., El-Sadr, W. M., Saenz, R., & El-Mohandes, A. (2024). Implications from COVID-19 for Future Pandemic Global Health Governance. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 30(5), 576-581.
Reports
Sachs, J.D., Lafortune, G., Fuller, G., Iablonovski, G. (2025). Financing Sustainable Development to 2030 and Mid-Century. Sustainable Development Report 2025. Paris: SDSN, Dublin: Dublin University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25546/111909
UN DESA. 2025. The Gender Snapshot 2025 ? September 2025. New York, USA: UN DESA. UN DESA. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/gender-snapshot/2025/
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). Global Burden of Disease 2023: Findings from the GBD 2023 Study. Seattle, WA: IHME, 2025.
WHO. (2022). World Health Statistics 2022: Montoring health for the SDGS, sustainable development goals.available at https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240110496
* Depending on the topic being covered, additional articles, books, reports, and films may be recommended during the course.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
  • Lecture
  • Presentation
  • Discussion
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Quantity Percentage (%)
Mid-term 1 20
Project 1 20
Presentation of Case Study 1 15
Other 1 15
Total(%) 70
Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade(%) 70
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade(%) 30
Total(%) 100
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration (Hour) Total Workload (Hour)
Midterm exam 1 1 1
Preparation for Quiz 1 20 20
Individual or group work 14 2 28
Preparation for Final exam 1 35 35
Course hours 14 3 42
Preparation for Midterm exam
Laboratory (including preparation)
Final exam 1 1 1
Homework
Presentation (including preperation) 1 3 3
Project 1 20 20
Total Work Load150
Total Work Load / 30 (h)5
ECTS Credit of the Course5
Language of InstructionTurkish
Work Placement(s)No

Programme Qualifications / Learning Outcomes

LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
K1 X X X
K2 X X
K3 X
K4
K5
K6
K7
K8
K9 X
K10 X X
K11
K12
K13 X