Submission ID 117186
| Issue/Objective | International players can influence and exert power over governments, playing a role not just in the design of public policy but also in national policy agendas. Given increased attention towards decolonizing global health, it is crucial to assess the influence of international players on countries like the Philippines as they work to shape their own policy agendas and address their populations' needs. As global health continues to evolve in response to shifting power dynamics, understanding these influences is essential to ensuring national policies reflect local priorities instead of external pressures. Focusing on the Philippines' Bureau of International Health Cooperation (BIHC) within its Department of Health (DOH), we asked and answered the research question: in which way(s) do international actors exert undue influence on national policy priorities? |
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| Methodology/Approach | We conducted electronic synchronous key informant interviews with civil servants working within the BIHC at the DOH, then undertook thematic analysis of these interviews. |
| Results | First, we investigated key informants' perspectives on international partnerships, which included being positive, transparent, but also pushy. Second, we sought to understand international organizations' influence on the BIHC. We understood this influence to be primarily through funding and bypassing processes. And lastly, conversely, we uncovered the BIHC's influence on international policy priorities. We understood the BIHC to influence international policy priorities through discussions and conferences and by sharing best practices. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | After evaluating how international players influence Philippine health priorities, we contribute to advancing global health in a changing world by providing a basis for deeper inquiry into how nations can independently steer their health policies with international players in a supportive rather than directive role. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Michelle Amri University of British Columbia Jenina Ibanez University of British Columbia |
