Refreshed International Health Strategy to assist building a fairer, healthier Wales

Public Health Wales has updated its 2017 International Health Strategy to better reflect the significant changes in the global landscape and to enable Public Health Wales’ new Long-Term Strategy. 

Wales shares a number of its challenges with the international community including addressing the health impacts of the climate emergency, the long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, inequality, mental health and well-being, and the cost of living crisis.

Public Health Wales’ International Health Strategy sets out how the organisation will work with partners such as public health institutes, Welsh Government and others to enable learning and partnership working for example, by providing an International Health Community of Practice. 

The new strategy aims to:  

• Maximise benefits for the health and well-being of people in Wales. 

• Develop globally responsible people and organisations. 

• Respond to global health threats and benefit from international opportunities. 

International health working can range from research partnerships, sharing of mutual knowledge via digital meetings to joint training and collaboration on projects. This learning can then be implemented in Wales to improve population health and reduce inequalities. 

Liz Green, Consultant in Public Health, Policy, and International Health, said:

“Working with our international partners carries significant potential benefits in improving population health and creating a fairer Wales.  

“This refreshed strategy will assist our colleagues at Public Health Wales and beyond in mutually learning through and sharing international health expertise, helping us to prevent disease, promote and protect health and wellbeing, and address inequalities that can have a life-long impact on population health.” 

International Health Strategy 2023-2035