Global Health Ethics and Human Rights
Practical Approaches to Multicultural Healthcare at Home and Abroad
17th Annual GHEC Conference
Jointly sponsored by:
UC Davis Health System
Office of Continuing Medical Education
Center for Reducing Health Disparities
April 4 - 5, 2008
Sacramento, CA
: : White Paper
World population growth, connectivity and economic interdependence have brought global health inequities into clear focus
in the 21st century. As a reslt, global citizens increasingly agree that basic standards of health, including access to health
care, are aong the fundamental human rights.
Ironically, at the same time, the pressures of globalization seem to have created a profound divide in basic human rights
among advantaged and disadvantaged populations.
This conference seeks to equip future healthcare leaders and advocates with practical tools to reduce global health inequities
and build stronger healthcare systems.
This conference explores the following questions:
What are the implications of viewing health, and access to health care, as basic human rights?
How can models of culturally and linguistically competent care be adoped to help address issues of
global health equity, and what role should government play in ensuring a basic level of culturally-
competent care for all of its citizens?
How will major global phenomena, such as poverty, climate change, emerging infectious diseases, and
continued regional instability influence patterns of disease and suffering - and how should healthcare
leaders work to address these threats?
How can efforts to improvive human health be better interated with advancs in animal and agricultural
sciences?
What role should private business, pharmaceutical, publishing and philanthropy play in transforming
health care into a global human right?
What responsibility shoudl wealthy countries assume in sharing scientific and technological health-related
breakthroughs with others?
How should the model for tranlational science be extended to reach all global citizens?
In sum, the conference seeks to build a strong working foundation for a global health ethic respectful of human rights.