Teaching about international pharmaceutical trade and global health public - key concepts in nursing & health care delivery

The association between global trade and public health is powerfully influenced by economies of wealth. While changing lifestyles and patterns of disease emergence are increasing among developed nations, many middle and low-income countries struggle with infectious disease epidemics and a rising burden on chronic illness. Among nations, there is significant disparity in access to medications as cost and availability differ. In teaching public health to students who will become direct health care providers it is important to raise awareness to these major implications that underlie public health. Raising awareness of differential access to medications and changing conditions in global trade demonstrates a key area of educational development in addressing global health problems. These implications require our critical attention in linking the changes in international trade to changes in both local and global public health practice and linking the influence of trade policy on access medications as a part of basic healthcare equity. This oral presentation will highlight this key area and the impact of this learning on students in a general advanced practice nursing program.