Understanding our role as global citizens while working as clinicians in our local environment is becoming increasingly important. We have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that illness does not respect borders. Increasing our awareness of our global working environment will improve our own clinical performance and our patients’ outcomes. The Forum of Postgraduate Training Bodies has completed the process of developing a competency framework, outlining 5 core competencies in which all medical practitioners in Ireland should be knowledgeable. This will improve the ability of the medical workforce in Ireland to fully participate in the global health system.
1. Understand Global Health Governance: Define and discuss the roles of international organizations and policies in managing health issues that transcend national boundaries, including pandemic responses and health equity initiatives.
2. Apply SDG Principles in Clinical Practice: Identify and integrate the relevant SDGs into daily healthcare practice, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and its connections with other goals impacting health determinants.
3. Recognize and Address Health Inequities: Analyze the historical and structural factors contributing to health inequities, with a focus on marginalized populations such as migrants and low-income groups, and explore solutions to promote justice in healthcare.
4. Engage in Effective Advocacy and Partnerships: Develop skills to advocate for patient populations within local and global health systems and form partnerships that adhere to ethical principles and equitable knowledge sharing.
5. Promote Sustainable Healthcare and Planetary Health: Implement strategies for sustainable healthcare delivery, considering the environmental impact of healthcare systems, and advocate for policies that support both human and planetary health.
