Who shapes global health priorities?

EMMS Director of Programmes, Sarah Gibson, delivered the keynote lecture at Edinburgh University Global Health Society meeting on 7 October. Sarah reflects on the discussion.

I was honoured to give the keynote speech at the October meeting of the Edinburgh University Global Health Society which focused on the question: ‘Funding Global Health: Who Shapes Global Health Priorities?’ – an important question that needs to be addressed from research, academic and NGO perspectives.

My talk focused on EMMS holistic palliative care programming work in Rwanda, Nepal and Malawi and our plans to further expand this work in India and Zambia. I used the opportunity to highlight how EMMS’ work with national partners ensures that programmes are led by government priorities and local contexts. We are led by WHO’s holistic palliative care approach that focuses on improving the quality of life of patients and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness to prevent and relieve suffering through the early identification, correct assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, whether physical, psychosocial or spiritual. I also explained how we have used the First-Ever Global Ranking of Palliative Care: 2025 World Map Under the New WHO Framework to identify key gaps to be addressed to advance palliative care in each country context.

My talk was followed by a panel discussion on the theme: To what extent should global health priorities depend on philanthropic funding, and does this risk allowing wealthy individuals and organisations to shape which health issues receive attention and resources? 

I was joined on the panel with Professor Harry Campbell, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology and Public Heath, Professor Evelyn Telfer, Chair of Reproductive Biology, and my colleague Steve McManus, Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships

Through a series of thoughtful questions, the discussion led to a clear conclusion: Philanthropic funding can play an important role, but priorities must be led by communities and countries that stand to benefit – not be imposed upon them. It must also be part of a broader funding mix with governments continuing to invest in global health to foster an equitable and secure world.

For me, that was the evening’s central message: funding matters, but who shapes the priorities matters just as much. Lasting progress begins by listening to local expertise, sharing power and investing in solutions that communities themselves can sustain.

As Scotland’s oldest international healthcare charity, EMMS has an established legacy of strengthening healthcare to improve access, reduce inequalities, and improve the wellbeing of communities, striving for every community to have the healthcare it needs for all its people to thrive and giving everyone the opportunity to live well. We are proud of the strong partnerships we have developed over the years and have seen first hand how lasting progress can be achieved when communities are supported and empowered.