Why is planetary health important for the LMU Klinikum?
Climate change has affected the way we work and provide healthcare services, as well as the emergence of new diseases (e.g. COVID-19) and the resurgence of old diseases (e.g. malaria). Climate change also affects non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases and mental health. In an effort to address climate change, healthcare facilities in many countries are turning to green technologies.
Given the planetary dimension of these challenges, it makes sense to tackle them together with people from other continents. This is why the CIH has invited two health experts from long-standing partner universities in Africa and Asia to Munich for a fellowship. The Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB) is the first medical university in Bhutan, founded in 2012. Jimma University (JU) was founded in the 1980s. Both universities aspire to become centers of excellence in health research, education and community services. These universities, together with LMU, are in the process of integrating the core competencies of Planetary Health and One Health as mandatory requirements in all their health curricula, policies and strategy documents.
During their stay in Munich, the two Fellows exchanged views with key experts on Planetary Health, such as Dr. Martin Herrmann and Dr. Given Moonga from the Climate Change and Health Alliance (KLUG), Prof. Dr. Markus Lerch, Medical Director of the LMU Hospital, Prof. Dr. Martin Fischer from the Institute for Didactics and Educational Research in Medicine, Prof. Dr. Eva Rehfuess from the Pettenkofer Institute for Public Health, Isabel Brand, 6th year medical student, PD Dr. Uta Ferrari from the Medical Clinic and many others. These interactions will facilitate the design of an actionable common curriculum for Planetary Health and One Health with core competencies such as knowledge, attitudes and psychomotor skills.
Source: LMU University Hospital Munich, 26.01.2024
