[Planetary Health in medical education: rapidly catching up]

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2023 May 31:167:D7504.
[Article in Dutch]

Abstract

Healthcare professionals have a responsibility to protect and promote human health, and thus also have a responsibility to protect ecosystems and to promote Planetary Health. Planetary Health arose recently in medical education and is growing exponentially. Planetary Health in medical education should entail three key themes: (a) Understanding of the complex relationship between humankind and nature - the core of Planetary Health. With related knowledge, students can develop the skills and attitude to: (b) act from their healthcare perspective; apply adaptation and mitigation measures; and (c) reflect on and act according to their role within society. Preconditions for successful implementation of Planetary Health in medical education are a broad support among stakeholders, formal ratification (in learning outcomes, assessments, accreditation), capacity building among educational institutes, resources for education development (finance, time), and transdisciplinary collaboration; From students to education headmasters, everyone has a role to fulfil in integrating Planetary Health into medical education.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Attitude
  • Curriculum
  • Ecosystem*
  • Education, Medical*
  • Humans
  • Students