From the Philippines to Australia: Lessons from a Global Health Fellowship in a HIC-LMIC Partnership
Global health partnerships are crucial. They streamline efforts in the health sector, achieving improvements no single organization could manage alone. Such collaborations significantly contribute to developing research capacity and enhancing the production and use of evidence to advance global health equity. This year, I was privileged to participate in a fellowship as a Research Assistant. This six-month fellowship opened doors to a research partnership with the George Institute for Global Health-Sydney, a leading global medical research institute.
(From left to right) Reneepearl Kim Sales (Grant Recipient and Principal Investigator), me, and Dr. Soumyadeep Bhaumik (Supervisor) at the George Institute for Global Health - Sydney Office
The fellowship’s highlight for me was a two-week trip to the George Institute for Global Health-Sydney last April 2025, which necessitated proper planning, time, effort, and resources. Securing my travel visa required meticulous preparation, which involved providing extensive documentation to prove my business intent and financial self-sufficiency. While I was ultimately granted a visa (much to my relief), the process underscored the significant preparation and mental load faced by researchers in low- and middle-income countries in obtaining visas for events typically held in high-income countries. Although I was fortunate that the grant covered my flights, accommodation, visa expenses, and allowances, this may not be the case for others. These challenges expose deeper inequities within the global health ecosystem, prompting a crucial question: Who truly has the privilege to participate in global health initiatives, and at what cost?
The partnership's structure, from initial planning to research execution and post-research activities, was established and agreed upon from the outset. Roles and responsibilities were clearly defined: the Philippine team developed the case study, collected reports, extracted and analyzed data, while our supervisor provided expert guidance on methodology, data analysis, and write-up, and offered resources and global scientific visibility. Most pre-work was done remotely, with regular online meetings to convene and discuss progress. These allowed us to maximize the short two-week visit to Australia, focusing intensely on finalizing the analysis and write-up of the report. We fully leveraged face-to-face interactions, which significantly enhanced the exchange of ideas, discussions, and networking with researchers from the George Institute.
This fellowship proved to be a crucible for both technical and soft skill development. I gained invaluable hands-on experience in conducting research using a normative-empirical analytical approach and a deeper understanding of ethics in the context of research priority setting. The collaborative process of interpretive data analysis through regular team discussions further deepened my understanding of how research is conducted effectively. Beyond this, the experience honed crucial soft skills, including meticulous planning, cross-cultural communication, collaboration, and adaptability in navigating new environments.
The trip has also profoundly broadened my perspectives on the distinct working cultures of Australia and the Philippines. My first day at the George Institute office was a blend of excitement and nerves, which was quickly followed by culture shock. Accustomed to 8 AM meetings in the Philippines to quickly get the work underway, I was instead greeted with an invitation for coffee and a morning stroll along Sydney's Darling Harbour. It was difficult for me to reconcile not being at my desk from 8 AM to 5 PM, a norm in the Philippines, where the "hustle culture" of more hours is equated to increased productivity and is often glorified. This leads to increased stress, burnout, and a decrease in productivity. The International Trade Union Confederation has ranked the Philippines as one of the top 10 worst countries in the world for working people for the 9th consecutive year, a ranking that has kept the country in the top 10. On the other hand, Australians are known for their laidback and flexible work culture, something I experienced firsthand. They work shorter hours and take more breaks, which leads to increased productivity, reduced stress, and a better work-life balance. Bringing this invaluable experience home, I am determined to champion initiatives that foster healthier and more effective working conditions for health research in the Philippines, starting within my own workplace and team.
As I conclude this fellowship with newfound knowledge and experience, I recognize the necessity for conscious and collective efforts to foster and sustain such partnerships. Health research partnerships, particularly those between the Global North and Global South, are challenged by power dynamics, resource disparities, logistical issues, and cultural and institutional norms. For successful global health research partnerships to occur, mutual benefits between partners, equity, accountability, and clear roles and expectations should be present. Relationships built during initial collaborations should be nurtured and sustained even after the initial partnership.
While international funders and grants are essential for these collaborations, increased domestic funding for health research should be advocated to cover the expenses of international collaborations. By collectively nurturing these global health research partnerships, we can effectively pool resources and expertise, enhance knowledge and research capacities, address global challenges, and ultimately improve health outcomes worldwide.
