Concept and practice of international health in the Takemi program

The Takemi Program in International Health was established at the Harvard School of Public Health in 1983 as a research and advanced training program for midcareer health professionals concerned with the allocation of resources for health, especially in developing countries. This essay describes the origins of the Takemi Program and presents seven principles that underlie the concept and practice of international health in the Takemi Program. The principles are: research emphasis, policy orientation, interdisciplinary perspective, mutual respect, individual freedom, community spirit, and individual capacity building. The broader implications of these principles are suggested for current efforts to redefine the concept of international health.