Global Health Partnerships registers as a charity in Scotland

In December 2024, Global Health Partnerships (formerly THET) achieved an exciting milestone by becoming a registered charity in Scotland under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. This significant development enhances the organisation’s ability to foster new collaborations and expand its work within Scotland. 

Global Health Partnerships (GHP), formerly known as THET, is a UK-based charity dedicated to improving health globally. From reducing maternal deaths in Uganda to improving the quality of hospital care for injured children in Myanmar, it supports and forms mutually beneficial partnerships between health institutions in the UK, Africa, Asia and the Middle East to respond to locally identified priorities to strengthen health systems and the health workforce. 

Through these partnerships, skilled UK health professionals volunteer to train and exchange knowledge with their counterparts abroad, ensuring a flow of mutual learning and development. This approach not only strengthens health systems in low- and middle-income countries but also enriches the NHS, as returning volunteers bring back enhanced skills, leadership capabilities, and fresh perspectives on delivering healthcare in resource-limited settings. 

Scotland has long been a vital partner for GHP. The charity has been actively collaborating with the Scottish NHS and academic partners to advance impactful initiatives. Some of these partnerships include the NHS Highland’s collaboration with Chipata Central Hospital in Zambia on antimicrobial stewardship programmes and NHS Fife’s work with Muhimbili University in Tanzania to bolster pharmacist leadership in combating antimicrobial resistance. Previous projects have also addressed a diverse range of global health challenges, from paediatric burn care in Malawi to surgical capacity– building in Myanmar. 

This milestone also builds upon GHP’s contributions to the landmark 2017 report on Global Citizenship in the Scottish Health Service and its active engagement with the Scottish International Development Alliance (SIDA). 

Saf Rahbour, Chief Operating Officer at Global Health Partnerships, shared her enthusiasm for this new chapter: 

Global Health Partnerships looks forward to expanding its reach, building upon the strong connections already established in Scotland, and continuing to drive meaningful change in global health.