IDEA OF GLOBAL HEALTH AND HOW IT IS PRACTICALLY IMPLEMENTED

IDEA OF GLOBAL HEALTH AND HOW IT IS PRACTICALLY IMPLEMENTED

2008

Outline

Introduction : Understanding Global Health and Health Policy Implications

Health as a constructed phenomenon

Conceptual changes as a central aspect of globalization

Refining the relationship between globalization and health policy

Implications for the International Health System

References

Appendix

Introduction : Understanding Global Health and Health Policy Implications

The past several years have generated widespread concern among health professionals , politicians and the public about the potential for the cross-b spread of health risks , particularly infectious diseases For

example , international bodies such as the United Nations , the G8 the G77 and the European Union have accorded health high priority . The United States declared infectious diseases a security threat to its own people and others . Important new international health entities since 1996 include the United Nations program on HIV /AIDS , the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations and its associated Vaccine Fund and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS , Tuberculosis and Malaria

The increased attention to global health within the international community stems from two sources - higher disease prevalence (AIDS tops this list ) and concern about growing national vulnerability to health threats that originate externally . Most commentary attributes the latter primarily to increasing interdependence and secondarily to weakening public health systems . Often , all of the above processes are lumped together and called results of globalization

Global health is a relatively new term that also refers to health matters that transcend jurisdictional boundaries . However , it tends to refer to efforts initiated by a broader...