Global health policies target area that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity inhealthcare for people worldwide. Global health issues across national boundaries call for actions from government and global forces that help determine the health of people, worldwide improvement of health, reduction of disparities and protection against threats.

What is Global health

Global health involves understanding of international and interdisciplinary context in healthcare. It includes the research study and practice of medicine with a focus on improving equity in health and healthcare system for populations worldwide. Global health is about improving worldwide health, reducing disparities and protecting against global threats. Emphasis is laid on problems and issues that transcend and disregard national borders with global political and economic impact. Global health framework is designed with appropriate action to focus and target health disparities and cross-border issues. Some experts assert that global health primarily focuses on health issues in developing and low-income countries. Social, political, economical, ethical and educational factors; advances in communications and technology; existing healthcare system in low and middle income countries are some aspects that affect global health.
World health trends point to the effects of advances in transportation, globalized economy and changes in agricultural practices have caused healthcare issues to transcend international borders.Complex international distribution chain has resulted in international outbreaks caused due to poor quality of pharmaceuticals, spread of food borne infections and contamination of consumer goods. A strong foundation and policy framework is needed to handle worldwide environmental impact, healthcare issues and disease burden of primary care, injury prevention, women and childrens health, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, effects of war and catastrophes, aging and chronic disease, nutrition and antimicrobial resistance. The rate of deaths caused from non communicable heart diseases, diabetes, strokes and injuries is growing globally.Developing countries must continue to control and prevent infectious diseases while addressing the health threats from environmental health risks and non communicable diseases.

Global health policies

Health in a global context is necessary as the world economy becomes increasingly globalized with extensive international travel and commerce. Challenge in global, international and public health all attempt to address the same underlying economic, social and environmental factors that affect the health of populations. Global health plays an increasingly vital role in safeguarding the population with a mission to strengthen national security and improve public health through global disease detection, prevention or control and response strategies. Improving global health can promote public health and support global security interests by fostering political diplomacy, stability and economic growth worldwide. Efforts in developing global healthpolicies is aimed to help improve the healthof people in low and middle-income countries contributing to broader foreignpriorities, globaldevelopment goals and national security concerns. The world community can confront major health threats in better ways by proposing new guidance and promotion of global cooperation between developed and developing countries on emerging health issues.
The economic and social conditions in developing countries has enforced the need of improving surveillance in health system. Countries are beginning to establish programs to address issues related to non communicable diseases, substance abuse disorders, mental health and injuries. Global interventions for improvedchild health and survivalinclude promotion of hygiene interventions of washing, salt iodization, vitamin A fortification, zinc supplementation, vaccinations and treatments ofsevere acute malnutrition. Leading global health policy experts belonging to the range of different health stakeholders like health organization, NGOs (non-government organisations), industry and various foundations have targeted top issues of universal health coverage; health systems and primary healthcare strengthening; health financing and access to medicines. The important goal is to work with diverse stakeholders ensuring global health efforts are made more strategic, integrated and sustainable for long-term. The pharmaceutical industry is also backing and guiding these policy principles to support global health.

Global Health Online Course at JLI

James Lind Institute (JLI) provides an online program – Advanced PG Diploma in Global Health Management & Policies for understanding global health policies.
For more information please visit: www.jliedu.com