Definition, Principles, and Evolution of Global Health

Building on the principles of public health and of the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of health, a definition of global health (GH) was outlined by some as a “cross-discipline” for “study, research, and practice placing a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide”. As such, GH focuses “on trans-national health issues, determinants, and solutions; involves many disciplines within and beyond health sciences; promotes inter-disciplinary collaboration; and is a synthesis of population-based prevention with individual-level clinical care”. Subsequently, systemic and ecological dimensions were added as part of sustainable solutions. The concept of globality emphasizes more than geographical considerations being articulated along several points, including holistic approach, dependence on transnational determinants, awareness that big challenges must be addressed in their totality and through an equity lens that includes one’s own community, comprehensive vision of health priorities, and “globality” of disciplines and sectors. The study of global health is rich and vast. It covers its evolution from tropical medicine to public and international health; analysis of global burden of disease, epidemiological transition and progress in health outcomes; assessment of social and economic determinants of health; relationship between health and development; impact of globalization on health; role of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in fostering access to health; governance of global health and role of major actors; principles of international cooperation; and assessment of big challenges including pandemic response and preparedness, “One Health” approaches to prevention and management of zoonotic conditions, and impacts of migration and climate change on health.