Public health &
Globalisation
Dr. Babar T Shaikh
The Aga Khan University
Karachi, Pakistan
Public health & Globalisation
Enabling Objectives
 To understand what is public
health
 To learn about basic
components of public health
 To learn about global
opportunities available
Public health & Globalisation
Performance Objectives
By the end of this presentation, we will
learn to:
 Conceptualize
what public health is
 Apply basic knowledge of public
health to our health needs
 Acquire knowledge about
globalisation
Public health & Globalisation
Public health
Definition: the organized local and
global efforts to prevent death, disease
and injury, and promote the health of
populations.
Goals: Improve population health;
Reduce health inequalities.
Public health & Globalisation
Globalisation
The intensification of global flows
of capital, goods, ideas and people
across borders and the institutions
and rules established to regulate
these flows.
Globalisation and health
Openness
Cross border
flows technology
National Policies
Regional/global rules
and institutions
Health
risks
Health
systems
Level and
distribution
of
household
income
Health
Outcomes
Education
Water
Energy
Transport
Other sectors
GCP/HSD
June 2000
Public health & Globalisation
Public health in globalising world
 Domestic
 Health
action alone insufficient
achievements critical to
international development goals
Public health & Globalisation
Global risks for health
 Exclusion
from global markets
 Private ownership of knowledge
 Migration of health professionals
 Cross border transmission of
disease
 Environmental degradation
 Conflict
Public health & Globalisation
Global opportunities for health
 Inclusion/
connection
 New market incentives for R&D
 New resources for effective
interventions
 Knowledge dissemination
 New rules to control cross border
risks
Public health & Globalisation
Public health crisis in developing
countries
 Poverty
(2.5 billion), debt, inequalities;
 Population growth (80 million);
 Double burden of disease: HIV/AIDS;
 Weak public health infrastructure;
 Public sector reform.
Public health & Globalisation
WHO’s response
 Strategic
directions;
 Priority for: diseases of the poor,
tobacco;
 Support for national health systems;
 New: Partnerships and relationships;
Resources;
Rules ;
Optimism.
Public health & Globalisation
Globalisation, trade and health
A policy, research and training
programme
 Develop knowledge and skills
 Promote policy coherence
 Contribute to: global public goods for
health, global health funds,
international rules for health
Public health & Globalisation
WTO Agreements and
public health
 GATT
 Technical
barriers to trade
 Intellectual property and trade :
TRIPS
 Services : GATS
Public health & Globalisation
Globalisation and health: policy
measures

Equitable and sustainable growth
 Openness- gradual, sequenced and paced
 Produce global public goods, control the
bads
 Increase transfer of financial and technical
resources
 Strong national health policies,
institutions, regulations and programmes
 Engage across sectors and borders