What is Global Health?

What does the term "Global Health" mean, and how is it different than "International" or "Public health"? A group of researchers from the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (COGH) have developed a definition of global health to encompass its multi-faceted nature which was published in the June 6, 2009 edition of The Lancet.

The authors state that:

" Without an established definition, a shorthand term such as global health might obscure important differences in philosophy, strategies, and priorities for action between physicians, researchers, funders, the media, and the general public. Perhaps most importantly, if we do not clearly define what we mean by global health, we cannot possibly reach agreement about what we are trying to achieve, the approaches we must take, the skills that are needed, and the ways that we should use resources."

The authors go on to develop a definition of global health that is dependent upon the scope of the problem, not simply the location (or geographical region) of the problem:

"What is global? Must a health crisis cross national borders to be deemed a global health issue? We should not restrict global health to health-related issues that literally cross international borders....global health should also address tobacco control, micronutrient deficiencies, obesity, injury prevention, migrant-worker health, and migration of health workers. The global in global health refers to the scope of problems, not their location."

Finally, they conclude with the following definition of global health:

" Global health is an area for study, research, and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide. Global health emphasises transnational health issues, determinants, and solutions; involves many disciplines within and beyond the health sciences and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration; and is a synthesis of population based prevention with individual-level clinical care."

What do you think? Do you agree with the authors' definition of global health? How does your work fit into the broader scope of global health?


Koplan, J. et al. Towards a common definition of global health. The Lancet, Vol 373, Issue 9679, Pages 1993-1995.