Global Health

Global health issues are focused on the search for social justice as a measure to mitigate negative effects of the neoliberal economic development model, which several countries have adopted, on the populations’ living and health conditions. In that context, health has been characterized by sanitary voids, resulting from combined effects and structural adjustments, besides the interferences of international economic and commercial regulations in governments’ activity areas. These activities have influenced the supply of healthy public policies to population groups that depend on essentially public actions and are facing situations of social vulnerability, denying the structural functions of policies and democracy(1). Global health and equality in health should be the paramount objectives of social and economic policies, as economic development represents an important foundation for the supply of resources and investments to improve the lives of populations, when combined with social protection policies. Nevertheless, health inequalities are evident in many countries and manifested through different interrelated social categories, such as social class, education, gender, age, ethnic origin, disabilities and geographic location. These inequalities influence the freedom to enjoy a dignified and healthy life in global societies and, depending on the nature and organization of society, the social groups will have distinct experiences in terms of access to material conditions, making them more or less vulnerable to health situations, converging towards their inequalities(2). Global health promotion through public health policies should be conceived as a public good and be driven by the principles of access, universality and equity, with a tight combination between funding and service provision, considering the needs and preferences of different social segments. The health system managers need to play a leading role in taking responsibilities towards universal and equitable policies, without which health care and public systems will cease to play their social function. Therefore, it is considered that the supply and qualification of public health systems’ actions can appropriately contribute to the achievement of global health, with balance in the supply of disease prevention actions, health promotion, curative interventions, rehabilitation and palliative care among the distinct care levels. The ascent to global health depends on the cooperation and solidarity between countries and international agencies, capable of helping the national states to reorganize their health systems, making them equitable and compatible with the populations’ health and life needs. The health managers need to act on the social determinants of health, guaranteeing that health professionals have a qualified educational background, attractive remuneration and vocation for the public health systems. Thus, the global health actions need to involve governments, the organized civil society, companies, global forums, intersectoral actions and international Global Health