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British Medical Bulletin Advance Access originally published online on July 22, 2009
British Medical Bulletin 2009 91(1):23-28; doi:10.1093/bmb/ldp025
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Global health: where are our priorities?

Greg Martin*,{dagger}, Philippa Bird{ddagger} and Claire Crichton§

{dagger} Genetics Institute, University college London, London, UK
{ddagger} Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
§ Centre for International Health and Development, University College London, London, UK

* Correspondence to: Dr Greg Martin, Globalization and Health, 10B Fairhazel Gardens, London NW6 3SG, UK. E-mail: drgregmartin{at}gmail.com

The subject of ‘global health’ can be considered from multiple points of view. While epidemiologists might describe global health problems in categories of pathology groups, social scientists might consider the problem from the stand point of institutional and infrastructural strengths and failings. An over-arching theme, however, is that the distribution of the burden of ill health is disproportionately carried by the poor. This paper aims to defend the idea that inequality should be considered the main priority in global ill health.

Sources of data: Review of the literature, personal communications and the WHO commission on the Social Determinants of Health.

Areas of agreement: The extent and urgency of global health problems.

Areas of controversy: The cause of ill health and the appropriate intervention.

Growing points: We all need a deeper appreciation of the plight of the poor and the extent to which suffering can be mitigated by striving for a more equitable future.

Areas timely for developing research: Research into the broader global forces that impact on economic disparity (for the better and the worse) and the extent to which they effect measureable health outcomes is an extremely important area for research in this day and age.

Keywords: global health • international health • development • poverty • global • development • developing countries

Accepted for publication June 26, 2009.


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