Glob Health Action. 2016 Feb 18;9:28772. doi: 10.3402/gha.v9.28772. eCollection 2016.

Global public health today: connecting the dots.

Lomazzi M1,2, Jenkins C1, Borisch B1,3.

Author information

• 1World Federation of Public Health Associations, c/o Campus Biotech, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
• 2Institute of Global Health, c/o Campus Biotech, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; marta.lomazzi@unige.ch.
• 3Institute of Global Health, c/o Campus Biotech, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Global public health today faces new challenges and is impacted by a range of actors from within and outside state boundaries. The diversity of the actors involved has created challenges and a complex environment that requires a new context-tailored global approach. The World Federation of Public Health Associations has embarked on a collaborative consultation with the World Health Organization to encourage a debate on how to adapt public health to its future role in global health.

DESIGN:

A qualitative study was undertaken. High-level stakeholders from leading universities, multilateral organizations, and other institutions worldwide participated in the study. Inductive content analyses were performed.

RESULTS:

Stakeholders underscored that global public health today should tackle the political, commercial, economic, social, and environmental determinants of health and social inequalities. A multisectoral and holistic approach should be guaranteed, engaging public health in broad dialogues and a concerted decision-making process. The connection between neoliberal ideology and public health reforms should be taken into account. The WHO must show leadership and play a supervising and technical role. More and better data are required across many programmatic areas of public health. Resources should be allocated in a sustainable and accountable way. Public health professionals need new skills that should be provided by a collaborative global education system. A common framework context-tailored to influence governments has been evaluated as useful.

CONCLUSIONS:

The study highlighted some of the main public health challenges currently under debate in the global arena, providing interesting ideas. A more inclusive integrated vision of global health in its complexity, shared and advocated for by all stakeholders involved in decision-making processes, is crucial. This vision represents the first step in innovating public health at the global level and should lead to a serious rethinking of education curricula to allow the next generation to engage within political contexts for restructuring global public health.