International Co-operation and Health

This book explores the impact of globalisation, economic policies, war and violence, trade and reproductive ideologies on global health and health services. It offers examples, both successful and unsuccessful, of international co-operative efforts to address these multiple issues, citing international collaboration of health professional organisations such as Jubilee 2000. It questions the efficacy, ideology and scope of several of the leading players, such as WHO, World Bank and many NGOs that are trying to address these issues, as well as pointing out the emergence of international organisations whose activities harm health, such as arms and tobacco traders. International Co-operation and Health focuses on those public health issues that cross national boundaries. In order to put effective policy into place, considerable international co- operation is necessary. It is primarily about international collaboration to promote health of the world's population. This book looks at the how international collaboration can and does help to tackle current and emerging public health problems. It covers issues such as emerging and re-emerging infectious disease; health consequences of global environment change; trade, public health and food; war: from humanitarian relief to prevention; the global tobacco epidemic; migration, equity and health and international co-operation for reproductive health. The overall thrust is to suggest that health professionals are uniquely placed to help develop organisations and policies, which by capitalising on their good track record on international co-operation, they would be in a relatively strong position to implement to the benefit of global health. The book is directed at a broad group of health policy makers and (public) health professionals internationally, especially those working in NGOs and international organisations but also those interested in the impact of global issues in their own country. This is an area of great interest and importance. It is seen as a priority area for a number of international bodies e.g. WHO. The contributors are of international standing. There is no book on the market, which addresses the issues as proposed in this book. Professor Martin McKee is chief editor of the European Journal of Public Health (OUP).