What Is Global Health? Key Concepts and Issues

• Global health focuses on improving health outcomes worldwide and addressing challenges like infectious diseases, environmental issues, and mental health.
• Health disparities, lack of resources, and inadequate healthcare systems in low-income countries are major obstacles to achieving global health equity.
• Technological advancements, such as telemedicine and AI, are playing a key role in improving healthcare access and outcomes across the globe.

Global health is more than just a term; it gives meaning to our collective efforts to create a healthier future for all. From battling infectious diseases to tackling the growing burden of chronic conditions, global health encompasses a vast array of challenges that transcend borders. 

Whether it’s improving access to healthcare, addressing environmental threats, or ensuring mental well-being, the complexities are many. But with innovation and collaboration, there’s hope for a world where everyone can enjoy better health regardless of where they live. 

What is global health and which challenges abound? Keep on reading to find out. 

What Is Global Health?

Though a concise and standalone definition of “global health” remains an on-going debate, its principles and the reasons behind such an initiative are clear. “Promoting health for all” is the call to action on the grounds of which the global health initiative emerged. 

Global health refers to the health and well-being of people worldwide, with an emphasis on improving health outcomes, reducing health disparities, and addressing challenges that affect multiple countries or populations. It involves tackling issues that go beyond national borders, such as pandemics, environmental health problems, and the widespread inequities in access to healthcare. 

For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how quickly health issues can spread across the globe, showing the interconnectedness of nations and the importance of collective action. Similarly, issues like air pollution or lack of clean water affect millions worldwide, regardless of where they live. In certain countries where performing surgery is difficult, people may struggle to find a cure for conditions requiring surgery-global health is meant to alleviate these disparities.

Global health efforts aim to ensure that all people, no matter their background or location, have access to quality healthcare and are protected from preventable diseases. And by focusing on these broader issues, global health strives to create a healthier, more equitable world for everyone.

Key Concepts in Global Health

The foundation of global health is built on several key concepts, with health disparities, global health equity, and health systems strengthening being the most important.

Health disparities

Health disparities refer to the differences in health outcomes and access to healthcare that exist among different groups of people, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Overcoming these differences means better health opportunities for all.

The disparities between groups of people are often influenced by factors such as socioeconomic status, where people with lower income may struggle to afford healthcare; geography, where rural areas may have limited healthcare access compared to urban centers; ethnicity, where certain racial or ethnic groups may face higher health risks; and education, where those with lower educational levels may lack health knowledge. 

Health disparities can be seen not just within countries—like the differences in healthcare between rural and urban areas—but also between countries, such as the gap in healthcare quality and outcomes between developed and developing nations. These disparities highlight the unequal distribution of resources and opportunities, which is a key focus for improving global health.

Global health equity

Global health equity is another critical component, aimed at reducing health disparities and ensuring that all populations have fair access to healthcare, receive equal treatment, and achieve similar health outcomes. As such, it addresses the root causes of inequality in health, ensuring that no group is left behind due to factors like income, location, or social status.

Achieving health equity requires tackling various social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health, such as:

• Poverty: Limited access to resources can lead to poor health outcomes.
• Education: Lack of education can result in insufficient health knowledge and preventive care.
• Discrimination: Marginalized groups often face barriers to quality healthcare based on race, gender, or ethnicity.

Health policies and initiatives play a critical role in promoting equity by creating systems that prioritize fairness. This includes programs that focus on improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations so they receive necessary care, and embracing an inclusive approach to better health outcomes for all.

Health systems strengthening

Health systems strengthening refers to the process of improving the essential components of a healthcare system so it can provide quality care to everyone, especially in areas with fewer resources. By reinforcing strong health systems, governments enable all people to have access to the healthcare they need, no matter where they live.

Key components of health systems strengthening include:

• Improving infrastructure: Building or upgrading hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities to ensure they are equipped to handle healthcare needs.
• Workforce training: Guaranteeing healthcare workers are well-trained, skilled, and available to deliver care effectively.
• Healthcare financing: Securing sufficient funding to make healthcare affordable and sustainable, especially in underserved areas.
• Accessibility to medical supplies and medications: Ensuring that necessary medicines and medical equipment are readily available and affordable.

Why does having a strong health system matter? It is key for enabling rapid responses to health emergencies, such as pandemics, by having the infrastructure, workforce, and resources in place to manage crises efficiently. It also helps prevent the spread of diseases through vaccination programs and early interventions. In this sense, strengthening health systems is key to creating a healthier, more resilient world.

Major Global Health Issues

Global health today faces numerous challenges, including rising infectious diseases, issues with environmental health, maternal and child health, and multiple cases of non-communicable diseases. These issues require urgent attention and collective action for sustainable solutions.

Infectious diseases

Infectious diseases are illnesses caused by microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, which can spread from person to person or through environmental sources such as water, air, or food. These diseases have a significant global impact, as they can lead to pandemics, epidemics, and widespread illness, especially in low-income regions where healthcare infrastructure may be lacking.

Infectious diseases are a major concern for global health due to the constant threat of emerging new pathogens, which can cause outbreaks and increase the spread of diseases. Drug resistance is becoming a growing issue, making it harder to treat infections effectively. This resistance results from the overuse or misuse of antibiotics and other medications.

Providing timely and adequate healthcare in underserved areas is another challenge, as limited access to medical resources, poor sanitation, and a shortage of healthcare workers often hinder efforts to control and treat infectious diseases, exacerbating their global impact.

Non-communicable diseases

Accounting for 74% of deaths worldwide, NCDs have become a major global health challenge, particularly in middle- and high-income countries where lifestyle factors are more prevalent. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are chronic conditions that are not spread from person to person. These include heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory diseases. 

The primary risk factors for NCDs are largely preventable and include unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption. These behaviors contribute significantly to the rising prevalence of NCDs, as they lead to conditions like obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, which increase the risk of developing chronic diseases. 

As NCDs continue to be a growing concern, addressing these risk factors through lifestyle changes and public health policies is essential for reducing their global impact. That’s essentially why NCDs are regarded as a major global challenge in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Maternal and child health

About 287,000 women have died during and following pregnancy and childbirth in 2020 worldwide; around 700 women die every year in the U.S. due to pregnancy or delivery complications. These numbers are incredibly alarming, imposing the need for top-tier maternal care in medicine. 

Maternal and child health (MCH) is about taking care of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and after delivery, as well as ensuring children are healthy, especially in their early years. Improving MCH is incredibly important because it affects the survival and well-being of mothers and children everywhere.

One of the biggest challenges in MCH is the high number of maternal and infant deaths, especially in areas where access to good healthcare is limited. Many of these deaths are preventable, often from complications during pregnancy or childbirth.

To prevent this, it’s crucial to have good prenatal care, skilled birth attendants, and postnatal care. These services help monitor the health of both mother and baby, ensure they’re getting proper nutrition, and catch any potential risks early. By focusing on MCH, we can create healthier families and give both mothers and children a better chance at a strong, happy life.

Mental health

Mental health refers to an individual’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences how people think, feel, and behave, as well as how they cope with stress, interact with others, and make decisions. Mental health is a critical part of global health, as mental disorders make up around 8 million deaths each year worldwide. 

However, addressing mental health on a global scale comes with challenges. The stigma surrounding mental health issues often prevents people from seeking help, especially in regions where mental health is misunderstood or feared. 

Many areas also face a lack of awareness and education about mental health, which can contribute to neglect or misdiagnosis. In addition, access to mental health services is limited in many parts of the world due to insufficient resources, including trained professionals and proper facilities. Overcoming these barriers is essential for improving mental health care globally and ensuring that people receive the support they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives.

Environmental health

Environmental health focuses on the conditions around us—such as air and water quality, sanitation, climate change, pollution, and hazardous substances—that can affect human health. These factors play a key role in determining our overall well-being, influencing everything from respiratory issues to waterborne diseases.

There is growing recognition of the strong connection between environmental health and human health. Climate change, environmental degradation, and pollution are creating new challenges globally. Approximately 12 million people die each year because of the environment they live or work in.

Rising temperatures, for example, contribute to the spread of diseases, while air and water pollution are linked to serious health problems like asthma, heart disease, and cancer. The impact of these environmental factors disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, particularly in low-resource areas where infrastructure and healthcare are limited. 

Addressing environmental health issues is essential for preventing disease and promoting better health outcomes worldwide, as the state of the environment directly influences the health of communities around the globe.

Challenges in Global Health

Addressing health problems that span across different countries and regions is complex due to several interconnected factors:

• Coordination of global health initiatives: Aligning policies and strategies across various countries with differing healthcare systems, political climates, and resources can be difficult.
• Sharing resources: Ensuring that resources, such as medical supplies, funding, and healthcare professionals, are distributed fairly and efficiently worldwide presents significant challenges.
• Access to quality healthcare: Many populations, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, lack access to adequate healthcare, making it harder to improve health outcomes globally.

Emerging health threats further complicate the situation:

• New diseases, like COVID-19, spread rapidly across borders, overwhelming healthcare systems and requiring international cooperation.
• The rising burden of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer is a growing global concern, particularly in wealthier nations.
• Environmental changes contribute to health problems like heat-related illnesses, pollution, and the spread of diseases like malaria and dengue.

Health disparities, limited funding, and weak healthcare systems in many low- and middle-income countries make these matters worse, hindering efforts to achieve global health equity.

The Future of Global Health

The future of global health is shaped by emerging trends and new solutions that promise to make a big difference in improving health worldwide. One key factor is technology. Advancements like telemedicine are making healthcare more accessible, allowing people in remote areas to consult doctors without leaving home. 

AI in healthcare is also improving diagnosis, treatment planning, and even drug development, making healthcare smarter and faster. Innovative medical research continues to unlock new treatments and vaccines, helping tackle diseases more effectively.

As the world changes, global health priorities will evolve to meet new challenges. Climate change is affecting health in many ways, from extreme weather causing injuries to changes in disease patterns. There will be a growing focus on addressing health issues caused by environmental changes. 

Aging populations are another challenge, as older adults often face more health problems, leading to a need for better care and support for the elderly. At the same time, the rise of non-communicable diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer is pushing the need for more focus on prevention, healthy lifestyles, and long-term care.

Conclusion

Global health faces numerous challenges, including the rise of infectious and non-communicable diseases, mental health struggles, and environmental factors like climate change. These issues are complicated by disparities in healthcare access, particularly in low-resource regions, and the need for better healthcare infrastructure. However, emerging technologies like telemedicine, AI, and innovative medical research offer promising solutions to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes. 

As global health priorities shift to address aging populations and environmental health, ongoing efforts to bridge gaps in care and resources remain essential. If you’re interested in contributing to global health improvements, consider the medical school program at AUAMED and learn what it takes to make a real impact on health worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What are the major differences between public health and global health?

Public health focuses on improving health at the community or national level, while global health addresses health issues that cross international borders and impact populations worldwide.

What is the role of technology in global health?

Technology plays a crucial role in global health by improving access to healthcare (e.g., telemedicine), enhancing disease detection and treatment (e.g., AI), and enabling better health data management and research.