European perspectives on global health: a policy glossary

1. Europe must make
global health a priority
Health requires an active process whereby
individuals, communities and societies create
well-being and the conditions in which it can
be attained. It is a co-production of many
actors at every level of society.
Global health refers to those health issues
which transcend national boundaries and
governments and call for actions on the global
forces that determine the health of people. It
requires new forms of governance at national
and international level which seek to include a
wide range of actors.
Health sustainability is defined as meeting current
health needs without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.
Health is defined by the World Health Organization
( WHO ) as a state of complete physical, mental
and social well-being and not merely the absence
of disease or infirmity. To achieve health, societies,
communities and individuals must engage in an active
process to create and maintain well-being and the
conditions in which it can be attained. Health is a
co-production of many actors at every level of society
and can only be maintained by continuing action to
address the determinants of and threats to health.
The processes of globalisation are creating new
threats to health and its determinants. Health
issues that transcend national boundaries include
environmental degradation, inequality and lifestyle
changes, access to medicines and health knowledge
as well as new and re-emerging diseases.
• Addressing diseases such as HIV / AIDS, SARS and
Avian Flu, and also determinants of health such
as the spread of lifestyles leading to obesity as
a global pandemic or addressing the long-term
health impact of global warming
• Securing vital global health resources, such as
antibiotic agents which are becoming expended
as resistance develops through their inappropriate
use in rich and poor countries
• Ensuring the sustainability of health systems in rich
and poor countries
This calls for a new strategic approach to health
governance reflecting the fact that these health issues
must be addressed on many different levels by all
sectors of society. International action is essential
to address these issues not only by governments
and international agencies but also by transnational
corporations, foundations, non-governmental
organisations ( NGOs ), and organisations of health
professionals and consumers.
Action : As globalisation is central to the purpose
of the EU, it is vital that it should give a high priority
to its impacts on global health. It should lead
action for global health at the regional level : to
protect the health of its citizens, to address global
health problems and to establish the conditions in
which globalisation will contribute to sustainable
development and health. It is proposed that a
<strong>European</strong> Strategy for Global Health, reflecting
common <strong>European</strong> values for health and citizenship
be developed.
Global health threats are increasingly described as a
generational challenge to sustainable development,
since if they are not addressed now, they will become
uncontrollable threats to the health and security of
future generations. Sustainability for health means :
10 <strong>European</strong> Foundation Centre – <strong>European</strong> Partnership for Global Health