Globalization and Health

Global health is a relatively new but rapidly expanding field as public health practitioners recognize the important challenges that global changes are posing for human health. Health issues are increasingly crossing national boundaries, and this book explores the actors that shape global health, including private companies, foundations, civil society and multilateral organizations, and explores some of the key issues in global health.

Illuminating the changes happening in health worldwide, the book includes practical activities and applications which help to show the impact of global issues at an everyday level. The issues covered include::

• Social change linked to globalization
• Governance of global health
• Pharmaceuticals and tobacco
• Emerging infectious diseases
• Climate change
• Economy and trade
• Health security

Contributors::Joan Busfield,Nick Drager,Andy Guise,Johanna Hanefeld,Benjamin Hawkins,Kelley Lee,Marco Liverani,Tony McMichael,Neil Pearce,Richard Smith,Neil Spicer,Carolyn Stephens,Preslava Stoeva andHelen Walls.

Understanding Public Health is an innovative series published by Open University Pressin collaboration with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, where it is used as a key learning resource for postgraduate programmes. It provides self - directed learning covering the major issues in public health affecting low, middle and high income countries.

Series Editors:: Rosalind Plowman and Nicki Thorogood.

This is a vital book which addresses the public health implications of accelerating globalisation. It shows with forensic clarity the dire impact neoliberal economics and burgeoning corporate power is having on individual, collective and planetary health. At the same time it holds out the hope that civil society can respond to this challenge and develop governance systems which ensure that the currently predominant free-market logic is reversed and people are once more put firmly before profits. Study it; learn from it; make a difference.
Gerard Hastings, University of Stirling, UK, and the Open University

This book provides a clear introduction to how globalization is shaping our health and the determinants of health. The authors not only introduce us to the growing field of global health, but also provide some concrete evidence of driving factors, the key players and the impact on our daily lives. It should be a reference book for public health students, public health practitioners, as well as for policy makers. After I read this book I really realized that I live in a global village with all the consequences. Congratulations, it is a really great book.
Asnawi Abdullah, Faculty of Public Health, University Muhammadiyah Aceh, Indonesia