Globalization, Global Governance and the Social Determinants of Health: A review of the linkages and agenda for action

This is an old report of a knowledge network part of the WHO commission.  However, in light of the recent report of the Oslo-Lancet Commission on Global Governance for Health, I think it is still a very good resource on the whole concept of global governance.

Globalization, Global Governance and the Social Determinants of Health:
A review of the linkages and agenda for action

WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health

As processes of globalization have accelerated in recent decades, there have been widespread ef- forts to develop appropriate forms of governance to deal effectively with emerging worldwide challenges. This paper reviews the existing evidence concerning the impacts of global governance on the social deter- minants of health (SDH). First, it documents the tran- sition taking place towards global governance related to the SDH in terms of institutional actors, and their relative roles, power and authority. Second, it assesses how emerging forms of global governance may be in- fluencing the SDH. How might various institutions, and the distribution and use of power and authority among them, affect the SDH? Third, this paper assess- es the quality of emerging forms of global governance against recognized “good governance” criteria. Fourth, it identifies how global governance can play a transfor- mational role in addressing the SDH.

Lancet Oslo Commission on Global Governance for Health Report

Find the articles on theLancet.com here.

The Lancet—University of Oslo Commission on Global Governance for Health

The political origins of health inequity: prospects for change

Published February 11, 2014

Executive summary

Despite large gains in health over the past few decades, the distribution of health risks worldwide remains extremely and unacceptably uneven. Although the health sector has a crucial role in addressing health inequalities, its efforts often come into conflict with powerful global actors in pursuit of other interests such as protection of national security, safeguarding of sovereignty, or economic goals. This report examines power disparities and dynamics across a range of policy areas that affect health and that require improved global governance: economic crises and austerity measures, knowledge and intellectual property, foreign investment treaties, food security, transnational corporate activity, irregular migration, and violent conflict.

Comment

Protecting health: the global challenge for capitalism

Richard Horton, Selina Lo

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The political origins of health inequity: the perspective of the Youth Commission on Global Governance for Health

Unni Gopinathan, Cristóbal Cuadrado, Nick Watts, Renzo R Guinto, Daniel Hougendobler, Waruguru Wanjau, Alexandre Lefebvre, Jacob Jorem, Xiaoxiao Jiang, Nilofer Khan Habibullah, Saveetha Meganathan, Usman Ahmad Mushtaq

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The Lancet Commission

The political origins of health inequity: prospects for change

Ole Petter Ottersen, Jashodhara Dasgupta, Chantal Blouin, Paulo Buss, Virasakdi Chongsuvivatwong, Julio Frenk, Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, Bience P Gawanas, Rita Giacaman, John Gyapong, Jennifer Leaning, Michael Marmot, Desmond McNeill, Gertrude I Mongella, Nkosana Moyo, Sigrun Møgedal, Ayanda Ntsaluba, Gorik Ooms, Espen Bjertness, Ann Louise Lie, Suerie Moon, Sidsel Roalkvam, Kristin I Sandberg, Inger B Scheel

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