Understanding the Global Dimensions of Health

Contents Introduction

Section I: Fundamentals
1. A brief history of advances towards health John Last
2. The health, poverty and development merry-go-round: the tribulations of WHO Socrates Litsios
3. Old and new pestilences Andrew A. Arata
4. Value systems and healthcare ethics Bernard M. Dickens
5. World health: a mobilizing utopia? M. Manciaux T. M. Fliedner

Section II: Systems
6. Health policies versus public policies Andrzej Wojtczak
7. A medicine based on evidence J. Szczerban
8. The promise of technology P. B. Mansourian
9. Critical inquiries on technology utilization Arminee Kazanjian
10. Therapeutic patient education for chronic diseases Jean-Philippe Assal

Section III: The Dynamics
11. The humanitarian imperative in major health crises and disasters S. W. A. Gunn
12. Dealing with global infectious disease emergencies David L. Heymann
13. Knowledge-based methodologies in the health sector B. McA. Sayers Juan J. Angulo
14. Food safety - a pressing public health and economic issue Fritz Käferstein
15. Future health in an ageing world A. Michael Davies

Section IV: The Controversies
16. Disease and health in the cultural context Assen Jablensky
17. Global issues and health interactions: reflexions from the south A. P. R. Aluwihare
18. The coming storm: health system planning versus free market enterprise Anthony Piel
19. Education, understanding, and eudaemonia: a contrarian view on global health Gerhard W. Brauer Postscript "The Present and the Future of Global Health" A. Michael Davies The Contributors Index

Health care is a basic human right. However, as our planet grows smaller, the number of people without even minimal care continues to rise. This volume brings into sharp focus the ethics and multiple questions involved in keeping the world in optimal health, and identifies the massive tasks that lie ahead. Twenty-one prestigious contributors examine the bioethical, sociopolitical, and scientific aspects of health, epidemics, aging populations, the double burden of disease, food safety, and other major health concerns of well-being at the international level.

The following excerpt is from an essay titled Collected Works Addressing Global Health in the journal Health Promotion Practice."The editors can be commended for inviting a truly nationally diverse group of authors (of the 21 authors, only one is from the United States) who identify the successes, challenges, and next steps in their areas of expertise in global health.""The book gives excellent historical foundations and context on the issue." "The book will challenge both novice and expert in their thinking about global health and the methods to achieve results."Stephen F. Gambescia, PhD, MEd, MBA, CHES, is editor of Books and Media Review for Health Promotion Practice and is assistant dean of academic and student affairs at Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions.

From the reviews:



"This work on global health addresses what may be considered the midlevel issues ... . The editors can be commended for inviting a truly nationally diverse group of authors ... who identify the successes, challenges, and next steps in their areas of expertise in global health. ... The book will challenge both novice and expert in their thinking about global health and the methods to achieve results." (Health Promotion Practice, January 2008)