Question

Why should healthcare administrators in the United States be concerned about, and educated in, global health policy?

What are some of the issues related to global health policy?

Answer 1

Global Health Policy (GHP) is the area of public health concerned with decisions that translate evidence and political will into authoritative public agreement and interventions. GHP focuses on global and national health systems, including medical care and public health services.

GHP is concerned with the allocation of resources across countries and organizations, and the implementation of programs as solutions to the achievement of health goals. This program considers institutions, units of authority, a variety of organizations, roles of people within such structures, and service arrangements within diverse national and local health systems. Global Health Policy addresses health challenges of interdependent nations, regions and sectors with multiple cultures, different levels of development, a variety of capacities, and coexistent values.

The mission of the GW Master of Public Health (MPH) Global Health Policy program is to prepare professionals to assist in public health decision making pertaining to national, regional and worldwide interventions and institutions; to support policy analysis and utilize diverse analytic tools including epidemiology and international comparative policy methods paying particular attention to culture and equity. These leaders will integrate scientific knowledge and global evidence to advise decision making and action by diverse global health systems and other sectors and to provide insight on policies and processes that impact population health, all with an emphasis to underserved populations and development.

Emerging Issues in Global Health

Globally, the rate of deaths from noncommunicable causes, such as heart disease, stroke, and injuries, is growing. At the same time, the number of deaths from infectious diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and vaccine-preventable diseases, is decreasing.

Some of the major diseases currently affecting countries around the globe include HIV/AIDS, malaria, Zika, and tuberculosis. Climate change is also an international problem which can affect people's health.