Publications Global health is more than just ‘Public Health Somewhere Else’

A commentary published in BMJ Global Health, written by a working group of the Global Health and Global Health Research Capacity Strengthening Program (GHR-CAPS). It responds to a recently published a bold commentary in BMJ Global Health that defines global health as ‘public health somewhere else’ (see King and Kostki's article by clicking here). 

Authors

  • Anne-Marie Turcotte-Tremblay
  • Federica Fregonese
  • Kadidiatou Kadio
  • Nazmul Alam
  • Lisa Merry

Authors' summary box

  • Global health can be anywhere as it often focuses on large-scale health inequities that are rooted in transnational determinants.
  • Some global health initiatives and actors aim to find solutions to domestic problems.
  • King and Koski’s definition of global health may exacerbate inequities by reserving the right to call oneself a global health researcher to those who are privileged and have access to funding that enables them to travel to other settings.
  • An inadequate definition of global health based on a ‘here’ vs ‘somewhere else’ dichotomy could result in less funding for a field already characterised by limited resources.
  • The decolonisation of global health requires promoting and valuing reflexivity, critical approaches, equitable partnerships and accountability.