1.2
A DECISIVE YEAR FOR GLOBAL HEALTH
Addressing the deficiencies of globalisation This year is a defining one for global health, as the world endeavours to tip the balance towards coordinated, strong, multilateral action and away from fragmentation. But progress so far has been disappointing – and time is running out to make the right political choices that will drive positive change
T
he world is facing more and more truly global threats and challenges. As an example, Covid-19 did not respect national or regional boundaries, effectively making the entirety of humankind an infection reservoir and breeding ground. Similarly, the climate crisis endangers living conditions in all regions of the world. This year perhaps more than ever, people everywhere have experienced its devastating effects and its impact on health and well-being. Humanity is not passively suffering from different plagues and natural events – it has, in fact, caused or exacerbated many of these developments. This is reflected in the scientific discussion over the term ‘Anthropocene’, the proposed geological epoch characterised by humankind’s dominating force. We have drastically reduced living spaces for many species and significantly changed the composition of the atmosphere. The human domination of the biosphere has not been carried out systematically but results from increasing industrial, technological and scientific achievements and the fragmented actions of individuals and countries, according to their interests and motivations. The corollaries of human development are far-reaching in their scale and impact. We can only face these threats, mitigate the negative impacts of human-made changes, and secure a
8
Health: A Political Choice – From Fragmentation to Integration
By Axel R Pries and Frederike Sontag, World Health Summit
healthy and sustainable world for the future if we establish a coordinated reaction – and transition from fragmentation to integration. For this change, 2023 is a ‘Defining Year for Global Health’ as reflected by the theme of this year’s World Health Summit. It is defining with respect to tilting the balance towards coordinated and strong multilateral action and away from fragmentation and national egoism. We must seize this chance and live up to our responsibility. This year, the 78th United Nations General Assembly focused on health, underlined by various high-level meetings in New York in September. Long-standing, yet pressing, issues such as universal health coverage, the fight against tuberculosis, as well as pandemic preparedness, prevention and response were covered. Yet the initial reactions to the draft declarations for these meetings were dominated by disappointment and frustration. Despite much anticipation, there appears to be little advance from the status quo. Underlying the disappointing progress is a phenomenon that may be referred to as a ‘globalisation mismatch’: science and industry operate effectively at the global scale, while political power is largely focused on a national level.
