The role of governments and international organizations

Collective global action is increasingly recognized as central to achieving the highest attainable standard of health and well-being for the world’s people. Governance constitutes the constellation of mechanisms society uses to effect collective action toward common goals. Although individuals bear the major responsibility for maintaining healthy lifestyles and for seeking appropriate preventive and therapeutic care, many factors necessary for health can only be established through collective action on a larger scale.

Governments and international organizations can contribute to global health challenges on many levels The 21st-century global health landscape requires effective global action in the face of globalization of trade, travel, information, human rights, ideas, and disease The new global health era is more plural, comprising a number of key actors, and requiring more coordination of effort, priorities and investments

Organizations with a global outreach play an essential role in the global governance of health and disease; due to their core global functions of establishing, monitoring and enforcing international norms and standards, and coordinating multiple actors toward common goals. Global health governance requires leadership and effective implementation of core global functions to ensure better effectiveness of all health actors, but achieving this global mission could be hampered by narrowing activities and budget reallocations from core global functions

Public health is one of the greatest things in which a government can invest Early prevention, which is relatively inexpensive, can prevent dire and expensive healthcare problems later in life

Governmental responsibilities for public health extend beyond voluntary activities and services to include additional authorities such as quarantine, mandatory immunization laws, and regulatory authorities. The state's partnership functions by encouraging residents to do things that benefit their health (e.g., physical activity) or create conditions to promote good health, and requiring certain actions (e.g., food safety).