Improving global health requires foreign policy reform and more aid, according to editorial comment in the current issue of The Medical Journal of Australia.

This issue of the Journal features a selection of papers presented at a symposium in Sydney in September last year, "Global health and foreign policy: scope for Australian engagement". The symposium was organised jointly by the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of New South Wales, the Institute for International Health at the University of Sydney, and the Nuffield Trust, a leading health charity and research organisation in the United Kingdom.

"While global population health indices have improved considerably, many countries - both rich and poor - are experiencing health crises, and, in a globalised world, proactive policies are essential in all regions to protect and promote public health," said Dr Alan Ingram from the Nuffield Trust in the United Kingdom. 

Other articles in this issue of the Journal examine associated topics including:

• What is the true nature of globalisation and who benefits from it?
• How do changes in the global trade environment affect health?
• What are the challenges and impediments to ensuring that those responsible for forging our foreign policy include health issues on their agenda?
• What are the dangers of seeking a closer relationship between health and foreign policy, given that security and national interest inevitably are higher on the agenda than concerns for development or poverty reduction?
• How does the growing acknowledgement of health as a human right affect health-related foreign and development policies?

Dr Ingram said the articles highlight many of the key challenges and constraints, but also the promise and potential, of fostering a more inclusive and humane globalisation.

For symposium papers visit http://www.iih.org/news/news11.html

The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.

CONTACT     Dr Alan Ingram,                        Alan.Ingram@nuffieldtrust.org.uk

                  Judith Tokley, AMA,                02 6279 5471 / 0408 824 306