Global Health Governance: a rising challenge

Abstract

The concept of Global Health Governance (GHG) was created through the realization that in a globalized world, national or even regional healthcare management and solutions do not meet all the demands that are generated through the growing international traffic of people, goods and (why not?) ideas.One recent crisis that made it clear that the current system is inadequate was the appearance of the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. 1There is no exact definition for the term Global Health Governance, which certainly leaves it subject to different interpretations. Nonetheless, our understanding is that GHG comprises a set of regulations, measures and systems that are created to deal with problems of international and transnational interdependence within the field of healthcare.It is important to separate the notions of governance and government. Both refer to activities directed towards creation of rules and social systems. However, the concept of government suggests activities that are backed by formal authority, while governance refers to activities backed by common objectives that may or may not derive from formally established legal responsibilities. In other words, the government conducts governance for its people, but governance may exist because of social organizations other than a formal government. 2The origins of global health governance were rooted in negotiations between nations that attempt to protect their own citizens, and these were initially done bilaterally between neighboring countries. As the world moved forward towards so-called globalization, the complexity of international health issues increased. The need for a more plural form both for the debate and for the implementation of rules culminated in 1948 with the creation of the World Health Organization (WHO).