Globalization has never been short of critics, especially in today’s political climate. But it’s worth remembering the good that globalization has brought about, particularly in terms of health. Without it, we may never have eradicated smallpox, or reduced childhood mortality by half.
The shift inward by many countries now threatens to undermine this progress and could prevent the world from realizing what could prove to be one of humanity’s most defining accomplishments — the achievement of universal health coverage. Both country leadership and globalism are needed to get there.
We need to define what is country national health system leadership and how this is can be strengthened when globalization has fragmented, undermined and weakened national and WHO global public health systems based on dependency on external financing. How do we deliver sustained high coverage with immunization integrated within child heath and maternal programs and community and primary health care and district health systems.