Globalization and Health

Our work in the globalization area focuses on many different areas of contemporary globalization and its far-reaching effect on health and access to health.  These changes arise through globalization’s effects on power, resources, labour markets, policy space, trade, financial flows (including aid and debt servicing/cancellation), health systems (including health human resources and health services), water and sanitation, food security and access to essential medicines. Expanding globalization and trade policies have negatively impacted numerous areas of health; have resulted in diminishing national policy space; and have continued to add to the inequitable distribution of access to healthcare.

Some of our work has focused on The Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) and its framework. We continue to look at how trade reforms in agriculture can affect health equity through its impact on food security and how globalization contributes to the migration of health professionals.