Globalization and Health. Globalization Impacts on Health
Healthful Vitality | 10/04/2021 | By NP Contributor | Globalization and Health
Certainly, globalization is not new, but the term globalization is relatively new. It became popular in the 1970s in the west. Moreover, globalization gained further momentum in 1980 and 1990s in various parts of the world.
Globalization is about how people do business, interact with each other, and move across the boundaries of nations. It made people better interconnected, but also interdependent.
Further, it is also vital to understand that globalization is not just about physical interconnectivity among people, or movement, or exchange of goods. It is also about the exchange of thoughts. Various concepts now spread at a much higher pace across the globe. Globalization also means that people are developing shared values globally.
Globalization is neither good nor bad
Just take an example of vaccines. Most critical vaccines are produced in just a few nations. However, they quickly reach various parts of the globe – a positive aspect. Nonetheless, it also means that some countries are overly dependent on others for their critical needs – a negative factor.
Globalization is not new, but many of its concepts are
Many concepts in globalization emerged only after World War 2. Thus, now we have the United Nations (UN), the world health organization (WHO), the international monitory fund (IMF). These concepts are relatively new.
Globalization and its impact on health
Globalization had different effects on health impacts, positive and negative, simultaneously. It depends on multiple factors like geographical location, gender, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status.
Globalization and positive impacts on health
Globalization had many positive impacts on health. For example, many developed economies are now donors of various health projects carried out in low-income nations.
Sharing of expertise by various nations has also helped improve health in multiple parts of the world. Thus, a better understanding of simple measures like benefits of breastfeeding, oral rehydration salts, immunization, family planning, supplementing foods with micronutrients.
There has been an overall change in how people visualize health goals globally. Most nations now understand that investment in health is not a burden, rather an investment that ensures economic growth.
Globalization and negative impacts on health
There is an increasing concern that developed nations benefited more from increased globalization. Thus, it also resulted in greater economic disparities among the various population groups.
The latest covid-19 pandemic demonstrated that diseases no longer follow traditional trading routes. In fact, many infections can spread at a much faster pace than ever.
Global trade has also increased the threat of fake medications, the emergence of drug resistance to antibiotics.
What next? Global health governance?
There is nothing wrong with globalization, as its benefits outnumber the risks or ill-effects. Nonetheless, experts believe that there is a need for global governance of healthcare.
There is a need to put greater emphasis on health. Thus, WTO now recognizes that health concerns are of greater importance than free trade. It means that nations may have some trade restrictions if they feel that globalization is threatening the local community’s health. Besides, it also indicates that healthcare should be part of the foreign policy agenda.
To conclude, as the WHO states, for equitable health, the focus should be on “the three Rs”; Resources redistribution to poorer countries, Regulation to ensure global health and Rights, to ensure that people can seek legal support.
(Related Article: Global Health Definition and Its Vital Components)