THE WORLD-BANK AND GLOBAL COOPERATION IN HEALTH - THE CASE OF BANGLADESH

The final quarter of the 20th century saw a profound change in interna tional health cooperation. The World Bank emerged and consolidated its position as the reading external financier of health-sector activitie s in countries of row and middle income. As a result of its resources, philosophy, and legitimacy, the World Bank leveraged fundamental refo rm of the health-sector agenda as well as institutional relations at g lobal and national levels. The scope of the Bank's involvement, and th e nature of its policy thrusts and investment strategy in the sector, are outlined in this paper and illustrated with specific reference to Bangladesh. This backdrop serves to raise four issues and enables us t o explore their relevance to global health cooperation in the first qu arter of the 21st century.