THE GLOBALIZATION OF PUBLIC-HEALTH, I - THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES

The globalization of public health poses new threats to health but als o holds important opportunities in the coming century. This commentary identifies the major threats and opportunities presented by the proce ss of globalization and emphasizes the need for transnational public h ealth approaches to take advantage of the positive aspects of global c hange and to minimize the negative ones. Transnational public health i ssues are areas of mutual concern for the foreign policies of all coun tries. These trends indicate a need for cross-national comparisons (e. g., in the areas of health financing and policy development) and for t he development of a transnational research agenda in public health.