Global health has emerged as a growing field.  The growing global AIDS crisis, combined with the appearance and rapid international spread of epidemics such as SARS and H1N1 have reinforced that health threats transcend national borders.  While much attention has focused on epidemic infectious diseases, global health encompasses a wider scope of health problems, determinants, and solutions, such as chronic illnesses and injuries, development, and foreign aid.  Advances in technology and communication make it difficult to ignore health problems in other parts of the world and easier to share medicines, interventions, and knowledge to find solutions. There are many different types of players in global health operating at different levels, including multilateral organizations, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and local communities and individuals. Funding is a major policy issue for global health.  In particular, the financial policies and practices of the wealthiest nations have important consequences in low- and middle-income countries.  As global health as a field has gained more attention, many countries have increased their financial commitments to global health.

This section provides resources on different countries’ health care systems, financing issues, and volunteerism in the area of global health.