Book review about "A History of Global Health: Interventions into the lives of other peoples" by Randall M. Packard (2016)

Essay , 2020 , 5 Pages , Grade: A

Politics - General and Theories of International Politics

The history of international health is the main topic of this book. Since the 1900s billions of dollars have been spent on programs to improve global health. Historian Randall Packard examines why people in developing countries do not have the access to sanitation, clean water and hospitals even though billions of dollars have been invested in global health programs since the last century. The book starts and ends describing how the Ebola outbreak has started in West Africa and led to the global healthcare crisis due to the lack of basic health services such as underpaid staff, drug shortages, test laboratories, basic equipment (gloves, syringes, bandages) and hourly paid doctors became infected with a greater fear of losing a job rather than losing a life.
Global healthcare is funded by big international organizations such as World Bank, WTO, UNICEF, by bilateral organizations of China, the US, the UK and by private investing of philanthropies such as Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. These organizations send researchers, physicians, project officers, health educators, pharmaceutical and chemical corporations supported by dozens of NGOs to developing countries. All this multi-billion dollar investment and the army of educated staff have developed vaccines, vitamin A, to attack specific health problems but have failed to invest in building the infrastructure for managing the health problems of local populations. The author claims that this trend is not new, it has been repeatedly stretched back throughout the history from early 20th century.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Part 1: The Colonial Foundations of International Health
• Chapter 1: The Rise of International Health in the Colonial Period
• Chapter 2: From Colonial to International Medicine
• Part 2: The League of Nations Health Organization
• Chapter 3: The Rise of the League of Nations Health Organization
• Chapter 4: From Hygiene to Technology in International Health
• Part 3: The United Nations and the Era of Technology and Innovation
• Chapter 5: The Rise of the United Nations and its Agencies
• Chapter 6: Technology and Innovation in International Health
• Part 4: The Era of Global Health Campaigns
• Chapter 7: The Era of Global Health Campaigns
• Chapter 8: The Smallpox Eradication Program
• Chapter 9: The Malaria Eradication Program
• Part 5: The Rise of Population Control
• Chapter 10: The Rise of Population Control
• Chapter 11: Family Planning Programs
• Part 6: The Rise of Primary Health Care
• Chapter 12: The Alma-Ata Conference
• Chapter 13: The Limits of Primary Health Care
• Part 7: The Rise of the Global Health System
• Chapter 14: The Rise of the Global Health System
• Chapter 15: The Challenges of Global Health

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This book examines the history of international health from the early 20th century to the present day, analyzing the evolution of interventions into the lives of people in developing countries. It explores the underlying reasons for the continued lack of access to basic sanitation, clean water, and hospitals despite billions of dollars invested in global health programs.

• The influence of colonialism on the development of international health.
• The impact of technological advancements on global health initiatives.
• The challenges of implementing health programs in diverse cultural and social contexts.
• The role of international organizations, NGOs, and private sector actors in shaping global health.
• The tensions between technical solutions and broader social and political factors in achieving health equity.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The book explores the evolution of international health through a chronological approach, focusing on the key developments and challenges of each era.

• Chapter 1 examines the origins of international health during the colonial period, highlighting the impact of colonial medical practices and attitudes on shaping the field.
• Chapter 2 traces the transition from colonial medicine to international health, highlighting the role of institutions like the Rockefeller Foundation's International Health Board in expanding the reach of global health initiatives.
• Chapter 3 explores the establishment and early efforts of the League of Nations Health Organization, emphasizing its focus on collecting statistics and developing technological solutions.
• Chapter 4 delves into the League of Nations Health Organization's efforts to address rural hygiene and nutrition in Europe after World War I, highlighting the challenges of effectively engaging with local cultures.
• Chapter 5 examines the rise of the United Nations and its agencies in the wake of World War II, emphasizing their commitment to promoting global health improvements.
• Chapter 6 explores the development and impact of new technologies and innovations in international health, such as the discovery of DDT, highlighting their effectiveness in addressing infectious diseases.
• Chapter 7 examines the emergence of global health campaigns in the 1960s, focusing on the eradication programs for smallpox and malaria.
• Chapter 8 details the Smallpox Eradication Program, emphasizing its success in eradicating smallpox through a combination of technical advancements and administrative efforts.
• Chapter 9 examines the Malaria Eradication Program, highlighting its challenges and limitations due to factors such as inadequate planning and lack of adaptability.
• Chapter 10 explores the rise of population control as a central element of international health from the 1960s to the 1980s, focusing on the role of family planning programs.
• Chapter 11 examines the evolution of family planning programs, highlighting their shift from population control to a focus on protecting the health of women and children.
• Chapter 12 examines the Alma-Ata Conference and its revolutionary vision of international health, emphasizing the commitment to community participation and addressing social and cultural factors.
• Chapter 13 explores the challenges faced by the primary health care model, including limitations related to financial constraints and the impact of structural adjustment policies.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The book focuses on the history of international health, examining the evolution of interventions, the influence of colonialism, the impact of technological advancements, and the role of diverse actors in shaping global health initiatives. The key themes include colonial medical practices, technological solutions, cultural adaptation, international organizations, NGOs, private sector involvement, health equity, and the interplay between technical and social factors.

• College: City University of New York City College (CCNY)
• Course: International Relations Graduate School
• Grade: A
• Author: Liliya Kenzhebayeva (Author)
• Publication Year: 2020
• Pages: 5
• Catalog Number: V907127
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346226969
• Language: English
• Tags: international health, international organizations, who, international relations, international politics