Global Health Policy in the Second Obama Term
February 24, 2013
Dear Friends,
I am pleased to share with you a new report and video series from the CSIS Global Health Policy Center, Global Health Policy in the Second Obama Term.
This volume analyzes seven important dimensions of a complex, widening U.S. global health agenda: HIV/AIDS; malaria; polio eradication; women’s health; health security; health diplomacy; and multilateral partners. Each chapter strives to catalog and interpret the past four years’ developments in their respective focal area, charting the measurable health impacts for which the United States can claim at least partial credit, and highlighting persistent problems and challenges. The essays conclude with concrete recommendations on how the United States can achieve the best results in the next four years in promoting the improvement of health, especially among the world’s most vulnerable citizens. Coupled with each essay is an author video interview.
As a whole, the volume brings to light three factors that have profoundly influenced the scope of U.S. global health engagement in recent years, and which must be at the forefront of the Obama administration’s and incoming Congress’s discussions of the future of U.S. global health policy: the remarkable bipartisan support for U.S. leadership on global health; the surprising conceptual and operational gains achieved even in the face of considerable austerity; and the essential ingredient to success: sustained, high-level U.S. leadership.
As the contributors to Global Health Policy in the Second Obama Term attest, U.S. leadership in global health advances core U.S. interests. It fulfills shared humanitarian values by saving and enhancing lives. It strengthens health security against common and emerging threats. And it promotes stability and prosperity in far-flung communities in the developing world who strive for better health and better lives for their families. For all these reasons, supporting global health should remain a U.S. government and budget priority—and as the second Obama administration and incoming Congress commence their work, we hope these essays will offer pragmatic, informed guidelines for seizing the opportunities ahead.
My greatest gratitude extends to my fellow authors for their prodigious efforts. We are also grateful to the many experts outside government who participated extensively in the working groups that were mobilized by the authors: these individuals contributed enormously to creating a broad, majority consensus that informs the analyses. We are no less thankful to the officials from U.S. government departments and agencies and international organizations who kindly and patiently agreed to provide a sounding board on complex technical and programmatic issues.
Please click here to download the report and click here to access the videos. As always, I welcome your comments and questions.
Sincerely,
J. Stephen Morrison
Senior Vice President;
Director, CSIS Global Health Policy Center
