Introduction

The primary function of global health is to improve health outcomes, achieve health equity for all populations worldwide, and address transnational health challenges through international collaboration1. It transcends national borders and seeks to protect populations from diseases, pandemics, and systemic disparities1,2. The purpose of this article is to explore the functions of global health in society.

Core Functions and Objectives

The core functions and objective of global health are[2,3]:

Promoting Health Equity: Prioritizes reducing avoidable and unfair health disparities in low-resource settings and vulnerable communities.

Health Security: Coordinates transnational responses to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging infectious diseases, pandemics, and biological threats.

Strengthening Health Systems: Assists nations in building sustainable healthcare infrastructure, training medical workforces, and ensuring access to essential medicines.

Addressing Social Determinants: Focuses on the broader environmental, cultural, economic, and political factors that impact human well-being globally.

Global Policy and Governance: Establishes international norms, treaties, and standards (such as the International Health Regulations) to unify global action.

The core functions of Global Health span six major domains as follows[1-3]:

1.  Health Security and Emergency Management: Preparing for and coordinating responses to transnational health threats, such as pandemics, and managing chemical or biological incidents.

2.  Disease Prevention and Protection: Detecting and preventing both communicable like HIV, malaria, and non-communicable diseases (for example, heart disease) globally.

3.  Normative and Governance Functions: Establishing worldwide standards, legally binding treaties, and International Health Regulations that all nations must follow.

4.  Research and Data Surveillance: Monitoring population health statuses, driving medical research, and sharing best practices across borders to track global disease patterns.

5.  Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Advocating for health as a human right and supporting health system financing and infrastructure to make essential care accessible worldwide.

6.  Health Promotion: Addressing the environmental, social, and economic determinants of health to build long-term societal resilience against systemic health inequalities.

Key Organizations Driving Global Health

To fulfill these functions, global health relies on a complex network of governments, non-profits, and international bodies1-3:

World Health Organisation (WHO): The directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. Discover more about their goals on the WHO About Us page.

The Global Fund: A worldwide partnership designed to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Learn about their investments on The Global Fund website.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance: Focuses on saving children's lives and protecting people's health by increasing access to vaccines in lower-income countries. Find out more at Gavi.

Conclusion

Global health functions are collaborative, cross-border actions designed to improve health equity, manage pandemics, and address health determinants. Guided by organisations like the WHO and the UK Health Security Agency. These core functions of Global Health will continue to shape its initiatives worldwide.

References

1.  Association of Health Care Professionals (AHCP). Global Health Functions and Strategies. London: AHCP Publications, 2025.

2.  World Health Organization (WHO). Global Health Strategy 2025 – 2028. Available from: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/documents/about-us/general-programme-of-work/global-health-strategy-2025-2028.pdf Accessed on 10 December 2025.

3.  Joint International Academies of Research and Education (JIARE). Global Health Matters in the Dynamic World. London: JIARE Publications, 2025.

Correspondence

Professor Dr Daniella Kingsley-Godwin

London Medical Academy Research Consortium

London, England, United Kingdom

Written on 28 February 2025.

This article was last updated on 28 March 2026