The U.S. Commitment to Global Health : Recommendations for the Public and Private Sectors

Health is a highly valued, visible, and concrete investment that has the power to both save lives and enhance the credibility of the United States in the eyes of the world. While the United States has made a major commitment to global health, there remains a wide gap between existing knowledge and tools that could improve health if applied universally, and the utilization of these known tools across the globe.

The U.S. Commitment to Global Health concludes that the U.S. government and U.S.-based foundations, universities, nongovernmental organizations, and commercial entities have an opportunity to improve global health. The book includes recommendations that these U.S. institutions:

• increase the utilization of existing interventions to achieve significant health gains;
• generate and share knowledge to address prevalent health problems in disadvantaged countries;
• invest in people, institutions, and capacity building with global partners;
• increase the quantity and quality of U.S. financial commitments to global health;
• and engage in respectful partnerships to improve global health.

In doing so, the U.S. can play a major role in saving lives and improving the quality of life for millions around the world.