THE WORLD BANK AND GLOBAL HEALTH: TIME FOR A RENEWED FOCUS ON HEALTH POLICY

In July 2013, Timothy Evans became Director of Health, Nutrition and Population at the World Bank. Moreover, President Obama nominated Jim Yong Kim, a global health expert, as president of the World Bank. These choices both signified global health’s ascendance in development practice and put the spotlight on global health in American foreign policy and international relations. In an increasingly pluralistic and confused global health landscape, however, this article argued that, the World Bank, under new leadership, must map out and stick to a clear plan for global health impact, one that builds on and leverages its unique role in health and development policy and seizes opportunities in globalization for global health equity. The World Bank needs to take a holistic approach to health and development, rooted in the social sciences, combined with its vast financial and human resources and analytical and advisory capacities. This broader perspective renders the World Bank a go-to global health institution for health policy and health systems in developing countries. A few key areas of concentration are noteworthy. First, the World Bank can assist countries in developing the evidence base and analytical capability critical for health reform and health policy implementation. Second, the World Bank needs to bring the global trends in financing for health and political will to the domestic level. Third, the World Bank needs to aid in establishing good governance in the health sector. By committing to help countries develop the capabilities to solve health policy problems and sustain health systems on their own, the World Bank’s role in global health as we know it may never be the same.

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