International Health Aid

Although Department of International Development funding is ringfenced for now, there are cuts on the table.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/sarah-boseley-global-health/2010/aug/13/international-aid-and-development-globalrecession
originally from:
http://www.leftfootforward.org/

A leaked document indicates that spending on health services and systems (£6bn up to 2015, exluding HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria) may be cut. When this was spending was proposed back in 2008 it included climate change in it's scope. Also included were aspects of fairer trade and improving use of evidence in practice.

We are increasingly aware of how global health has become. Despite the controversies surrounding the swine flu pandemic, it did highlight the risks that a health problem the other side of the world can very soon be a health problem here.

Just when climate change is getting on the health agenda, or the other way round, it's future seems uncertain. We'll have to wait to see how tough that ring-fence is, in this 'greenest ever' government.

Introduction

I hope to cover three broad areas of interest in this blog:

1. Health impacts of mitigation and adaptation to climate change (especially inequalities)
2. Encouraging health professionals to take action
3. Developing community action to deliver health co-benefits of taking action on climate change

I aim to develop an approach that mirrors health economics - how do we factor in decisions which relate to the natural and social environment into clinical or public health decision making.

Is carbon-footprint labelling of medicines and treatments worthwhile?

How do we get the 'triple bottom-line' of (natural) environmental, social as well as economic capital into the board-room budgeting conversations?

My aim is to inform research and develop educational material for everyone (some focused for professionals) within UK primarily.