Germany's contribution to global health

The fundamental problem is conceptual: the persistent misinterpretation of global health as just an extension of national public health or international health, with a strong focus on strengthening health systems and bringing medical supplies to low-income countries. Most German stakeholders interpret global health as being part of the development agenda and even the government's Marshall Plan with Africa is highlighting this post-colonial approach.4 We argue that global health requires a multidisciplinary, transnational approach that considers and cross-links the social, environmental, political, commercial, and other determinants of health. [...]global health needs to become part of Germany's foreign policy agenda, and new approaches such as the introduction of a State Secretary for Global Health in the Chancellor's office, measurable goals, and additional funding should become part of the 2018 update of the German global health strategy.