Government ‘should not consider UK health in isolation’

A global heath strategy is needed to protect the heath of the UK and benefit the rest of the world, the country’s chief medical officer claims.

In his report Health Is Global: Proposals for a UK government-wide strategy, Sir Liam Donaldson argues that in order to protect healthcare in the country, Britain needs to engage in global discourse.

“We can no longer consider the health of the UK in isolation,” Mr Donaldson says, since not only does globalisation bring benefits which must be harnessed, but infectious diseases “do not respect borders”.

He recommends establishing a government-wide strategy to help Britain work effectively with healthcare partners both at home and internationally.

“Poor health in one country threatens the prosperity and wellbeing of populations in all countries – protecting and promoting health is a duty of our global citizenship,” Mr Donaldson concludes.

Meanwhile, the government has also launched a strategy with the pharmaceutical industry to encourage joint working.

A group comprising ministers and key figures from the industry will work together to improve relations with the NHS and support the use of cost-effective medicines.