The importance of a common global health definition: How Canada’s definition influences its strategic direction in global health

www.jogh.org • doi: 10.7189/jogh.02.010301 1 June 2012 • Vol. 2 No. 1 • 010301 I n late 2011, the Expert Panel on Canada’s Strategic Role in Global Health (herein: the panel) selected a global health definition for Canada. This decision is significant as the chosen definition forms the foundation of the panels forthcoming recomended role for Canada in global health. In turn, the global health community can draw lessons from Canada’s decision to inform their own understanding of the term and demystify priority setting. In this paper we examine the five definitions considered by the panel and analyze the core characteristics of each in order to understand the rationale for the final choice as well as the implications of the chosen definition. To understand the basis upon which Canada will build its strategic direction for global health it is useful to frame this analysis in light of the other short-listed definitions.