“Strengthening Health Systems Around the Globe Provides a Huge Return on Investment”

An Interview with Dr. Christopher Elias, President of the Global Development Division, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

“When It Comes to Global Transformation, Most Still Lies Ahead”

A Conversation with Dr. Georg Milde, Publisher of the Journal politik&kommunikation

Climate Change and Public Health

The world is changing – unsettlingly quickly, and largely as a result of human activity. The effects of climate change can already be felt today, and natural disasters are common events. Climate change greatly affects our health. Accordingly, it is important not only to reduce greenhouse gases, but also to prepare for the weather- and climate change-related consequences, and adapt to them. A climate-resilient health policy will be necessary.

Editorial

“Whether for humanitarian, development policy, economic reasons or out of self-interest, it is necessary to contain the spread of diseases. As a community of nations, we have a joint responsibility to do so”, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin this May.

Eine Analyse der Wahlen in Belgien

Die gleichzeitige Wahl der drei Regionalparlamente, des föderalen Parlaments und des Europäischen Parlaments in Belgien am 26. Mai 2019 wird nicht so schnell in Vergessenheit geraten. Die scheidende Mehrheit aus flämischen Nationalisten, Liberalen und Christdemokraten hat ihre Mehrheit auf föderaler Ebene deutlich verloren. Die Grünen gewannen zwar Stimmen dazu, allerdings deutlich weniger als erwartet. Die tatsächlichen Sieger der Wahlnacht waren die beiden Parteien am Rande des politischen Spektrums: der rechtsextreme Vlaams Belang in Flandern und die linksextreme PTB/PVDA in Wallonien. Zweifellos wird dies die Koalitionsverhandlungen, insbesondere auf föderaler Ebene, sehr schwierig gestalten.

Germany Has to Invest Even More in Global Health

For some time, Germany has been extremely active in the field of global health and has contributed greatly to shaping central elements of global health structures. Nevertheless, Germany should continue to invest in expanding global health infrastructure and coordinate its own activities even more closely than it has in the past.

Korea und die USA: Fortschritte in der Diplomatie zwischen Trump, Kim und Moon?

Was das Treffen zwischen den Staatschefs an der innerkoreanischen Grenze gebracht hat

Donald Trump und Kim Jong-un haben sich am 30. Juni 2019 zu einem historischen Gespräch an der Grenze zwischen Süd- und Nordkorea in der Demilitarisierten Zone (DMZ) getroffen. Zeitweise war auch der südkoreanische Präsident Moon Jae-in zugegen. Die Idee für ein trilaterales Treffen der Staats- und Regierungschefs aus den USA, Süd- und Nordkorea ist nicht neu.

Pandemics: How Well-Prepared Is the EU?

Epidemics and pandemics pose a real danger in the highly connected 21st century. Densely populated areas like the EU, with lively exchange of goods and services, are especially susceptible to the rapid spread of infectious diseases. The good news is: we can prepare ourselves – but it won’t be easy.

The Forgotten Crisis

Health Policy in South Africa and Dealing with ­HIV

­HIV is one of the most devastating pandemics of our time. South Africa – the country with one fifth of the world’s ­HIV cases – has made some progress. However, that could change, if not as many HIV-positive South Africans as possible are taking antiretroviral medication regularly or if risky behaviour increases and awareness of the problem decreases. First signs for this can be found right now already.

Ulaanbaatar Is Suffocating in Smog

Air Pollution Causes Serious Health Problems in Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia is not just the coldest capital city in the world. In 2016, this city of over a million inhabitants also overtook New Delhi and Beijing as the capital with the highest levels of air pollution. Politicians recognise the problem but seem largely powerless to act. The city’s residents are becoming increasingly frustrated.