What is Global Health Issue?

Global health issue comprises the range of interconnected issues that threaten the well-being of populations globally. It may include emerging infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, climate change, mental health, and so on.  Global health issues that exceeds the national boundaries and affects global population are considered as global health issues or global health threats. Though, science has evolved rapidly in every discipline, including health, there are still many international health issues that remains a huge headache even in today’s era.

From pandemics to climate disasters, the world faces exceptional public health challenges that threaten millions of lives globally due to varieties of environmental global health issues. But what are the most persuasive threats today, and how can we tackle them? This article breaks down five critical global health issues that offers actionable insights.

1. Emerging Diseases

An emerging disease is one that has newly emerged in a population or has existed but is rapidly spreading in incidence or geographic range. You may be pondering over the question like ‘which highly communicable disease is considered a global health issue?’  Emerging infectious diseases like COVID-19, Ebola, Zika and so forth are fueled by zoonotic transmission (pathogens get transmitted from animals to humans). As per the WHO’s report, 7,090,763 (updated 9 March 2025) confirmed COVID-induced deaths worldwide. This pandemic emerged in late 2019 exposed gaps in global preparedness, vaccine inequity, and fragile healthcare systems throughout the world. Deforestation, urbanization, along with climate change accelerate their spread, while todays’ fast global travel turns local outbreaks into pandemics.  Similarly, Zika virus in Africa, Southern Asia, Western Pacific and Ebola outbreaks in Sub-Saharan Africa highlighted the risks of delayed responses in resource-limited regions. 

The Road Ahead:

• Strengthen disease surveillance networks.
• Invest in rapid vaccine development (e.g., mRNA technology).
• Promote global cooperation for equitable resource distribution.

What steps can your local community take to be prepared for future outbreaks? Share your ideas below!

2. Mental Health Issues

One individual out of 5 U.S. adults are suffering from any forms of mental health issues that comprises 59.3 million in 2022; 23.1% of the U.S. adult population as per the report of National Institute of Mental Health. Mental health disorders like anxiety and depression are now leading causes of disability worldwide. As we saw, the COVID-19 pandemic worsened this crisis, with isolation, job losses, and pain pushing rates even higher. Over 80% of people in low-income countries lack access to mental health treatment (WHO, 2021). Frontline health workers and other civil workers, children, and the elderly are the high-risk groups for developing mental health issues because of their high probability to exposed such highly infectious diseases. Resource-scarce communities facing stigma and limited access to care along with those who already having one chronic morbidity or co-morbidities are high risk groups for mental health issues.

Solutions:

• Integrate mental health services into primary care.
• Launch anti-stigma campaigns and teletherapy initiatives.
• Proper counseling programme at home, school and work-setting.
• Assure access of the general community people with the qualified mental health professional.

Read more about this here

3. Non-Communicable Diseases

The chronic diseases or medical conditions which mostly does not transmit from one individual or animal to another individual or animal are termed as Non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These are growing at an alarming rate throughout the world. As per the WHO, NCDs are the major cause of death worldwide, responsible for 71% of the total deaths attributable to it. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), Cancers, Chronic Obstetric Pulmonary Disease (COPD),  and Diabetes are the four main NCDs of global concern. Tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity are common risk factors for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) 

Obesity rates have tripled since 1975, resulting deadly non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and heart disease. Processed foods and sedentary lifestyles are key risk factors for these global issues. Sugary drink taxes in Mexico reduced consumption by 12% in two years.

Action Steps:

• Promote policies to discourage or limit junk food marketing.
• Encourage urban planning that prioritizes walkability.
• Develop and implement community led physical activity initiatives.

Know your probability of getting NCDs: NCDs Risk Calculator

4. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Are We Losing the Battle Against Superbugs?

Antimicrobial resistance raises the risk of disease transmission, severity of sickness, disability, including deaths by making antimicrobials less effective towards killing the germs. Antimicrobial resistance could fail antibiotics and make it useless, leading to 10 million annual deaths by 2050 (WHO). Overuse in healthcare, agriculture and poultry fuels this crisis. Multi drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis strains now require 18–24 months of treatment, which significantly reduces the cost effectiveness and impose a unbearable load to national economy.

Fight Back by:

• Regulating antibiotic use in farming and animal husbandry.
• Educating patients on avoiding unnecessary over the counter medications.
• Encourage clinicians and counsel patients to full course of antibiotics and adherence to protocol.

Read more about this here

5. Climate Change

Climate change poses a threat to peoples’ health, the environment, and the economy around the world. Its’ impacts may include but not limited to extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and the spread of infectious diseases. Raised temperatures and extreme weather resulted by climate change are increasing mosquito’s growth, worsening air pollution, and threatening food security in those areas as well where there were no such issues at all. Global warming is so rapid ever since the past decades. It is much faster than the longer-term average, with some locations warming by 1 degree Fahrenheit or more per decade as per the study by Rebecca Lindsey, 2024.

Impacts to Watch:

• Vector-Borne Diseases: Malaria and dengue cases could increase in fast pace.
• Heatwaves: Caused 356,000 deaths globally in 2019 as per the article published in The Lancet.

Mitigation Strategies:

• Transition to renewable energy.
• Strengthen healthcare systems to lower climate disasters.
• Multi-sectoral approach is needed to mitigate these issues.

Bridging the Gap: Tackling Health Inequities

African Americans are 60% more likely to develop diabetes than white Americans (CDC). Urban-rural variations along with inter-country variations in access to healthcare services is one of the major issues which has been persistently exist since 4 to 5 decades. Overcoming global public health issues may requires a collaborative approach from the multiple stakeholders from across the globe. It may include but not limited to strengthening healthcare delivery systems, promoting disease prevention, ensuring equitable access to medical resources, and leveraging innovative technologies to address emerging health threats. Marginalized communities often face shorter lifespans due to poverty, discrimination, and poor healthcare access.

As global health threats are interconnected accordingly its’ solutions are also interconnected. Here’s how we can act now:

 International level: Collaboration, policies/strategies formulation and equitable distribution of resources to tackle these burning issues.

Governments: Sustainable funding in health systems and climate adaptation.
Healthcare Providers: Prioritize preventive care and health equity.
Individuals: Advocate for policy updating and adopt healthier lifestyles.

References

1. WHO: Antimicrobial Resistance
2. WHO, 2024
3. CDC: Health Disparities
4. IPCC Climate Report 2021
5. Glass, 2022