The globalisation of public health ethics?

This article contends that public heath ethics are becoming increasingly globalised. The ethics of health development intersect with other global issues, such as environmental degradation and poverty, and thus, represent a core component of sustainable development strategies. An analysis of several ethical issues in public health demonstrates that ethical concerns transcend state borders, and therefore, do not conform to conventional notions of state sovereignty. Furthermore, the ethical debates outlined in this paper point towards an increasing interdependence of public health risks and opportunities, and the need for 'good governance systems for health' which link together the political will and action of diverse sectors and partners at all levels from civil society to the global community.