Global Pulse Blog

The Kaiser Family Foundation recently released a new policy brief analyzing key issues surrounding the Obama administration’s new Global Health Initiative (GHI) announced on May 5, 2009. The brief gives an overview of the GHI and explores several issues shaping the initiative’s direction. The initiative proposes a six-year, $63 billion effort expanding upon existing disease-specific initiatives to combat HIV, tuberculosis and malaria to also increase attention in areas including maternal and child health, family planning and reproductive health, nutrition, neglected tropical diseases and health systems.

The brief and accompanying webcast explore several issues including:

- How will the leadership and governance of the GHI be structured to best coordinate across multiple agencies and programs?

- How much funding will the initiative receive over its six years, and how will the government allocate those funds across the global health portfolio?

- How should the U.S. government measure the impact of its global health efforts?

- How can the U.S. best partner with recipient countries to encourage “country ownership” in order to promote the long-term sustainability of the programs?

- How can the U.S. engage and coordinate with multi-lateral organizations, donor governments and the private sector to maximize their collective impact?

- How will the increased emphasis on women and girls be integrated into U.S. global health programs?