Global health

The climate crisis can feel overwhelming. During a busy workday as a clinician when you’re juggling time constraints, hygiene requirements, patient requests, and administrative demands, prioritising planetary health can feel like one thing too many. However, as we increasingly witness the predicted harms of the climate crisis manifest, it has become clear that clinicians who prioritise the health of their patients must prioritise the health of the planet. In this perspective piece we — a general practitioner (GP) and a climate health researcher — challenge all clinicians to understand, prioritise and practice planetary health. A rapid scan of the literature alongside GP clinical observations have identified four key reasons for this.

Jessica van den Heuvel, Nina Lansbury

From July 31, the United States will impose up to 100% tariffs on pharmaceuticals coming into the US. Some Australian-made exports look set to pay that highest rate, while some other countries – including the UK, Japan and the European Union – have negotiated lower rates.

Felicity Deane

As we mark International Women’s Day, it is time to recognise that gender justice in health requires more than improving access within existing systems, it demands redesigning how those systems are funded, governed, and led.

Adeline Tinessia, Emily Zhou, Heather Keighley, Zohra Lassi, Jennifer Gersbeck, Meru Sheel

Water bankruptcy is a serious public health issue that must be urgently addressed. Health practitioners have a responsibility to lead in shaping a future where water is protected and valued.

Kate Wylie

Australia must vow to never to let our public health service suffer in the same way as the United States, write Robert Steinglass and C John Clements AM.

Robert Steinglass, C John Clements

With the threat of H5N1 avian influenza looming, it is essential people working at the human-animal interface are prepared and protected.

Sally Block

A recent outbreak of polio in Papua New Guinea raises concerns about the potential spread to neighbouring countries, including Australia.

Yong Gao (Nias) Peng

One of the world’s foremost global health policy thought leaders, Nina Schwalbe, has urged Australians to join the fight against the withdrawal of United States funding for global health aid.

Caitlin Wright

Achieving gender equity in global health will require reimagining of how health systems operate, including who leads and the traits they possess, who is valued within the health system and how they are remunerated, and what inclusivity means in terms of knowledge production and its impacts.

Rachel Mather, Adeline Tinessia, Parveen Fathima, Sara Davies, Meru Sheel