The health economics of global trade

Abstract: The international movement of health workers and patients, the effect of transnational food corporations on diet and obesity, the role of trade agreements on access to generic medicines, and the impact of the financial crisis on health are just some aspects of ‘trade’ that have become of interest and concern in academic and popular press recently. This presentation will explore the challenges and opportunities that trade presents health and health systems from the perspective of a health economist who has worked on these issues for over a decade. It will consider the core actors involved, and use specific examples from the presenters own research concerning the impact of trade as mediated through the national economy, trade in health-related goods and services, and changes in risk factors for both communicable and non-communicable disease.