Global health for the 21st century and beyond

Purpose - In considering the present and future state of the world's health, it is worth revisiting the Alma-Ata declaration of 1978 (International Conference on Primary health Care, 1978). This international declaration, signed almost 40 years ago confirmed the World Health Organisation (WHO) definition of health from the 1946 WHO Constitution as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2015). The declaration clearly stated that health is a universal human right and that the gross inequalities in health apparent at the time of the conference, between and within countries, were unacceptable. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach - This provides a review of the key articles in the current issue of IJHG with added evidence and commentary. Findings - A global approach to health which acknowledges climate change, respects Aboriginal populations' self-determination and which rejects the commodification of health in the way forward for twenty-first century health care. Originality/value - IJHG is the only Emerald journal providing a review section in each issue.