Global health: challenges and opportunities for Singapore

Over the past decade, global health has evolved from a buzzword to a discipline, attracting interest from governments, academic institutions and funding organisations. Global health centres, institutes and initiatives in Western countries have increased in both size and number, aided primarily by institutional backing and supportive funding mechanisms. As the rise to prominence of global health on the public health agenda also coincides with shifts in global balances of power, Asia, as well as Singapore, has an expanded role to play in supporting global health teaching and research, both in the region and throughout the world. Foundations, universities, government agencies, statutory boards and the private sector all have an important role to play in moving the global health agenda forward in Singapore. Rigorous global health training and increased funding for global health research are now timely and essential in order for global health, as a discipline, to develop within Singapore and have an impact within the region.