Includes bibliographical references and index.

Economic crises and systemic failure : why we need to rethink the global economy -- Primary health care : a review and critical appraisal of its 'revitalisation' -- Financing health care : aiming for long-term solutions -- Health financing models that make health systems work : case studies from Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, and Thailand -- Dysfunctional health systems : case studies from China, India, and the US -- Achieving a shared goal : free universal health care in Ghana -- Maternal mortality : need for a broad framework of intervention -- Research for health -- Pandemic influenza preparedness : in search of a global health ethos -- Mental health and inequality -- The global food crisis -- Health information, conflict, and the right to health -- Trade and health -- The future is now : genetic promises and speculative finance -- Climate crisis -- Challenging the population : climate connection -- World Health Organization : captive to conflicting interests -- UNICEF and the 'medicalisation' of malnutrition in children -- Conflicts of interest within philanthrocapitalism -- The pharmaceutical industry and pharmaceutical endeavour -- Health and global security : reasons for concern -- The International Health Partnership⁺ : glass half full or half empty? -- The movement for change -- The right to health : from concept to action -- Cuba's international cooperation in health.

This alternative world health report offers a comprehensive survey of the key areas that influence the health of poor and vulnerable groups in all countries. They range from climate change, water and nutrition to national health policies and services and the brain drain of health professionals from South to North.