Global Public Health Policies: Public Health Associations’ Perspectives

Why Public Health Advocacy Matters

The definition of advocacy may vary slightly across disciplines. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health advocacy is a combination of social actions aimed at securing political commitment, policy support, social acceptance, and systems support for a particular goal or program. Advocacy is identified as one of the core functions of public health and is a key tool for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In global public health, advocacy involves engaging diverse stakeholders in decision-making to improve population health. National public health associations and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a vital role in advocating, advising decision-makers, guiding initiatives, and raising citizens’ awareness. Advocacy initiatives and campaigns, joint position statements, resolutions, and internal policies are recognized as the primary tools for influencing public health policy.

As countries continue to address challenges ranging from climate change and emerging infectious diseases to health inequities and workforce shortages, understanding the role of public health associations in shaping policy has become increasingly important. Their advocacy efforts help translate evidence into action and ensure that public health remains a priority within national and international decision-making processes.

Study Overview: Mapping Public Health Advocacy Across 12 Countries

In a recent study by researchers from the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA), public health advocacy activities conducted by national public health associations between 2018 and 2021 were examined to identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities to strengthen future policy development.

The study included 12 national public health associations representing:

• Ethiopia
• Cameroon
• South Africa
• Nigeria
• Canada
• United States
• Brazil
• Spain
• France
• United Kingdom
• Australia
• New Zealand

A total of 220 officially approved policy documents were analyzed, including position statements, internal policies, white papers, and official submissions to government bodies.

Key Findings on Global Public Health Policies

According to the study, the largest number of policy documents originated from high-income countries and focused primarily on environmental health and communicable diseases, including COVID-19. However, significant regional differences emerged.

Africa: Focus on Health System Strengthening

In the African region, public health advocacy focused primarily on strengthening health systems. This emphasis reflects the importance of building resilient health infrastructure, expanding access to services, and improving population health outcomes.

Women’s and child health also emerged as an important area of advocacy, particularly in Nigeria.

Europe and South America: Pandemic Preparedness and Communicable Diseases

Public health associations in Europe and South America devoted much of their advocacy work to communicable diseases and pandemic management.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of preparedness, surveillance systems, evidence-informed policymaking, and coordinated responses to public health emergencies.

North America and the Western Pacific: Climate and Environmental Health

In North America and the Western Pacific region, climate change and environmental health were dominant advocacy themes.

This reflects growing recognition that environmental determinants—including air quality, extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, and climate-related health risks—have profound implications for population health.

Major Public Health Advocacy Themes Identified

The analysis identified 11 major advocacy themes across all participating public health associations:

Communicable Diseases

Including COVID-19 preparedness, prevention, response, and vaccination policies.

Environmental Health

Including climate change, pollution, sustainability, and planetary health.

Health Equity

Advocating for fair access to health services and addressing social determinants of health.

Health System Strengthening

Supporting stronger healthcare systems, workforce development, financing, and service delivery.

Human Rights and Health

Promoting health as a human right and protecting vulnerable populations.

Mental Health and Substance Use

Addressing growing mental health challenges and substance-related harms.

Non-Communicable Diseases

Including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.

Women and Child Health

Supporting maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes.

Nutrition

Advocating for healthier food systems and improved nutrition policies.

Injury Prevention and Violence Reduction

Addressing preventable injuries and violence-related health burdens.

International Health

Promoting cross-border collaboration and global health cooperation.

A Critical Gap: Limited Attention to International Health and Human Rights

One of the most important findings of the study was that relatively limited attention was paid to international health and health as a human right across all regions.

Given the interconnected nature of modern public health challenges—including pandemics, climate change, migration, and health inequities—there is a growing need for more internationally focused advocacy efforts.

The study suggests that future advocacy should be more strongly rooted in:

• Health as a human right
• Global solidarity
• International cooperation
• Intersectoral policymaking
• Sustainable Development Goals implementation

Strengthening Public Health Advocacy for the Future

The study revealed that public health associations are active advocates across a broad range of health issues. However, additional efforts are needed to strengthen the effectiveness of advocacy and policy impact.

According to the researchers, several priorities could improve future advocacy efforts:

Better Use of Evidence

Evidence-based policymaking remains essential for designing effective health interventions and demonstrating impact.

Improved Access to Data

Making public health data more accessible to policymakers and decision-makers can support faster and more informed policy responses.

Sustainable Funding Mechanisms

Adequate resources are necessary to maintain advocacy efforts and implement long-term public health strategies.

Increased Public Awareness

Citizen engagement and awareness can help build support for public health policies and strengthen accountability.

Expanding the Public Health Advocacy Coalition

The study also recommends broadening advocacy efforts beyond traditional public health stakeholders.

Future advocacy initiatives could involve:

• Academics
• Journalists
• Media organizations
• Influencers
• Civil society organizations
• Public health professionals

Working together as a unified voice may help strengthen policy influence, increase public awareness, and support the adoption of evidence-informed health policies.

Why Public Health Associations Matter in Global Health Policy

Public health associations serve as a critical bridge between research, policy, and practice. By translating scientific evidence into policy recommendations, they help governments and institutions respond to evolving health challenges.

As the world continues to confront climate change, future pandemics, health inequities, and emerging global threats, strong advocacy from public health associations will remain essential to advancing health equity, strengthening health systems, and ensuring that health is considered across all sectors of society.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that public health associations play a vital role in shaping global public health policies through advocacy, evidence-informed recommendations, and stakeholder engagement.

While advocacy efforts between 2018 and 2021 focused heavily on environmental health, communicable diseases, and health system strengthening, the findings also highlight opportunities for a more international and intersectoral approach grounded in the recognition of health as a human right and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Moving forward, stronger collaboration among public health associations, policymakers, researchers, journalists, and civil society will be essential to building healthier, more equitable, and more resilient societies worldwide.