ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book reviews specific international public health issues and programmes from the vantage viewpoint of World Health Organisation (WHO), which, in spite of its weaknesses, remains the key global actor in this domain. It also reviews the interaction of WHO and other intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) with profit-making enterprises, business-issued foundations and international NGOs as monitors, critics and advocates. The book provides examples of WHO's consultation and cooperation with 'for-profit organizations' in specific areas and assesses their results. The intergovernmental network includes a number of United Nation (UN) institutions, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and a few transregional and regional organizations. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) helps countries in such broad areas as democratic governance, poverty reduction, crisis prevention and recovery, energy and environment, information and communications technology.
