1. Accomplishments, Challenges, and Priorities

Abstract

It is time for a checkup of human health around the globe. Many people are living longer, healthier lives than ever before, but many others still lack access to the most basic health care, and the gap between the health care haves and have–nots has actually widened for some fundamental services. As for infectious diseases, while the medical community is successfully controlling some of them—and has even eradicated one—new diseases are emerging, some of which are caused by mysterious viruses that cross species or mutate quickly. Other major components in the global disease burden arise from human behavior and the harmful choices that people make both individually and collectively.