Table 1.

Inductive analysis of global health definitions

Brown: “Global health” in general, implies consideration of the health needs of the people of the whole planet above the concerns of particular nations. The term “global” is also associated with the growing importance of actors beyond governmental or intergovernmental organizations and agencies.[12]
Primary characteristics					Secondary characteristics
Equity	Global conceptualization	Causes	Means	Solutions	Source of obligation	Multi-disciplinary	Actors	Reactive (R) Proactive (P)
No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No

European Commission: Global health… is about worldwide improvement of health, reduction of disparities, and protection against health threats. [13]
Primary characteristics					Secondary characteristics
Equity	Global conceptualization	Causes	Means	Solutions	Source of obligation	Multi-disciplinary	Actors	Reactive (R) Proactive (P)
Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	P

Koplan: Global health is an area of study, research, and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide. Global health emphasizes transnational health issues, determinants, and solutions; involves many disciplines within and beyond the health sciences and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration; and is a synthesis of population-based prevention with individual-level clinical care. [14]
Primary characteristics					Secondary characteristics
Equity	Global conceptualization	Causes	Means	Solutions	Source of obligation	Multi-disciplinary	Actors	Reactive (R) Proactive (P)
Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	R+P

United Kingdom: Global health refers to health issues where the determinants circumvent, undermine or are oblivious to the territorial boundaries of states, and are thus beyond the capacity of individual countries to address through domestic institutions. Global health is focused on people across the whole planet rather than the concerns of particular nations. Global health recognizes that health is determined by problems, issues and concerns that transcend national boundaries.[15]
Primary characteristics					Secondary characteristics
Equity	Global conceptualization	Causes	Means	Solutions	Source of obligation	Multi-disciplinary	Actors	Reactive (R) Proactive (P)
No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No

U. S. Institute of Medicine: Global health is the goal of improving health for all people in all nations by promoting wellness and eliminating avoidable disease, disability, and death. It can be attained by combining population-based health promotion and disease prevention measures with individual-level clinical care.[16]
Primary characteristics					Secondary characteristics
Equity	Global conceptualization	Causes	Means	Solutions	Source of obligation	Multi-disciplinary	Actors	Reactive (R) Proactive (P)
Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	R + P