Lancet Commission on Global Governance for Health

Duration
01.01.2024–31.12.2027

From Extractivism to Global Health Equity, Sustainability, and Justice

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Overview

The Commission examines how global political, economic, and ecological structures shape health, placing power and equity at the center of its analysis. Responding to intersecting crises - including rising authoritarianism, geopolitical conflict, and accelerating climate change - the Commission exposes how the current global health architecture serves strategic and commercial interests over marginalized populations.

Core Problem: Extractivism

  • Power Asymmetries: Global cooperation is undermined by gendered, socioeconomic, generational, and neocolonial disparities.
  • The Extractivist Logic: Systems concentrate resources in the hands of a few through socio-ecologically harmful processes.
  • Global Health Impact: Knowledge, labor, data, and health gains are routinely extracted from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC)

A Vision for Change

Despite these systemic challenges, regional leadership, such as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and local innovation, demonstrates that alternatives are viable.

Overarching Aim: Catalyze a transition from vicious cycles of extractivism to virtuous cycles grounded in equity, sustainability, and justice.

Four Core Objectives

  • Evaluate Megatrends: Analyze geopolitical, economic, ecological, and technological trends producing health inequities.
  • Assess Determinants: Measure impacts across political, social, commercial, ecological, and digital determinants of health.
  • Highlight Solutions: Document governance success stories and models for equitable alternatives.
  • Deliver Recommendations: Provide actionable short- and long-term steps to reverse extractivism and build fairer systems.

Participants

  • Picture of Eivind Engebretsen
    Eivind Engebretsen University of Oslo Commissioner
  • Picture of Emma Joanna Lengle
    Emma Joanna Lengle University of Oslo Commissioner
  • Picture of Million Tesfaye Eshete
    Million Tesfaye Eshete University of Oslo Commissioner
  • Picture of Nils Chr. Stenseth
    Nils Chr. Stenseth University of Oslo Commissioner
  • Alexandros Kentikelenis Commissioner
  • Alicia Ely Yamin Lecturer on Law, Harvard University Commissioner
  • Arne Ruckert Director of Research, Global Strategy Lab Commissioner
  • Fran Baum Professor, Adelaide Univeristy Commissioner
  • Göran Tomson Professor Emeritus, Karolinska Institutet Commissioner
  • Helena Legido-Quigley Commissioner
  • Inger Scheel Commissioner
  • Jashodhara Dasgupta Commissioner
  • Jeanette Vega Physician and former Minister of Social Development and Family of Chile Commissioner
  • Jomo Kwame Sundaram Research Adviser, Khazanah Research Institute Commissioner
  • Jude Kong Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto Commissioner
  • Meng Qingyue Professor, Health Economics and Policy, PKU China Center for Health Development Studies Commissioner
  • Omnia El Omrani Commissioner
  • Paulo Buss Co-chair
  • Rhoda Wanyenze Professor and Dean of Makerere University School of Public Health Co-Chair
  • Sakiko Fukuda-Parr
  • Sony Kapoor CEO, Nordic Institute for Finance, Technology and Sustainability Commissioner
  • Stefan Peterson Professor, Karolinska Institutet Commissioner
  • Steven Hoffman Director, Global Strategy Lab Commissioner
  • Viroj Tangcharoensathien Senior Advisor, International Health Policy Program (IHPP) Thailand Commissioner

Funding

This Lancet Commission is funded by Norad and UiO Life Science.

Published Oct. 12, 2026 10:08 PM - Last modified Oct. 13, 2026 11:59 AM