We believe that systems thinking and complexity science can be transformational in global health by increasing local capacity and shared learning, and minimizing unintended consequences.
Two prominent publications highlight the central importance of systems thinking concepts to the future of public health:
Health professionals for a new century: transforming education to strengthen health systems in an interdependent world is a report authored by 20 professionals from around the world (joint first authors are Julio Frenk and Lincoln Chen) that considers the future challenges facing health education, and makes recommendations moving forward. It’s long (36 pages), and I found this podcast and this discussion (with part 2 here, and the accompanying power point here) very helpful.
The Millennium Development Goals: a cross-sectoral analysis and principles for goal setting after 2015 is a Lancet-commissioned report (also long, 33 pages) that considers the next global health agenda, after the MDGs. The report highlights principles such as holism, sustainability, equity, and ownership.
The video and podcasts on the Lancet’s MDG Commission site http://www.thelancet.com/mdgcommission helped me digest the 33-page version a little more quickly. Thanks for sharing these transformative articles, though I’m a little slow in reading your post.