Global health-a circumpolar perspective

Abstract

Global health should encompass circumpolar health if it is to transcend the traditional approach of the "rich North" assisting the "poor South." Although the eight Arctic states are among the world's most highly developed countries, considerable health disparities exist among regions across the Arctic, as well as between northern and southern regions and between indigenous and nonindigenous populations within some of these states. While sharing commonalities such as a sparse population, geographical remoteness, harsh physical environment, and underdeveloped human resources, circumpolar regions in the northern hemisphere have developed different health systems, strategies, and practices, some of which are relevant to middle and lower income countries. As the Arctic gains prominence as a sentinel of global issues such as climate change, the health of circumpolar populations should be part of the global health discourse and policy development.

FIGURE 1—

Map of circumpolar regions showing mean annual incidence rate of new cases, 2000–2004 period. Note. Ak = Alaska; Ar = Arkhangelsk; Ck = Chukotka; Ev = Evenkia; Fm = Finnmark; Fo = Faroe Islands; Gl = Greenland; Is = Iceland; Ka = Kareliya; Km = Khanty-Mansi; Ko = Komi; Ky = Koryak; La = Lappi; Ma = Magadan; Mu = Murmansk; Nb = Norbotten; Nd = Nordland; Ne = Nenets; Nt = Northwest Territories; Nu = Nunavut; Ou = Oulu; Sk = Sakha; Ta = Taymyr; Tr = Troms; Vb = Västerbotten; Yk = Yukon; Yn = Yamalo-Nenets Source. Young.

FIGURE 2—

Relationship between per capita gross domestic product and life expectancy at birth for females among circumpolar regions. Note. AO = autonomous Okrug; CA = Canada; DK = Denmark; GDP = gross domestic product; FI = Finland; IS = Iceland; NO = Norway; PPP = purchasing power parity; RU = Russia; SE = Sweden; US = United States. Equation in figure refers to fitted quadratic regression equation. Source. Life expectancy at birth and GDP per capita data from Young.