Health Systems in the Global South

Health Systems in the Global South argues that unequal health outcomes are not solely the result of scarcity, individual behaviour, or clinical resources, but are also produced by the design of health systems that render some populations clinically, politically, and digitally invisible. Drawing on original research and evidence from diverse Global South settings, the book shows how health policies may invoke inclusion while leaving marginalised communities exposed to discrimination, surveillance, moral judgement, and neglect. It examines a range of issues including donor-dependent HIV and tuberculosis programmes, stigma surrounding sexual and gender diversity, under-resourced rural services, weak confidentiality protections, imported digital-health technologies, fragile community-led provision, and policy commitments unsupported by adequate financing. Introducing the VISIBLE Health Equity Framework, the book also translates this critique into a practical approach for redesigning governance, financing, data systems, digital health, service delivery, and accountability around dignity and social justice. Timely and accessible, this is a book that will interest students, researchers, practitioners and policy-makers working across Global Health, Public Health and Digital Health.