INTRODUCTION:

This review identifies an agenda for global health by highlighting the current 'grand challenges' related to governance.

SOURCES:

Literature from the disciplines of health policy and medicine, conference presentations and documents, and materials from international agencies (such as the World Health Organization).

AREAS OF AGREEMENT:

The present approach to global health governance has proven to be inadequate and major changes are necessary.

AREAS OF CONTROVERSY:

The source of problems behind the current global health governance challenges have not always been agreed upon, but this paper attempts to highlight the recurrent themes and topics of consensus that have emerged in recent years.

GROWING POINTS AND AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH:

A solution to the 'grand challenges' in global health governance is urgently needed and serves as an area for developing research.