The G-8 and the Obama Administration: What Happened on the Global Health Initiative and New Food Security Effort?

On Thursday, July 23, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Global Health Policy Center examined the outcomes arising from the Group of Eight (G-8) summit in Italy relating to key global health issues, particularly the Obama Administration's new Global Health Initiative and its newly launched global food security strategy. Discussion also covered the role of global health policy issues during President Obama's summit in Russia and his visit to Ghana before and after the G-8 summit, respectively. In addition, the Foundation will release a new report on funding from donor countries, including the United States and European nations, for global health initiatives in low- and middle-income countries.

Gayle E. Smith, Senior Director for Relief, Stabilization and Development at the National Security Council and Senior Advisor to the President of the United States, was the keynote presenter. Giovanni Castellaneta, Italian Ambassador to the United States, offered insights about the summit's health outcomes. Kaiser Vice President Jen Kates and CSIS Global Health Policy Center Director and Senior Vice President J. Stephen Morrison moderated and offered additional commentary.